Perhaps you’ve noticed these Corinthian columns? They stand tall here at Colonnade Row. This is also known as LaGrange Terrace. It whispers tales of New York’s transformation.
Colonnade Row marks a group of 1830s row houses. They stand on Lafayette Street in Manhattan’s NoHo neighborhood. These buildings were born from the vision of John Jacob Astor. He purchased the property. His grandson, John Jacob Astor III, later resided at No. 424.
Colonnade Row owes its existence to Astor. He transformed the area. The remaining buildings are New York City landmarks. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These facades still stand proudly on Lafayette Street. They stand south of Astor Place.
These Greek Revival townhouses rose from the ambition of Seth Geer. He was a contractor from Albany. The nine original buildings stood at 418–426 Lafayette Place. This was once the site of Vauxhall Gardens Amusement Park.
Astor bought this property in 1804. He paid $45,000. When the Vauxhall Gardens lease ended, Astor built a street. This street ran from Great Jones Street to Art Street. It is now Astor Place. He named it Lafayette Place. This paid honor to the Marquis de Lafayette. He was a hero of the American Revolution.
The buildings’ original name honored Lafayette’s country estate. It was called Lagrange Terrace. The name echoed Lafayette’s triumphant return tour in 1824–25.
Each building had 26 rooms. They were 27 feet wide. Their front yards were 15 feet deep. This was unusual for the time. Westchester marble formed their facades. A colonnade of Corinthian columns linked the homes. This gave Colonnade Row its name. Convicts at Sing Sing cut the marble.
The architect of Colonnade Row sparks debate. Alexander Jackson Davis, Ithiel Town, and James Dakin are often credited. They designed the homes for the Astor and Vanderbilt families. Town and Dakin began work in the winter of 1831–32. They called it LaGrange Terrace. Davis’s role remains uncertain. Some doubt he contributed to the design. The Landmarks Commission dates its completion to 1833.
John Jacob Astor III lived here. Julia Gardiner resided on Colonnade Row. She later became President John Tyler’s First Lady. Cornelius Vanderbilt called this place home. Washington Irving lived here too. Warren Delano was also a resident. Columbia Law School even held classes here. They met in the house once occupied by John Jacob Astor III.
Once, Lafayette Place was the most fashionable area. It was north of Canal Street. By 1860, Murray Hill became more desirable. The area around Lafayette Place declined.
The buildings at 418–426 Lafayette Place faced demolition. A 1902 proposal to relocate them to Bryant Park failed. More than half were torn down. They made way for Wanamaker’s warehouse. Some columns ended up at Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey.
The four remaining buildings stand at 428, 430, 432, and 434 Lafayette Street. They became landmarks in 1965. Despite subdivision and alterations, they were preserved. The buildings joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Owners announced restoration plans in 1995. These plans have stalled due to cost. Today, Colonnade Row stands as a reminder. It is a reminder of New York’s gilded age. It shows both grandeur and decay. It stands as a testament to the city’s ever-changing story.
Now, “Blue Man Group” owns John Jacob Astor’s house. This is poetic justice in New York City. Perhaps Astor would appreciate the irony. Colonnade Row blends history, art, and entertainment.