Abrams Building
Why it's listed
Standing at the corner of South Pearl Street and Hudson Avenue on the southern edge of Albany's central business district, this four-story red brick building dates from 1885. Physician and Albany Medical College professor John M. Bigelow had it built to replace a smaller family building. Its first floor keeps the original storefront with cast-iron trim, two commercial spaces with original cabinets and tin ceilings, and a second-floor meeting hall once used by groups such as the Grand Army of the Republic and the Elks Club. Apartments occupy the third and fourth floors. Arched windows, brick stringcourses, a small pediment and carved brickwork give the facade Romanesque character. The architect is unknown, though the design closely resembles the Old Albany Business College of 1887. Once part of a row, the building now stands alone after neighboring structures were demolished. It is valued as one of the few unaltered commercial buildings of its era in downtown Albany, and it was vacant at the time of the nomination.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a fine, largely unaltered example of late nineteenth century commercial architecture with Romanesque style detailing. It is one of very few buildings in downtown Albany that keep an original first floor storefront. It also reflects the prosperity of downtown merchants and the social life of the period, shown by its second floor lodge hall.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80002577, listed February 14, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 55-57 S. Pearl St., Albany |
|---|---|
| County | Albany County |
| Listed | February 14, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002577 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1885 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque style detailing; late nineteenth century commercial architecture |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as now vacant; the building is freestanding after neighboring structures were demolished, and the owner hopes to restore it. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.64822, -73.75382 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80002577.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4669409
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.