Firehouses

From firehouse to Spike Lee’s movie HQ, this $4.35M Fort Greene home has a century of stories to tell

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

June 22, 2023

From firehouse to Spike Lee’s movie HQ, this $4.35M Fort Greene home has a century of stories to tell

This decommissioned firehouse at 124 Dekalb Avenue–currently asking $4,350,000–has a fascinating history that began in 1895, when it was built as a water tower. Converted into a neighborhood firehouse in 1903, the building's cellar was fortified as a bomb shelter at some point in the 20th century. After the firehouse was disbanded in 1974, the building became a live/work space for celebrated filmmaker Spike Lee, who headquartered his 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks studio here. In the mid-1980s, the building was converted into two duplex loft apartments–and a multi-car garage.
The full eyeful, this way

Historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx designated as NYC landmarks

Fire Alarm Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office; Photo courtesy of Landmarks Preservation Commission

June 13, 2023

Historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx designated as NYC landmarks

By Devin Gannon

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday designated two Bronx buildings associated with New York City's fire department as individual landmarks. Not only are the Engine Company 88/ Ladder Company 38 firehouse in Belmont and the Fire Alarm Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office in West Farms architecturally significant, but they represent a period of evolution and growth for the city's fire department. The new landmarks also recognize a piece of Bronx history that has largely gone underappreciated.
Details here

Two historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx may become city landmarks

Fire Alarm and Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office. Images courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

March 14, 2023

Two historic FDNY buildings in the Bronx may become city landmarks

By Aaron Ginsburg

Two Bronx buildings associated with the Fire Department of New York may become New York City landmarks. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to calendar the Firehouse, Engine Company 88/Ladder Company 38 in Belmont, and the Fire Alarm and Telegraph Bureau, Bronx Central Office, both of which are architecturally significant and represent historic moments in the development of the city's fire department.
Learn more

Image: Wikimedia cc

October 1, 2019

Over 200 FDNY firehouses will welcome open house visitors this weekend

By Michelle Cohen

If you–or your favorite fire truck-loving kid–would like a behind-the-scenes look at where New York's bravest get to work, keep your calendar open this weekend: On Saturday, October 5th, and Sunday, October 6th, the FDNY will be hosting their fifth annual citywide open house. More than 200 firehouses and EMS stations will open their doors to the public from 11:00am to 1:00pm or 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
Find a participating firehouse near you, this way

Events & Things To Do

September 12, 2018

Live in a historic Williamsburg firehouse with a garage/studio and Japanese garden for $5.2M

By Michelle Cohen

Living in a historic firehouse is cool enough as it is, but this 4,652-square-foot carriage house at 11 Scholes Street in Williamsburg also comes with just about every other cool thing you could imagine finding in a Brooklyn pad. The three-story home, asking $5.2 million, starts with a garage and a sleek workspace/art studio and adds walls of glass and a private outdoor paradise, complete with a Japanese-style bamboo garden and luxurious outdoor shower.
Take a look, you won't want to leave

Distinctive Homes

Fire Patrol House #2: From Benjamin Franklin’s fire prevention ideas to Anderson Cooper’s stylish home

Fire Patrol #2 in 2009, via Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation Image Archive

January 4, 2018

Fire Patrol House #2: From Benjamin Franklin’s fire prevention ideas to Anderson Cooper’s stylish home

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

The former firehouse located at 84 West 3rd Street in Greenwich Village is often noted for being the renovated and restored home of TV personality and journalist Anderson Cooper. But it’s just as noteworthy for an unusual history connected to Benjamin Franklin and insurance underwriters, and for not being the kind of firehouse you think it is at all.
The whole history and current use

History

July 8, 2016

TBD Design Studio Converted a 19th Century Williamsburg Firehouse Into a Live/Work Haven

By Dana Schulz

When a photographer recently bought this 19th century firehouse in Williamsburg, its interior was in a complete state of disrepair, though the historic facade was intact. To transform it into a live/work home, the owner brought on Josh Weiselberg and Selin Semaan of TBD Architecture + Design Studio, who turned the garage into a ground-floor photo studio and gallery, created a second-floor residence, and added a rooftop penthouse, lounge, and terrace (h/t designboom). The result is an open and airy haven that's sensitive to the original firehouse, but is also functional for its modern use.
See the entire home

Architecture And Design

July 7, 2016

$15,000/Month Firehouse Offers a Sprawling Live/Work Space in Williamsburg

By Emily Nonko

Check out this 5,000-square-foot live/work space at 246 Frost Street, a former 19th century Williamsburg firehouse. While the historic facade remains intact, the interior has pretty much been transformed into a lofty, two-floor apartment with plenty of exposed brick to go around. And it's full of bonus space: a finished basement, an extra sleeping loft, a deck, parking garage, recording studio and fully-functioning dark room. For all that, it'll cost a cool $15,000 a month.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

April 28, 2016

Live in a Lofty Triplex Apartment at a Former 1880s Firehouse for $4,500/Month

By Emily Nonko

Before 735 Dean Street was anybody's home, it was the post of Engine Company 219, who moved in when the firehouse was built in 1880. The historic structure in Prospect Heights has since been converted to apartments, one of which is this 1,400-square-foot triplex being offered for rent. From the inside, though, you wouldn't guess this was in an old fire station; it looks like your typical Brooklyn loft.
See more

October 7, 2015

New Video Takes Us Inside Anderson Cooper’s Converted Village Firehouse

By Dana Schulz

At first you may wonder what this video featuring David Beckham and Kevin Hart advertising H&M's new menswear collection has to do with Anderson Cooper....but the backdrop for the film is actually Cooper's home, the firehouse at 84 West 3rd Street that the news anchor purchased for $4.3 million in 2010. He then undertook a massive interior renovation with architect Cary Tamarkin, even keeping the brass fire pole, as well as a total facade restoration, which preserved the 20th century Beaux-Arts ornamentation and 9/11 memorial plaques. Now, though we're not exactly sure how or why, he's opened the gorgeous, 8,240-square-foot residence to H&M for what we must say is a pretty hilarious video. Beckham and Hart drink tea in Cooper's chic living room, work out in his turn-of-the-century gym (which Cooper stocked with vintage equipment), take ice baths on his roof terrace, and sleep in one of his bedrooms.
Watch the video here

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