Spot the Shot – Revealed!

An astute reader managed to guess the location of this week’s Spot the Shot: the adorable townhouse at 48 East 10th Street, between 5th & 6th Avenues. The aqua-colored vespa matches the shutters and is always parked in front, even on Google street view:

We’ve always been a little enamored with this charming house, and have been curious about its history…

According to the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s designation report, which was written in 1969 when this house was landmarked as part of the Greenwich Village Historic District, the house dates all the way back to 1829! The mansard roof and Italianate-style ornament are later additions from 1871.

Originally, the house would have had Federal-style details including Flemish Bond brick (as can be found on 143-145 Avenue D), simple stone lintels, and dormer windows. In fact, it would have resembled the house two doors down at no. 52 (minus the garage door, which is obviously a modern intervention).

No. 52 retains almost all of its Federal-style details, including a lovely doorway and Flemish Bond brick.

We are huge fans of the Federal style, which is the earliest architectural typology found in Lower Manhattan. While 48 & 52 West 10th Street are protected with landmark status, many others remain vulnerable to demolition. Thus we continue our mission to see more and more of them landmarked.

To read more about the history of this building and others in Greenwich Village, visit our Resources page to access the entire 1969 Designation Report. And stay tuned for next week’s Spot the Shot!