The American Felt Building

This very handsome building, which is known as the American Felt Building, has always been the best on the block because of its fine limestone facade. It was erected in 1906 and converted to condominium apartments in 1984, three years before the completion of the great Zeckendorf Towers project on the east side of Union Square at 14th Street sparked the area's renaissance. When this building was converted, however, the immediate vicinity was desolate, drab and dark and much the area's rejuvenation sparked by the larger Zeckendorf project.

As one of the more distinguished buildings in the neighborhood, this 35-unit property is now very classy. The red-brick, 11-story building has a colonnaded entrance distinguished by two semi-globular pedestals that leads into a bright, tall lobby with landscaping and a concierge. There are balconies on the east side of the building, whose rooftop watertank is exposed.

This area of the Village is a very interesting mix of superb early commercial buildings, some fine pre-war apartment buildings, some large post-war apartment buildings, a bowling alley, and the exquisite Grace Episcopal Church nearby at Tenth Street and Broadway.