Dumbo Then and Now: N Side of Front St at Dock St


 1928 [+ enlarge]


 July, 2009 [+ enlarge]

In this series of “Dumbo Streetscapes Then and Now”, a 1928 photograph from the Eugene L. Armbruster Collection is looking at 29-35 Front Street, (north side of Front St) between Dock Street and what used to be called Garrison Street (now York Street). The center of the photo is a frame structured 3 story house, once the mansion of Joshua Sands (1795-1883), who served as a U.S. Representative and an officer in the United States Navy. As Commander, he was at the New York Navy Yard from 1841 to 1843. The house is only half the original structure, according to the caption in the back of the photo. The caption also states “To the left of it is a brick building occupying the site of the demolished section of the Sands house. That building at present (1928) is occupied by the Italian Mission of Santo Spirito.”

The right side of the 1928 photo shows the Zerega building (aka Nova Clutch building), which was demolished in June 2007 to make way for the highly publicized and controversial Dock Street Dumbo development that passed the rezoning process almost two years later in June 2009.

The original caption in the back of the photo reads: “The same, another view, showing in the center of the view the Sands house (frame). This is only half of the original structure. To the left of it is a brick building occupying the site of the demolished section of the Sands house. That building at present is occupied by the Italian Mission of Santo Spirito. August, 1928. Eugene L. Armbruster Collection. (May be reproduced.)”

The far right side of the photo is the seven story building now known as 57 Front Street, which has retail on the ground floor and condos above. The building near the upper portion of the photo is the Sweeney Building (30 Main Street), with its arched windows towards the top of the building. Today’s view shows much of the Sweeney Building since there are no townhouses blocking the view from this angle.

The old photo shows a charming street mixed with townhouses and brick factory buildings. Today’s view of the lot and parking garage isn’t much to look at, but if the Dock Street Dumbo building is completed on or around 2012, this view will be drastically different.

{New York Public Library photo of Front Street – Dock Street, 1928}
{Dumbo Then and Now, series, DumboNYC}
{Google Street View, Front St}
{(Temporary) Parking Lot on the Nova Clutch Site, 08Aug2007}
{Goodbye Nova Clutch Building, 20Jun2007}
{Zerega Building, 28May2007}
{Nova Clutch building at 39 Front Street, 20Apr2007}
{Two Trees Seeking Approval for 15-20 Story Building Abutting Brooklyn Bridge, 18Apr2007}

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