90 West Street, New York City

90 West Street or West Street Building is a building in Lower Manhattan designed by architect Cass Gilbert for the West Street Improvement Corporation. When completed in 1907, the building's Gothic styling and ornamentation served to emphasize its 23-story height, and foreshadowed Gilbert's later work on the Woolworth Building. Originally built as an office building, the top floor was occupied by "The Garret Restaurant," which advertised itself as the highest restaurant in New York.

Located on West Street, between Cedar and Albany Streets, just south of the World Trade Center site, the building had a view to the Hudson River before Battery Park City was built on fill across West Street.

In 1998, the building's exterior was designated an architectural landmark by the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The building was severely damaged in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks when the south tower of the World Trade Center collapsed directly across the street. Scaffolding which had been erected on the facade for routine maintenance did nothing to stop the fiery debris from raining into the building and tearing a gash deep down its northern face. At least one office worker was killed when she was trapped in an elevator. The conflagration raged out of control for several days; the building, which had housed businesses including Hanover Capital and IKON Office Solutions, was completely gutted.

Today, the building's exterior is being restored according to the rules dictated by its landmark status, and the interior is being converted to apartments. The building should be ready for occupancy in Spring 2005.

External links

• New York City Landmarks Commission – West Street Building
• http://www.nycpreservation911.org/html/west.html
• http://www.shitewaterfalls.com/photos/90_west_street/