323 West 4th Street

[feisner]

I am a resident here, and would like to find out more about the history of my building. My intention is to publish a newsletter for my fellow tenants (I am the secretary of our tenants' association).

The Greenwich Village Historic District Designation Report (and extension) provided very little info. The online records of the Dept. of Buildings weren't much help, either.There were a couple of "how-to" articles in the NY Times fairly recently, but reading them only confused me further. What is the best way to find out about the complete history of a modest building in NYC? Should I start with the Municipal Archives? The NYU Library?

Suggestions, especially from successful researchers, are very welcome.

Thank you!

[lofter1]

First you should find the Block / Lot numbers for your building.

You can find those by way of either the DOB or the Department of Finance websites (go to www.nyc.gov (http://www.nyc.gov) ).

The Munipal Archives (on the first floor of the magnificent Surrogates Court Building on Chambers / Centre Street opposite the Manhattan Municipal Building) will have some information -- you need the Block / Lot numbers for your building to look it up there on microfilm.

[ManhattanKnight]

Your building is on Block 615, Lot 56. The online resources of the Finance and Building Departments don't show anything that's interesting, to me at least, but they're only a very recent slice of your building's history. While the GV Historic District Designation Report for the building is rather brief, it does suggest the possibility that your building is a bit unusual: it's 5 stories tall and was built in 1852-53 as a private house and "[t]he roof cornice with dentiled fascia appears to be part of the original house . . . ." A Greek Revival house (if that's what the cornice suggests) that tall in that location at that date would be rare. Was the house originally shorter and had its original cornice moved to the top of a later addition?

The report also says that the building has "a new brick wall and ornamental window grilles at the ground floor." Hard to know what "new" means here, but the 1939-40 tax photo of the building could show the building in an earlier state.

Finally, discuss your research project with GVSHP if you've not already done so; I've PM'd you the name and email address of its Director of Preservation and Research.