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In the market for an arch? Who isn't. And now the historic Seaman-Drake arch at 5035 Broadway in Inwood is for rent. The Manhattan Times reports that the marble arch has been partially buried behind storefronts, but it was once the gateway to a hilltop estate owned by the well-to-do Seaman then Drake families in the 19th Century. The Inwood Journal provides some more history:
It used to guard the entrance to a long driveway which curled up to the Seaman, later Drake, estate perched atop the hill bounded by present-day 215th St on the South, 218th St on the North, between Park Terrace East and Park Terrace West. Outfitted with iron gates — parts of the hardware still exist — it has windows upstairs which suggest that the gatekeeper had quarters in the arch.That would be a pretty sweet apartment, but it looks like the space is only available for commercial ventures. Two buildings were attached to the historic, yet unlandmarked arch in the 1950s, one of which just became vacant and would share the space. The realtor says there are currently "three possible new vendors - a club, a catering restaurant and a hair salon."
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More of this kind of thing on Gothamist, plz.
That is an amazing before/after
I live right near this and always feel sad when I see it. It looks awful - grafittied and boxed in by those store fronts. I seems like it must have been beautiful in it's day and I'm glad to learn that it was!
Same here. It's kind of a sad block. I always thought it would be great if someone could do something nice with the arch.
Fixing it up would definitely be fanastic. I just can't imagine what would have possessed someone to let it deteriorate in this way in the first place.
"Oh, look at this beautiful arch! Let's put an ugly, decrepit building in front of it!"
"I have a better idea! Let's put TWO ugly, decrepit buildings in front of it!"
"Genious!"
And by Genious, I mean Genius.
I noticed the stupid tags immediately in the photo above, but it's much worse than that. Check out the bird's eye shots at Bing maps. Buildings abut the arch on all four sides. What you see in the picture above is basically all that remains exposed of the original arch.
wow
what is that mountain doing in the background?
Where's Bette Midler when you need her?!?
I've always loved this arch -- it looks so sad living behind those crap buildings. It's an up and coming neighborhood, too, right near the hospital and Columbia ball fields. I can't imagine why someone hasn't rescued this building yet!
boy the neighborhood has really changed.
Great story! Though kind of sad. On the bright side, at least the arch is still standing.