649 Washington Street

 apartment building  Add category

5-story Neo-Grec residential building completed in 1880. Designed by John B. Snook as a tenement, originally housing 16 families. The ground story has housed a variety of commercial tenants over the years, a number of which were long term, including Guerriero’s barbershop (c. 1896-1934), Joseph E. Rosenstein’s shoe store (c. 1901-33); Herman and Martin Altneu’s Highway Food Shop (c. 1939-60); and the Silver Dollar Restaurant (c. 1964-88). For over 30 years (1906-40), McAvoy’s Drug Store was operated here.

A bit of notoriety was attached to the building in 1973-77 due to a tenants rent strike. They were awarded compensation by a jury in 1975, “believed to be the first jury trial of a rent-strike case in the city.

The building is constructed of red brick with stone trim and has a galvanized iron roof cornice. There are four bays at the Washington Street facade, eight bays at the Christopher Street facade and one bay at the angled corner. Both street facades have fire escapes and the Christopher Street facade also has balconies. The ground floor is occupied by Christopher's Golden Woks Chinese takeout, and Malatesta Trattoria restaurant.