Colonnade Row

Colonnade Row is a row of four townhouses at 428-434 Lafayette Street, in the East Village of Manhattan, New York City. They are part of what was originally nine such houses built in the Greek Revival style.

The Colonnade Row was built by a developed named Seth Geer in 1833. Critics called it "Geer's Folly" because they thought nobody would want to live so far east. They were mistaken, of course, when very famous and rich people such as John Jacob Astor and Cornelius Vanderbilt became owners of the houses. Washington Irving, who wrote Rip Van Winkle, also lived there for a while, as did famous English author Charles Dickens.

Colonnade Row, New York City, in winter
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Colonnade_Row_jeh.jpg
Author: Jim.henderson


Five of the houses on Colonnade Row were demolished in the early 20th century when the John Wanamaker Department Store pulled them down to make way for a garage. The remaining houses are also presently in a state of ruin.

How to reach the Colonnade Row

Take the 6 train to Astor Place subway station. You emerge from the subway near Starbucks Coffee (as of Feb 2010). Cross the street at Astor Place and head south on Lafayette Street. You will see Colonnade Row on your right.

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