MAS Releases Map of Historic Resources in Moynihan Station Subdistrict

The MAS recently conducted a windshield survey of the proposed Moynihan Station subdistrict and found it contains over 60 historic buildings, including part of the city’s Madison Square North Historic District. The area includes nine New York City Landmarks, over forty buildings listed or eligible for the National Register, and 1 National Historic Landmark (Macy’s). The list includes a collection of historic churches, hotels, and garment and printing industry loft buildings designed by such reputable architects as Cass Gilbert, McKim, Mead & White, and Henry J. Hardenbergh.

Click here to view a pdf of the map


The map contains all historic resources:

Designated or determined eligible for NYC Landmark

Designated NYC Historic Districts

Listed or determined eligible for State and National Register of Historic Places

Listed as a National Historic Landmark

(Click "read more" below for more info on unprotected buildings in the subdistrict).

A few of the unprotected, but NYC Landmark-eligible buildings include:

St. Michael’s Roman Catholic Church Complex: During the construction of the original station (1905-06), the Pennsylvania Railroad built St. Michael’s a new church complex at 409 W. 33rd St. after acquiring and demolishing the old church one block south. Napoleon, LeBrun & Sons was the architect. The limestone Romanesque Revival church is surrounded by a rectory, vestry, convent, and school designed in a unique blend of Gothic and Romanesque elements. The LPC has determined the church is eligible for NYC landmark designation. (See picture above, courtesy of NYC-architecture.com)

Fur Art Building: This 14-story garment loft building was designed by William I Hohauser and constructed in 1927-28. The building served a number of furriers by providing showroom and factory space. The tripartite arched entrance gives way to a series of setbacks crowned by stone turrets on the upper floors. It has been determined eligible for NYC landmark status. The Fur Art building is indicative of the garment loft type found throughout the subdistrict.

William F. Sloan Memorial Branch of the YMCA: Located at 360 W. 34th Street this building (pictured at right) was intended to provide sleeping accommodations and social facilities for men in the armed services passing through the city. It was designed by Cross & Cross and built in 1929-30. The brick Neo-Georgian style building contains some fine stone detailing on the upper floors. The LPC has determined it to be eligible for NYC landmark designation.

Former Manhattan Opera House: Oscar Hammerstein built this nine-story brick and stone building at 311 West 34th Street between 1901 and 1907 to compete with the Metropolitan Opera. Then in 1923 it was altered to serve the New York Freemasons. The LPC has determined it to be eligible for NYC landmark designation.

This is by no means a complete list. In fact, we believe there are many more buildings in the subdistrict that could be determined eligible for landmark designation. It is critical that the sprinkling of bulk does not impact historic resources in and surrounding the subdistrict. We propose the following three guidelines for the approval process:

1. The state needs to survey and adequately identify all historic buildings in the Moynihan Station subdistrict.

2. The city should designate eligible landmarks before the approval of the rezoning, including Macy’s, a National Historic Landmark.

3. The boundaries of the subdistrict ought to be modified so as not to include the Madison Square North Historic District.

Please email us if you have questions or concerns about historic buildings in the subdistrict and sign up above for our email updates.