New York Savings Bank
Also known as: New York Bank for Savings; Goldome Bank
Why it's listed
Built in 1896-97 at 81 Eighth Avenue, on the corner of West 14th Street, this former savings bank was designed by architect R.H. Robertson for the New York Savings Bank. White Vermont marble covers the walls above a polished granite base. The Eighth Avenue front has a Corinthian portico with two fluted columns, and a copper-covered dome rises above the roof. Inside, the banking hall has Siena marble pilasters, a coffered segmental ceiling and a coffered dome with stained-glass windows. The design was meant to draw attention and depositors to a modest-sized building. Alterations in 1930 replaced the wide front stairs with a narrower flight inside the portico and added travertine to the interior walls. The bank closed in 1987 and the building sat vacant until a carpet and rug store opened there in 1994-95. It was listed for its architecture, as an early Classical Revival bank and an important work by Robertson.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an early and architecturally distinguished example of the grand Classical Revival bank, designed by prominent New York architect R.H. Robertson. Its monumental scale, fine materials and impressive banking hall were meant to attract depositors. It retains a high degree of integrity inside and out despite minor alterations.
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 99001657, listed January 7, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 81 Eighth Ave., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | January 7, 2000 |
| Reference number | 99001657 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1896-1930 |
| Architect / builder | R.H. Robertson, architect; George H. Provot, architect of 1930 alterations |
| Architectural style | Early 20th Century Revivals/Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a bank in 1987 and vacant until converted in 1994-95 into a carpet and rug store, which is its current use per the form. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.74009, -74.00271 (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 99001657.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q11695514
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.