Houses at 83 and 85 Sullivan Street
Why it's listed
Nos. 83 and 85 Sullivan Street are two adjoining brick houses in lower Manhattan, near Greenwich Village, built in 1819 by the carpenters David Mulford and Drake Crane. Both began as two-and-one-half-story Federal style dwellings and were raised to three full stories in the late nineteenth century, No. 85 in 1874 and No. 83 in 1880, with bracketed or modillioned cornices added. Flemish bond brickwork, six-over-six windows, wrought-iron railings with acorn decoration and leaded-glass transoms survive. The doorway at No. 83 is described as one of the oldest surviving Federal doorways in Manhattan. The lots were once part of the Bayard farm and later belonged to Aaron Burr, who sold this lot in 1802. The houses were listed as rare, largely intact examples of modest Federal residences in the city, and each now holds three apartments. They have also been locally designated landmarks since 1973.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the houses are rare, largely intact examples of modest Federal style residences in Manhattan. Their original doorways, especially the one at No. 83, are among the best preserved and oldest of their type in the city. The late nineteenth century third-story additions and Italianate cornices are typical of alterations made to Federal houses. The pair has also been a local landmark since 1973.
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 80002696, listed November 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 83--85 Sullivan St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | November 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002696 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | David Mulford (No. 83) and Drake Crane (No. 85), carpenters |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Each house contains three apartments and is used as a private residence. Condition is listed as good and altered, with some stone lintels and sills covered in sheet metal. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | South Village Historic District |
| Coordinates | 40.72496, -74.00341 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 80002696.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4644715
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.