Repurposed Buildings in New York City. History Term Paper

Repurposed Buildings in New York City
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Repurposed Buildings in New York City
On top of protecting public health, buildings carry deep historical meanings. Buildings from a certain era carry intrinsic value. For instance, buildings constructed before the Second World War were built using higher-quality materials like rare hardwoods that are no longer easily available. These materials, as well as the ancient styles, also serve to attract people to these buildings. Old buildings also serve as reminders for the culture and complexity of cities. It is for these reasons that efforts are always made to save historic buildings. Though the term historical may vary among different people, these buildings are part of the tangible past of the cities and also hold opportunities for the future of these cities. However, though some buildings have been protected for many years back, some have been abandoned, undergone neglect and even some demolished. Demolition of such buildings does not only tear down the physical structures but also goes down with an integral part of the community’s culture. The New York City is one of the places with several historic buildings that have faced such risks over the years. This is partially because the city is built on an island and hence faces the challenge of limited space. Some architectural treasures such the Singer Mansion and the original Penn Station have been lost over the history of the city. Formation of the National Register of Historic Places and the Landmark Preservation Commission in conjunction with various activists and entrepreneurs have played a major role in the preservation of historic buildings. As a result of this, rather than being torn down, buildings are repurposed or expanded. This paper will explore the history Astor Library, a building that has been repurposed, and changed hands for a number of times.Astor Library/ The Public Theatre The library was developed through a partnership between John Jacob Astor, a New York City merchant, and Joseph Cogswell, an educator, and bibliographer from New England. In his will, John Jacob Astor had pledged $400,000 to be used in the development of a library. The library took three architects and three decades to construct. Alexander Saeltzer designed the south wing of the building that faces the Lafayette Street. It is open, two-storied, with vaulted ceilings and gilded balconies.  It was initially meant to be a free public library in Manhattan. It was opened in the year 1854 and made a New York Public Library in 1895. Between 1859 and 1881, the library building was expanded twice. By the time of its opening, Joseph Cogswell had obtained an approximated 80,000 volumes of books. Since it was mostly a research library, its books did not circulate. In 1898, following years of financial struggles, the Astor trustees decided to join the new public library located on the 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue. After moving to the new building, which is presently known as Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, the coll...