Decker Building

The Decker Building, periodically also named the Union Building, located at 33 Union Square West in Manhattan, New York City was built in 1892 for the Decker Brothers piano company, to designs by the radical anarchist architect John H. Edelmann, working in the office of Alfred Zucker. It replaced the earlier Decker Building on the same lot, designed by Leopold Eidlitz and built in 1869Streetscapes/33 Union Square West; Islamic/Venetian Sliver, With Minaret December 18, 1994. Andy Warhol had his Factory on the sixthDolkart, Andrew S. & Postal, Matthew A.; Guide to New York City Landmarks, 3rd Edition; New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004. ISBN 0-471-36900-4; p.72. floor of this building from 1967 through 1973. It is also where Valerie Solanas shot Warhol and art critic and curator Mario Amaya in 1968.

Building description

The building is only 33 feet (11 m) wide and 138 feet (42 m) deep on a lot that goes back 150 feet (46 m).NYC Landmarks Presentation It has a right of way to 16th Street from the rear of the building. The style of the building mixes influences from Venice and Islamic traditions. There are numerous terra cotta details on the façade which remain today. There was a minaret on the roof which disappeared before WWII.

The building was valued at $285,000 in 1913, after which it was traded to settle debts.New York Times, June 16, 1916

Warhol years

In 1967, Warhol had to move his Factory from East 47th street due to the building being torn down. Union Square at the time was not an upscale area, but Paul Morrissey found the loft in this building. He met Jed Johnson and hired him to help out refinishing the space and introducing him to Warhol.Warhol Chronology: 1967

On June 3, 1968, Valerie Solanas visited the Factory, looking for Warhol, who she felt was taking control of her screenplay away from her. She waited until Warhol returned around 4pm. Within a few minutes, she shot Warhol three times, seriously wounding him, as well as shooting Mario Amaya. Solanas turned herself into the police a few hours later.Andy nearly dies: Warhol Chronology

Around 1970, Warhol built a video camera system and taped his visitors and documented the activities around the studio.Warhol Chronology

In 1973, Warhol moved the Factory to 860 Broadway, a short distance away. As part of packing up, he began to create the Warhol Time Capsules.Carnegie Museums, Jan/Feb 1996 issue

Current use

The building had been vacant and was completely refurbished into apartments by Joseph Pell Lombardi in 1995.New York Times, "Habitats: The Decker Building;Palm Beach to Union Sq", December 24, 1995 A Puma shoe store now occupies the first floor retail space.

References

See also

Decker Brothers

Categories: Buildings | Buildings in USA | Buildings in New York, USA | Buildings in New York, New York, USA | National Register of Historic Places | National Register of Historic Places in New York, USA | National Register of Historic Places in New York, New York, USA