Municipal Asphalt Plant
Why it's listed
Rising beside the East River Drive in Manhattan, this reinforced concrete mixing plant was built in 1941-44 to produce asphalt for city streets. Architects Ely Jacques Kahn and Robert Allan Jacobs designed it for the Borough President's office, and Borough President Stanley M. Isaacs wanted an industrial building that would blend with the drive and nearby housing. Four arched ribs, each 84 feet 6 inches high with a 90-foot clear span, support concrete barrel vaults. Steel ribs served as both formwork and reinforcement. The parabolic form suited the equipment and avoided interior columns. Described as the first design of its kind in the United States, it drew criticism from Robert Moses, who called it a "Cathedral of Asphalt," but was shown by the Museum of Modern Art in 1944. Asphalt production ended in 1968, and the surrounding site became the Asphalt Green recreation area, with plans to convert the building into an indoor sports and arts center.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it was an innovative and radical design, the first of its kind in the United States, using reinforced concrete in a parabolic arch at a time when the material was still somewhat novel. It was praised by the Museum of Modern Art and Architectural Forum, and reflects international design trends through the work of a major architectural firm. It is also described as one of the most notable and unique examples of modern architecture in New York City.
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 80002702, listed May 23, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Between 90th and 91st Sts., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | May 23, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002702 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1941-44 |
| Architect / builder | Ely Jacques Kahn and Robert Allan Jacobs |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied and vacant; plant operations ceased in 1968 and the mixing equipment was removed. Plans were underway to convert it into a community sports center as part of Asphalt Green. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.77830, -73.94372 (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.
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 80002702.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6936130
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.