Automobiles were changing the streets of New York City in the first years of the 20th century, but only the wealthy could afford them. Then, in 1908, Henry Ford introduced the Model T, priced for the middle class at $825 (about $29,000 in 2025). By 1910, there were approximately 400,000 motorcars in America. Joseph Tassi recognized the need of a "car stable" in Greenwich Village.
On May 26, 1910, Tassi purchased the one-story frame building at 45 Bedford Street and the vacant lot next door at No. 47 for $16,000. He hired architect George Provot to design a three-story garage on the site. His plans, filed on August 30, set the construction cost at $30,000; bringing Tassi's total outlay to $1.57 million in today's terms.
Something delayed the project and in 1915, when the garage was finally completed, the architect of record was Eugene De Rosa. Which architect is responsible for the design--or if it was a combination of both--is unclear.
The completed building was an industrial take on the Colonial Revival style. The two broad automobile bays and pedestrian entrances were flanked with paneled cast iron piers. The upper floors were faced in running-bond brick. The grouped, multi-paned openings sat within a shallow recess (one-brick deep) capped with a faux lintel of brick with a terra cotta keystone. The frieze of the pressed metal cornice read: "Tassi Garage."
The Downing Stables next door marked the old and new means of transportation. When this photo was taken in 1941, the garage was the Downing Street Garage. via the NYC Dept of Records & Information Services.
Joseph Tassi was born about 1886 to Raffaelle and Marianna Tassi. In 1919, title to the property was transferred to Raffaelle. When the garage opened, the business was listed as R. Tassi Sons.
As had been the case with livery stables, which assisted patrons with selling their horses or carriages, the R. Tassi Sons garage advertised for their clients. An advertisement in The New York Evening Telegram on March 16, 1915, for instance, read, "Ford taxicab for sale cheap; passed inspection; sell on account need the money. R. Tassi Sons, 45 Downing st." And on June 21, 1919, a notice in the New York Herald offered, "Pierce Arrow raceabout body, good condition. Apply Tassi's Garage, 45 Downing st."
In 1924, the Tassi family leased the property to the Downing Garage Co., which operated the garage through 1940. It was then occupied as a warehouse and garage by Express Service, Inc.
Raffaelle Tassi died on April 23, 1934 at the age of 76, leaving an estate of $85,173 (just under $2 million today). Included in his assets was, of course, 45 Downing Street, valued at $30,000. The family retained possession of the property until 1971.
The new owners initiated a significant renovation in 1971, transforming the garage to a single-family home. A dramatic ad in The New York Times on November 30, 1979 read:
Unique singular townhouse. Presently occupied by Royalty. Must dispose of immediately & willing to give away at an unbelievably incredibly low sacrifice of $100,000. Only one of its kind in NYC. Must be seen to be believed.
(Who the "royalty" was who reportedly occupied the former garage is unclear.) The new owner converted the lower two floors to an event venue. In her column in the N.Y. Amsterdam News on July 9, 1988, Cathy Connors reported, "Wall St.'s upper strata descended from ivoried citadels of power/money/influence to a SoHo [sic] hot spot, 45 Downing St. Senator John Glenn and Geraldine Ferraro hosted this pricey reception tagged from four to five figures or more to be admitted."
And on August 19, 1990, The New York Times reported on the wedding of Sandra M. Wall and Christopher J. Walton "at 45 Downing Street, a Manhattan caterer."
By 1995, the venue was known as the Alger Mansion. On May 14 that year, The New York Times reported, "The Dessoff Choirs will celebrate 70 years of musical performances at a benefit in the Alger Mansion, 45 Downing Street." Interestingly, not every event was a happy one. On January 1, 2002, The Times reported on the memorial service for artist Peter Fraenkel, at "Downing St. Mansion, 45 Downing Street."
Although the Department of Buildings still describes the property as a "one family residence," the lower floors continue to house an event venue now known as 45 Downing. Its website describes a "spacious ballroom and beautiful garden room with fireplace." And other than the sympathetic remodeling of the ground floor bays, the Tassi Garage is essentially unchanged.
photographs by the author
.png)
No comments:
Post a Comment