There’s news from the Landmarks Preservation Commission this afternoon. Today commissioners voted to designate two Lower East Side buildings — the Bowery Mission and the Bowery Bank of New York.
The Bowery Mission, 227 Bowery, a neo-Greco style building, has been the home of one of New York’s oldest social service organizations since 1909. The five story red brick structure was designed by William Jose, a Prussian born architect.
In a statement, LPC Chair Robert Tierney said:
The Bowery Mission has not only retained a powerful presence along the Bowery, but also has made a difference in the lives of countless people for more than a century… What makes the building so remarkable is that its architecture clearly conveys the mission of one of New York City’s most socially and culturally important organizations. We are grateful to the Bowery Mission for its support of this designation.”
The 1902 Bowery Bank, located at 124-126 Bowery (Grand Street) was designed by York & Sawyer, a prominent firm responsible for many of the city’s institutional buildings. The Bowery Bank of New York operated from 1902 until 1925, when it merged with East River National Bank. It became part of Citibank in 1976. “This bank building is as simple and straightforward as it is monumental,” said Tierney. “It’s the only surviving early work of a firm whose designs left a significant mark on New York City as well as on other East Coast cities.”
Still to come today, a public hearing on the proposed East Village-Lower East Side Historic District. We’ll have a full report from that hearing later this afternoon.
So glad this institution is being recognized and the building preserved.