One of the new tags I’m using to label some posts is “Will this be there the next time I pass by?” A bit wordy, but the sentiment is one that’s often on my mind. There are a ton of incredible buildings and sites around New York City (often in the outer boroughs) that seem on the verge of disappearing forever, and I always wonder if I’m seeing them for the last time.
One example is this fantastic building in Queens, located under the 59th Street Bridge on Vernon Blvd at Queens Blvd:
The building is literally the only structure around on the west side of the street (other than the Con Ed plant some distance south). With its windows and doors boarded and bricked up, it seems forgotten in the shadow of the heavily-trafficked Queensborough bridge.
But what a fucking beautiful building. It was built in 1892 as an office for the New York Architectural Terra-Cotta Works, the company that supplied terra-cotta for Carnegie Hall and the Ansonia Hotel, among others. The company went out of business in the 1920s, and the building became vacant. It was eventually bought in 1970 by Citibank.
Some very intelligent locals managed to get it landmark status in 1982, so of course, Citibank simply boarded it up, fenced it off, and left it to rot.
Most of the information I could find on the building comes from this New York Times article, which points out that 42-10 Vernon Blvd is “a fair demonstration of what landmark designation can and cannot do. A building is not automatically saved upon designation, and buildings without economic uses are almost as vulnerable before as after designation.” The article ends: “The little brown jewel, the surprise on Vernon Boulevard, is patiently waiting for a solution” – a haunting note when you see it was written in 1987.
Apparently, a solution almost came through the folks at Silver Cup Studios, who planned to build a new studio on the lot behind the building, and promised to restore it in the process. However, those plans fell through when the New York Power Authority built two gas-powered turbine generators on a neighboring property. Nice. Oops, got that one wrong! According to the Queens Crap blog, the Silver Cup plan is still on the table; however, it’s been put on hold due to the recent economic downturn.
For some reason, I’ve found myself on Vernon Blvd quite a lot on my current job, and I always give this building an extra glance when I drive by. It really is a magical property, sitting alone in a vacant field under the shadow of one of New York’s iconic bridges. I always cross my fingers that it will be there the next time I pass by.
-SCOUT
PS – I love that this is located in the section of Queens known as Ravenswood.
I’ve just discovered your blog and have spent hours reading the archives. It’s fantastic! I spent the last year living in New York City and fell in love with it. One of my favourite things to do was photograph interesting niches and nooks of the city that may not be noticed by others. I’m so sad that I can’t do that anymore!
Your blog is substituting just fine however. Thank you!
Nice post. I saw this building as I rode my bike home from Roosevelt Island one day. It is a pretty building. Further up Vernon you should peep the Adirondack Furniture factory buidling. It’s a beautiful structure as well and worthy of this website.
So gorgeous & so forlorn looking.
Great post great building ..hear is a google maps link .
42-10 Vernon Blvd.
What a sweeet buliding- It is so sad! It should be carefully dismantled and shifted to a happier spot, such a lovely little beauty. So sad!!!
This building was also chosen as the site for some interesting graffiti in 2005.
I love the way you pepper you posts with just enough swear words to make your point but not so many as to be crass. It’s not easy.
[...] is the building featured in Hopper’s 1913 Queensborough Bridge the same as the “forgotten building under the bridge” spied at Scouting NY? The New York Times wrote an article on the building in question which dates the construction of [...]
Part of the problem with the neighborhood there is that it can be downright scary. The Queensbridge projects are immediately on the other side of the bridge, and they used to be the worst projects in the US. High murder and other crime rates. Very very dangerous. The hotel across the street used to be a two story no-tell motel. I actually drove by there for the first time in a long time yesterday and laughed at the “new” hotel there. Who in their right mind would stay there?
While the terracotta building is beautiful, that neighborhood is a crime magnet.
I have lived in Long Island City my entire life and have always loved the look of that particular building and always wished “whomever” owned it would eventually give it the grand restoration it so sorely needs and respects.
If you were to use it as a location, would the budget allow fixing it up at all? It’s just lovely!
Re: Karen/11
Unfortunately, we’d go way over-budget doing something like that. Not only would they have to set dress this to make it fit the screenplay, they’d also have to bring it up to union standards, which would be a major chore for something not opened in 40 years or so. It’s too bad though.
-SCOUT
I’ve passed this building by countless times since I was a little girl (I’m turning 24 this year). Mostly while driving or riding in a car. I’ve always wondered what this place was used for. And now I finally know! Thanks! =D
[...] what you will about condoizing properties like this, but I’d really hate it if it looked anything like this. Though they may have horribly gutted the interior of the building (which I’m not excusing), [...]
Just stumbled upon this site, great find. I’m a painter of the NYC urban landscape and have painted “The Little Building Under the Bridge.”, office of the old Terra Cotta Works in LIC. You can see it on my blog, sjfnewyork.blogspot.com, February 26, 2009 entry. Also, if you’d like more info on this building the Friends of Terra Cotta group has printed a wonderful little brochure, chock full of history. I’ll be sure to check back to your site, stuff that’s right up my alley.
I’m in Tucson. Used to live in upstate NY (Albany/Troy) and
found the building very similar to tons of buildings in both
cities that just sit there, empty. I like talking pictures of such
old places. A window into yesterday, if you will. If I get a
chance, I’ll send you some . I’ll have to look back on site and
find the E-mail.
Bill
Bill
I was born and raised in NYC. I now live in Florida, I miss New York so much. My last job before I moved was as a tour guide with a double decker bus company. I love your blog. Your photos are great.
I have never seen this beautiful building before. Thanks for sharing.
Julie M.
If ever you go on the Five Boro Bike Tour, you’ll come off the Queensboro Bridge, down, around onto Queens Plaza South and be confronted with that magnificence right in front of you.
This is one of those most disheartening times where I really hate not having money. I’d buy that place in a heartbeat, and if I can, the property surrounding it, leading to the river. It’d make a fantastic, if a bit eccentric of a home, plus PLENTY of room for on-property parking, and a very private yard with one of the best views available. You can also be damn sure that the view will never be blocked.
“PS – I love that this is located in the section of Queens known as Ravenswood.”
Sorry to burst your bubble, but the area is known as Queensbrdige (I live a block away from the Terracotta Works office. I would look at it every week and it would seem haunted, boarded up and all. They took off a really huge piece of wood, and under it was the following:
New York Architectural Tera-Cotta Works
Anno Domini 1892
something like that… anyone know what the second line means?
Just as an FYI, there has been work going on inside the Terra-Cotta building lately. It doesn’t look like any exterior work is being done right now, but on more than one occasion in the last couple weeks I have seen the door and some windows open with construction materials inside. Haven’t seen the workers yet to ask them what is going on, but if I do find out I’ll let you know…
Cheers,
Colin.
I would like to add that as of recent I too have witnessed construction workers and actual repairs to the site. I will scrutinizes the site even further and post some updated photos in few days so all can see the progress that has been made.
It should be know that the area, whilst still very industrial and rough, has come up quite a bit as of late. The Queensboro park adjacent the bridge and the derelict building is quite well maintained and frequented often by many people from all over NYC despite it’s limited funding. Two hotels are present in the area. The Ravel, the former crack hotel which was written above, caters to tourist with reasonable rates of $150 – $200 per night. It has been so successful that the hotel has built a brand new 15 to 20 story hotel two blocks away on 11th Avenue. The original Ravel has a rooftop bar with outstanding views of the city and affordable menu.
If you’ve driven by lately they un-boarded some of it to reveal quite beautiful markings and emblems from 1892 when it was built. The door is no completely exposed and its really quite amazing.
Re:Atimu1 blogger on April 27, 2011 The second line means “In the year of our lord (in Latin) 1892.
My twin brother and I grew up in the Queensbridge Housing Projects. We lived there from the time we were seven (in 1947) to the time we were nineteen. When we moved in, there was no crime that my family knew of. We never saw a policeman (their was rarely a need for one at the time). It was a rather nice place to live. Sadly that situation changed way before I moved from the projects. I have many memories of the bridge, the park and the housing projects, but I never remember seeing the beautiful old building UNTIL my brother, as an adult in his sixties (at the time) took me on a tour of our old stomping grounds, and stopped the car and pointed it out to me. He is a builder, and can really appreciate how lovely it was constructed. He made a comment to the effect of “Isn’t that something”! He really wondered about it, as did I. You can see what a beautiful gem it was at one time, and still has the potential to be again. I now live in Houston, but think of that building from time to time. It intrigues me.
I just went back there last week after many years to take pictures of this gem with my son who is fascinated by “old Queens”! Much of the building looks like it was undergoing work (hopefully renovation!!!) but I was able to catch close up pics of the beautiful artwork by sticking my hands and camera through the fence-Gorgeous!
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