Mount Morris Bank Building

Mount Morris Bank Building

Industry	Banking, Commercial real estate
Founded	1883 in East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City, United States
Founder	Mount Morris Bank
Defunct	Mid-1960s (bank branch closure)
Fate	Partially demolished in 2009; site redeveloped and reopened 2015
Successor	Corn Exchange Bank (branch incorporation 1913), later Chemical Corn Exchange Bank
Headquarters	East Harlem, Manhattan, New York City , United States
Area served	East Harlem and surrounding areas
Products	Banking services (historically); commercial and retail spaces (post redevelopment)
Owner	City of New York (at various times), Artimus Construction (post-2012)
Parent	Corn Exchange Bank (from 1913), Chemical Corn Exchange Bank (from 1954)

The Mount Morris Bank Building, also referred to as the Corn Exchange Bank (Mount Morris Branch) or the Corn Exchange Building, is a historic commercial edifice situated in East Harlem, Manhattan, at 81-85 East 125th Street, occupying the northwest corner at Park Avenue. Completed in 1884, it stood as a prominent architectural landmark but fell into vacancy by the late 1970s, remaining unused for approximately thirty years amid deterioration and vandalism. Following a devastating fire in 1997 that heavily damaged the structure, most of the building was demolished in 2009 due to safety concerns. Subsequently, a developer reconstructed the site for commercial purposes, with its reopening taking place in May 2015.

This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and received designation as a New York City Landmark in 1993.

The banking years

Established in December 1880 during Harlem’s shift from a suburban area to an urban neighborhood, the Mount Morris Bank initially operated out of rented quarters at 133 East 125th Street. Construction of its own premises at 81-85 East 125th Street commenced in April 1883 and was finished by February 1884, with the bank occupying the ground floor by late 1883. The mixed-use building featured commercial spaces on the lower level and six apartments above, collectively known as "The Morris," which were converted into office spaces by the early twentieth century.

The architectural firm Lamb and Rich designed the structure, blending rock-faced sandstone in the Romanesque Revival style for the banking areas with red Philadelphia brick executed in Queen Anne style for the residential sections. Its proximity to the New York Central Railroad’s below-grade station at Park Avenue and 125th Street provided convenient access for commuters.

Between 1889 and 1890, the building expanded onto an adjacent lot facing Park Avenue, doubling its size under designs by the original architects; this expansion included adding a basement entrance at 1820 Park Avenue. In 1912, architect Frank A. Rooke altered the entranceways by removing their projecting stoops.

In 1913, Mount Morris Bank was incorporated as a branch of the Corn Exchange Bank, recognized as New York City’s first local branch bank. The Corn Exchange merged with Chemical Bank in 1954, creating Chemical Corn Exchange Bank. This branch was closed by Chemical during the mid-1960s when operations moved nearby. Afterwards, various commercial tenants and a church occupied the premises until New York City took ownership due to unpaid taxes in 1972.

Destruction and rebuilding

During the late 1970s, amid widespread abandonment of properties throughout New York City, the Corn Exchange building sat vacant and largely unused for nearly three decades, suffering from neglect and vandalism. It was sealed off in 1987 following requests from the local Community Board. The building was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Although considered for landmark status by the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1984, official designation was only granted in 1993 after it was determined that much of its architectural character remained intact. (The Commission's jurisdiction over city-owned properties is advisory.)

A fire in 1997 destroyed both the mansard roof and two floors beneath it. In 2003, a community activist acquired the property for $10,000 with plans to open a culinary school but was unable to secure funding to move forward. The city reclaimed ownership in 2000 and subsequently demolished all but the basement and first floor in 2009 due to safety hazards.

In 2012, Artimus Construction purchased the site and initiated redevelopment for commercial and retail purposes. The redesign by Danois Architects received approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 2013; this new design offers a contemporary interpretation rather than an exact reproduction of the original structure.

The Corn Exchange Building reopened to the public with an art fair event held in May 2015.

See also

• List of New York City Landmarks
• National Register of Historic Places listings in New York County, New York

External links

• "Corn Exchange Bank Building" – Library of Congress collection featuring images of the partially demolished structure
• East Harlem Preservation – resource site offering related information and articles