The Photo Arts Building, 5 East 16th Street, #8FL

Stunning proportions and abundant sunlight, this spectacular home blends a prime Union Square location with an exceptional open layout with both Northern and Southern exposure. Currently 4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms with an additional Bedroom and Bathroom in the adjacent apartment. Live the downtown dream in this expansive approximately 5000 square ft duplex full-floor condominium loft, just steps off Fifth Avenue in Flatiron’s Photo Arts building.

The key lock elevator opens into a gracious entry foyer, from there you enter the Great Room where comfort and luxury abound with the home’s soaring ceilings, walls of southern facing windows, and a dramatic open living plan.

The walls of windows face both 16th Street (South) and 17th Street (North) flooding the loft with light from both exposures. Enjoy both casual and formal entertaining from the Chef’s Kitchen leading into the enviable double living room, large dining area; simply perfect for entertaining on a grand or very personal scale.

The building allows live/work as well as simply residential use, ideal for modern lifestyles.

The 8th floor also features a loft apartment that can be accessed from the foyer. This expansive living room boasts stunning proportions and soaring 20 Foot ceilings, ideal for impressive entertaining, and displaying treasured art collections. The adjacent open-concept dining room and kitchen are flooded with natural light.

The kitchen is equipped with an eat-in breakfast bar, Viking cooktops, dishwasher, refrigerators.

The Union Square Farmer’s Market is a stone’s throw away. This mixed-use condo offers fantastic flexibility for both home and office. The Photo Arts Building is a beautiful prewar live/work condominium located at the nexus between the Flatiron District and Union Square.

It is a half-block from Union Square Park and the acclaimed greenmarket, and it is surrounded by trendy restaurants, bars, cafes, and shops. Nearby subway lines include the F/M/L/N/Q/R/W/4/5/6. Pets are welcome. There is currently an assessment for building updates and repairs of $1863.91 monthly, ending October 31st, 2028.

History of the Photo Arts Building

The building was first built in 1892 and is 130 years old.

It was first renovated and altered in 2007. 5 East 16th Street has a total of 12 floors. Steps from Fifth Avenue and a block west of Union Square, the houses at 5 and 7 East 16th Street sat within the city’s mansion district in the Civil War years. In the mid-1880’s businesses were overtaking the grand homes as their owners moved ever northward.

In February 1886 Mary A. Lyddy hired architect W. Jones to renovate 5 and 7 East 16th Street into "studios and offices," according to the plans.

Two-story iron storefronts replaced the high stoops. By the latter part of the decade The New York Times Educational Line, The Baker & Taylor Co., Frederick A. Stokes Company, and Neuman Brothers Book Binding leased space for publishing in the building. In 1904, two new tenants were the embroidery firm of Leon Jobin and Oppenheim & Neuglass, makers of "women’s fashionable high-grade tailor-made suits."

Five years later she hired the architectural firm of Israels & Harder to enlarge the building by removing the parapet and adding four floors.

Although they copied Alfred Zucker’s overall design, none of the ornamentation of the lower floors was continued, making the addition noticeable. At the same time the top floors were joined internally with 85 Fifth Avenue. All the tenants were now involved in the garment industry.
The 1920’s continued to see apparel firms occupy the building.

The third quarter of the 20th century saw change come to the neighborhood. In 1979 the Union Square Theater occupied space in the building, as the high-ceilinged lofts of the upper floors lured photography studios. Among them was Frank Cowan, who shot ads for corporate clients like Levi’s, Pampers, and Volkswagen.

A renovation in 2008 resulted in apartments on the fourth, fifth, and seventh through twelfth floors--one per floor.

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