leep designs

42-50 Wooster Street

New York, New York

The buildings at 42-50 Wooster Street were originally two buildings on a single tax lot. 42-44 Wooster Street (south building) is a six story brick and stone neo-Greco style store and loft building with cast iron storefronts, designed by Jarvis Morgan Slade and constructed in 1882-1883. 46-50 Wooster Street (north building) is a six story brick and stone store and loft style building with cast iron storefronts designed by F.S. Baldwin and constructed in 1894-95. The building suffered extensive differential settlement due to development in the area over time. An excavation at the north-east corner of Wooster Street and Grand Street resulted in a significant movement throughout the block in 2005 when the excavated site filled with water and destabilized the adjacent sites. 

The project‘s challenge was to repair the stone and masonry work of the shifted but now stabilized building. The buildings’ street façade restoration addressed three main areas of concern: brick masonry repairs; stone work repairs including repairs to the granite base, lintels and water tables, terra cotta cornice and brownstone cornice and sills; and cast iron repairs.  Street façade masonry repairs also included crack repairs, repointing and face-brick replacement. The brownstone at the second floor water table, north building, most clearly demonstrates the effects of the 2005 excavation; the water table was hazardous and unsound at the start of the project. Sill stones at the fifth floor experienced severe deterioration due to movement compounded with age and weather conditions. Failing brownstone was removed to a stable surface. Approximately 90% of the water table was replaced or patched. All repairs were made to accommodate the now southern sloping of the water table. The water table appears to be unstable due to its southern leaning position, however all of the stones are in perfect condition and secured. The water tables within the fifth floor arches, north building, slope to the south similar to the brownstone water table located at the third floor and were repaired in a similar manner. The cast iron street facade was cleaned, repaired where necessary and repainted.