2050 Amsterdam Avenue (Marin Architects)
Now that the real estate world has learned that Manhattan doesn't end at 96th Street, big changes are proposed uptown. Over at the busy, three-way intersection of 162nd Street, Amsterdam, and St. Nicholas Avenue; Marin Architects have drawn up a hefty commercial building to replace a turn-of-the-century gem.
Addressed as 2050 Amsterdam Avenue, the irregularly-shaped parel holds the two-floor Jumel Buildng, a tiny yet mighty shopping palace built by F.W. Woolworth in 1911. With Woolworth's five and dime stores now a distant memory, the Beaux-Arts building now has an exit to the C line's 163rd Street subway station, a Rite Aid, and a large furniture store.
Historic photos credit of New-York Historical Society, Photographs of New York City and Beyond
Though its majestic arched entrance has been replaced by a roll-down gate, and its roofline urns and balustrades have been taken down, glimpses of grandeur can be seen in the uncovered Ionic pilasters and the intricate cornice line. Nonetheless, we can confidently say this building's best days are behind it.
Few details are given about the Marin Architects-designed projects. No permits have been filed nor have any recent land transactions occurred. The rendered project would rise seven-floors and accommodate 149,000 square feet of commercial space. According to Marin, its facade of red brick, cast stone, and iron-railed balconies seek to be contextual with the historic residential neighborhood around it. The site is a short walk from the beautifully-restored rowhouses of Sylvan Terrace and The Morris Jumel Mansion, which is open for regular tours and a participant in Open House New York next month.
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