Columbia University Libraries Digital Collections: The Real Estate Record

Real estate record and builders' guide: v. 81, no. 2077: January 4, 1908: [Supplement]

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42 RECORD AND GUIDE January 4, 1908 William R. H. Martin's New Building. (With Illustration.) THE new "Marbridge" Building now nearing completion at 6th av, northeast corner of 3ith st, on the site of which was formerly the old Broadway Tabernacle, is regarded by many as the most valuable location in the new midtown shop¬ ping district. Mr. William R, H. Martin, of Rogers, Peet &. Co., and owner of the Hotel Martinique, purchased this magni¬ ficent church property in February, 3906, It covers not only the Tabernacle site itself, fronting 9S.9 feet on Broadway and 150 feet on 34th st, but also the three abutting numbers, 68, 70 and 72 West SSth st, a plot 53x98.9 feet. No authoritative an¬ nouncement as to the price paid for the property was made, but it is said that the figure was in the neighborhood ot $2,500,000—making the project one of the largest single trans¬ actions in the city's history. When the Broadway Tabernacle decided to sell its property and erect its new edifice at Broadway and 5Gth st, it received Nos. 126U and 126S Broadway, to cost in the neighborhood of $800,000 from plans by Henry J, Hardenbergh. The proposed addition to that hotel will mark the completion of Mr, Martin's original plans for that structure. The present hotel, a 16-sty building, occupies the plot fronting 67.10 feet at Nos. 54 to 58 West 33d st, having a depth of half the block, or 98.9 feet, with the "L" in Broadway, 39,2 feet, having a depth of 71,2 feet. The proposed improvement of the southeast corner of Broad¬ way and 33d st, 118.6 feet on Broadway and 97.4 feet on the street, with the 20-sty hotel which Geo. B. Wilson, of Phila¬ delphia, Pa,, is to erect, will complete the block, making this the largest hotel district in Manhattan. This structure is being planned by Architect R. E. White, of Philadelphia, Pa., and is estimated to cost $2,000,000. Other contracts which it will also carry forth in 1908 are the new residence for Morris Schinasi, at Riverside drive, northeast corner 107th st, W, B, Tuthill, architect, to cost $180,000; residence for Edward S. Harkness, northeast corner 5th av and 75th st, Hale & Rogers, architects, cost $500,000, ON THE OLD TABERNACLE SITE—MARBRIDGE C. T, Wills, Inc., Builder. $1,300,000 for the site, which it had bought in 1857 for $78,000, The new structure, which is sixteen stories in height, was started last spring. The first, second and third stories will be occupied by Rogers, Peet & Co., who wil! move from Broadway, the northeast corner 32d st, on which corner Mr. Martin is about to erect the Martinique Hotel annex. The new Mar¬ bridge Building is ot the best improved fireproof construction, having facades of light limestone, light face brick and terra cotta. The enlarged plans brought the total of steel up to about 4,500 tons, for which Messrs. Post & McCord. of 44 West 23d st, had the contract. The Standard Plunger Elevator Com¬ pany, No. 1 Broadway, have the contract to equip the building with fourteen elevators, of which nine are of the Standard Plunger passenger type, one combination plunger, one freight, two sidewalk ancl one dumb waiter elevators. The general contract was awarded last March to Charles T. Wills, Inc., of No, 150th 5th av. C. T. Wills. Inc., also has the general contract to erect the 16-sty annex to the "Martinique," BUILDING, COR. 34TH STREET AND OTH AVENUE. Townsend, Steinle & Haskell, Archts. Mr. Wills is also building the Cold-Morgan extension to the Wadsworth Atheneum at Hartford, the main portion of which is to be given by Mr. J. Pierpont Morgan as a memorial to his father, Mr. Junius S. Morgan, who started his and his family's successful career as a merchant in Hartford. Mr. Wills a few years ago incorporated his business with a cash capital of $500,000, taking in as a part of the corporation superintendents who had served him satisfactorily for from five to twenty-five years. Attorney James C, Danzilo, manager of the Abruzzi Realty Co., 20 Court st, declared that among his clientele, the Italians of Brooklyn, the panic had no effect, "The Italians," said he, '■are a people who patronize the savings banks rather than the more pretentious institutions. Accordingly, it was comparatively easy for them to make investments, on certified time checks, when opportunities presented."