Concerns Over Historic Site Amid New Development Proposal
A significant piece of Manhattan’s history associated with the Underground Railroad may be at risk, although preservation advocates are determined to fight for its survival.
Recently, a hidden passage, once used to transport enslaved individuals to freedom, was uncovered in a commercial building adjacent to the Merchants House Museum, igniting concern in the Noho neighborhood.
Experts state that the proposed construction of a 100-foot tall building would severely harm the three-story property next door, which is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places and holds the title of the oldest site related to New York City’s subway system.
“Discovering previously unknown subway sites is incredibly important for historic preservation,” noted Michael Hiller, an attorney for the Merchant House.
The one-story garage at 27 East 4th Street, which the Cullodop II Park Corporation owns and currently uses for food cart storage, is slated for demolition. Plans call for it to be transformed into a nine-story office complex, potentially featuring ground-floor space for a restaurant or an art gallery.
Previously, the developer had submitted two applications for this site, with the latest approved in 2023, years after the subway excavation took place. Yet, they haven’t commenced construction and are now submitting revised plans.
Given that this area is part of the NoHo Historic District Expansion, encompassing 56 buildings dating back to the 1820s, any development here requires approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
During a public hearing on March 17, City Councilman Harvey Epstein and other neighborhood advocates expressed their worries that the Merchants House could collapse due to construction, emphasizing the risks posed by the discoveries surrounding the underground site.
Additionally, preservationists pointed out that this location was home to the city’s first free Black community in the 17th century, potentially indicative of burial sites for African Americans.
“It’s very possible that it lies directly beneath the adjacent building,” Hiller remarked. “Yet, if we dig, we might not find anything at all. We could just be erasing an important part of history.”
Constructed in 1832, the Merchant House became the residence of merchant Seabury Treadwell and his family in 1895. It opened to the public as a museum in 1936, showcasing over 3,000 family artifacts.
Both the architect and structural engineer involved in the proposed project attended the public meeting, assuring attendees that construction would not jeopardize the integrity of the Merchants House, which remains one of the few intact 19th-century homes in the city.
However, Hiller noted that none of the statements made by these experts were presented under oath, which raises questions about their accountability. Merchant House engaged structural engineer Michael Schuller for an evaluation, who expressed concerns that the proposed project could cause structural damage, including cracks in the museum’s plaster.
During the hearing, Emily Hill Wright, who oversees operations at the Merchant House, shared that renovations had forced the museum to close down due to safety concerns for staff and visitors, estimating closure costs—including storage fees, scaffolding, and lost revenue—at over $4 million, funds they currently lack.
The Landmarks Preservation Commission could have halted the development proposal with a majority vote during the public hearing, but they chose not to. The LPC, however, has declined to comment on ongoing reviews.
No date has been set for the next meeting regarding the application. Meanwhile, the Greenwich Village Historic Preservation Society has launched an online initiative allowing supporters of the Merchant House to contact Mayor Mamdani and the LPC to advocate for the preservation of the museum.
The Cullodop corporation did not return requests for comments regarding the situation.
