Landmarked bank to be converted to market. On February 15, 2005, Landmarks unanimously approved the adaptive reuse of the New York Savings Bank, located at West 14th Street and Eighth Avenue, by Balducci’s, a high-end food market that traces its roots to a Greenwich Village fruit and vegetable stand. Constructed in 1896, the marble-facade Classical Revival-styled bank was designated an individual and an interior landmark in 1988. In 1994, it was converted to a large carpet store that remained at the site until December 2004.

Balducci’s proposed to alter the bank’s exterior doors, create grade-level entry doors along the Eighth Avenue side and add handicap access. An interior staircase and vestibule wall, added in 1952, would be removed to restore the interior more closely to its original appearance. No new architectural elements would be introduced into the interior and none of the food display cases or racks would be secured to the interior marble. (read more…)