7. 55 Reade Street
The six-story 1872 cast-iron building at 55 Reade Street was designed by architect John B. Snook, known for the original Grand Central Station, in the early 1870s. Utilizing a combination of Italianate and French Second Empire styles, coupled with a high mansard roof and early Otis elevator, 55 Reade Street stood out among its neighbors. In 1989, the building was designated a city landmark.
55 Reade Street earned the nickname “leaning landmark” in 2007 after excavation to construct a new residential tower found the landmark to be leaning nearly a foot to the side. City officials quickly vacated the building’s commercial and residential tenants, leaving it abandoned. This changed in 2013 when United American Land bought the building’s land for $8 million and alongside architects GreenbergFarrow facilitated a five-year project restoring the building’s facade to its former glory.
