Building at 85 Leonard Street
Why it's listed
Five stories of cast iron face Leonard Street in Manhattan at number 85, built in 1860-61 by James Bogardus. It is the only building he designed and built that still survives in New York City. The three-bay facade uses two tiers of tall fluted columns, each spanning two floors and separated by spandrel panels, a design known as the "sperm candle" style because the columns resemble candles made from sperm whale oil. Rope moldings, foliate motifs, lions' heads and small carved heads decorate the front. Neighboring buildings are similar but largely of stone, and the cast iron allowed far more delicate detail at lower cost. Bogardus described himself as the inventor of cast-iron buildings and helped spread iron fronts and iron structural systems. The building was leased in 1860 to a trio who became drygoods merchants. Its facade remains largely intact, while the interior now serves as storage and retains pressed tin ceilings and steep wooden stairways.
Significance in brief: It is the only surviving building in New York City designed and built by James Bogardus, a pioneer of cast-iron construction. It is also one of the few remaining cast-iron buildings in the so-called "sperm candle" style, with two-story columns. The nomination values it for the intricate cast-iron detail and for its role in the development of iron architecture.
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 80002675, listed April 23, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 85 Leonard St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | April 23, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002675 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | James Bogardus |
| Architectural style | Cast-iron architecture in the so-called "sperm candle" style |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; the interior is used as storage for a drygoods company. The facade detail is intact except for a fire escape, and the interior has largely been stripped of its original detailing. |
| Coordinates | 40.71749, -74.00482 (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.
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 80002675.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6417952
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.