10-12 Harrison Street

 condominium, 1889_construction

6-story Neo-Grec residential building completed in 1889. Designed by Thomas R. Jackson as two separate store-and-loft buildings, later joined internally. The 3-bay wide red brick facade has a 2-story base which retains its original cast-iron piers framing full-height cast-iron shutters with decorative moldings. Historic cast-iron transom grilles remain on one and part of another bay. Above the base the neo-Grec style is articulated by the staccato rhythm of the contrasting stone lintels and imposts and the continuous sills and by the crowning brick corbel table. A red metal fire escape runs down the right side of the facade.

The developer W.H.B. Totten was a produce merchant with numerous business addresses in the Tribeca area including 12 Harrison Street. He was active in the Mercantile Exchange and served on the building committee for its headquarters building at 2-6 Harrison Street. Totten sold this building in 1892 to Shepard Rowland who was a butter merchant. In 1915 it was purchased by D.W. Whitmore Co., butter and cheese distributors, who held the building until 1938. The building continued in use by butter, cheese and egg distributors. In 1964, it was acquired by the Columbia Cheese Corporation which continued to own it into the late 1990s, when it was converted to condominiums.