The eleven story building was designed in the Renaissance Revival style by architect William B. Tubby, and built in 1896.

[2] In 1979 a group of young artist made a stand against real estate developer Harry B. Macklowe.

He emptied a 93% occupied building of its rent paying tenants with the help of the J51 tax abatement offered by then NYC mayor Ed Koch.

[citation needed] It was a lost battle in the New York City courts and the building was renovated and converted into live/work lofts in 1981.

In 2007, a renovation of one of the units uncovered an early work by artist Keith Haring.