865 Broadway (New York City, New York)

 apartment building, 1840s construction

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5-story residential building originally completed in 1843 as a 4-story rowhouse. It was converted to a commercial palace-style building in the 1860s, with a red cast-iron facade and a mansard roof added to the original four stories. In 1874, the existing brick-faced 5th floor replaced the mansard. The ground floor has a modern glass and black aluminum storefront. Four piers divide the facade into three bays; the end piers are coursed. The window openings, all with vermiculated keystones, are round-arched at the 2nd floor, segmental-arched at the 3rd floor, and basket-arched at the 4th floor, where the piers are topped by paired brackets which support a black modillioned cornice.

The brick 5th floor has round-arched window openings with small keystones flanked by inset brick panels. A shallow cornice caps the 5th floor, and a black iron fire escape is suspended from the facade.

In the mid-1890s, the building was occupied by auction rooms. In 1896, the building was leased to John Forsythe, the owner of a large men's clothing and furnishings store located next door in the Ditson Building at 867-871 Broadway. In 1912, the fire escape was relocated from the rear to the front of the building. The ground floor is currently occupied by Bluemercury skincare.