2023-05-23 09:38:00
The legendary “Iron Building” in New York is to be auctioned off at the second attempt. The building was sold at auction for $190 million in late March. However, the deposit was not handed over on time.
The Flatiron Building is part of the tourist must-see. Although currently vacant, it is a New York landmark. But that wasn’t always the case: in 1902, when the building was inaugurated following a record construction time of just over a year, the critics were divided, says architecture historian Andrew Dolkart from New York’s Columbia University:
At the time, the New York Times wrote of an outrageous monster. The municipal art society, committed to urban beautification, said it was unforgivable to construct such a building in a modern city. But the public loved the building from the start because it was so outstanding, if only because of the unusual shape.”
This shape, which is indeed reminiscent of a huge old-fashioned steam iron – or even a ship’s hull – is due to the unusual property. Due to the transversely running Broadway, there is an extremely acute-angled floor plan between 22nd and 23rd Streets and 5th Avenue. At its narrowest point, the building is just two meters wide, but 91 meters high.
New Yorkers call the triangle building in Manhattan the Flatiron Building – here is a view from 1906.
A typical New York building
“When the Flatiron Building was built, skyscrapers were still a pretty radical and controversial idea. Just as controversial as what a tall office building should look like,” says Dolkart. In Chicago, the idea of a new style of architecture that reflected the new building had taken hold. In New York, the classic architectural styles were also used for the skyscrapers: “And so the Flatiron Building with its Renaissance ornaments is a typical New York building. Ironically, however, the architect Daniel Burnham is from Chicago – nevertheless it has this New York look. “
The Embassy of the Russian Empire
The first tenants were an illustrious hodgepodge: small business owners, magazine and music publishers, the embassy of the Russian Empire and last but not least “Murder Incorporated” – a kind of contract killing agency that is said to be responsible for hundreds of deaths in New York.
“In 1902 it was a very lively area and therefore also attractive for shops. Right next to the Flatiron Building was the so-called Ladies Mile with many department stores. But then a lot of things moved further uptown. The area wasn’t exactly the sexiest corner of New York,” says Dolkart.
The Flatiron Building in Manhattan in 1937.
When property was still cheap in New York
Alice Sparberg Alexiou has written a book regarding the Flatiron Building, which is also a part of her life. Her grandfather – a Hungarian Jew who came to New York in 1914 – owned part of the building. “When he and his partners bought the building in 1946, the real estate market was down. It was a recession. The entire war industry had been shut down. All the soldiers came home. You might buy property cheaply in New York – today that sounds like a joke,” she says.
Meeting point for men
The story that the Flatiron Building was a popular meeting place for men who wanted to look under women’s skirts also sounds like a joke. “The construction creates a kind of wind tunnel. In those days, women wore long dresses. And when women walked along the Flatiron Building, their skirts might be blown up.”
A motif, by the way, that can be found on many souvenir postcards from this period. Men regularly had to be scared away by the police.
The Flatiron Building is a typical New York building with its Renaissance ornaments.
Rattling heating, leaking windows
When her family sold their shares in the building some time ago, the former teacher and journalist decided to write the book. It was published by St. Martin’s Press, which moved into the Flatiron Building 60 years ago and gradually took over the entire building following it was bought by the Macmillan Group.
Historian Dolkart says: “Macmillan was in the building until recently. But the offices were a strange shape. The windows leaked. The heating rattled. And then they decided to move out.”
Bestselling author Louise Penny told the New York Times: “Behind the stunning and famous facade was a rabbit hutch – some would say a rat’s nest.”
The original elevators, driven by water columns, are also legendary. They were in use until a few years ago and were so slow that publishing boss Sargent threatened to abseil down his office window because he mightn’t get to the ground floor fast enough.
Awarded for 190 million dollars
In recent years, the Flatiron Building has been gutted and completely renovated. Because the five owners might not agree on how to proceed with the building, a judge ordered the auction. In March, the mutual fund representative won the deal for $190 million – but failed to make a timely down payment. That’s why the legendary building is going under the hammer once more today.
1684839622
#attempt #auction #Yorks #Iron #Building
