Latimer Building

 manufacturing  Add category

 Upload a photo

5-story Italianate manufacturing building originally completed in 1862. The facade, sheathed in white marble, features stone quoining, window openings adorned with simple lintels and sills, and a 1-story storefront consisting of green-painted cast-iron paneled piers and a metal cornice. In 1884-85 Dr. Henry H. House of Rockland Lake, New York, had architect John B. Mclntyre add a new metal terminal cornice with paired brackets and a central pediment bearing the words "LATIMER BUILDING," probably after Charles Edward Latimer, who is listed in directories as a merchant with an address in what is now SoHo.

The Cortlandt Alley elevation, faced in red brick (which is now painted at the first story), displays many historic features: openings with stone lintels and sills, many sets of fireproof shutters and remaining shutter hardware at the other openings; an iron fire escape; and wood service doors. The metal terminal cornice extends from the facade across the top of this elevation. A metal beam running above the basement windows reveals that a loading platform must have been removed.

Among the building's occupants, typical of the district, were Charles Zinn & Company, importers of baskets and manufacturers of willow ware and rattan and willow furniture; George & George E. Hoadley and Miner & Stevens, carriage merchants; J.L. Brandeis & Sons, an Omaha-based firm which sold white and fancy goods, hosiery, and cloaks; a printer; and a clothing manufacturer. More recently it has been occupied by sportswear companies. The ground floor is currently occupied by Chinatown Building Supply.