171 Calyer Street is situated in the Greenpoint Historic District of Brooklyn. This district developed with the rise of industry in the borough, which is reflected in the area’s variety of building types and styles. These structures were all designed with popular architectural styles between 1850 and 1900.
This particular property was erected in roughly 1949 in the Neo-Federal style. The utilitarian brick building served as home for a vaudeville house and then a movie theater from 1908 to the 1960’s. Since that time, there has always been a commercial presence at this site. The current iteration of the property will pay homage to its humble commercial origins and serve as a luxurious home for future residents.
Once upon a time, the RKO Greenpoint Theater stood at this location. At the height of its popularity in the 40’s, you could catch a double-feature or purchase war bonds to help the efforts overseas. The opulent theater was modeled after traditional Opera Houses, and the lavish interior could seat 1,600. Often referred to as “movie palaces” or “picture palaces,” these elaborately decorated theaters were very popular between the 1910’s and the 1940’s.
Prior to its life as the RKO Theater, the building served as a vaudeville house. Around 1900, motion pictures started becoming an entertainment staple at these venues. The competitive market caused vaudevillians to constantly look for new entertainment sources, and films helped create demand. And as they say, “the rest is history.”
PKSB architects’ design “responds to the site’s current context while recalling its architectural past.” The building seamlessly blends in with the area’s iconic rowhouses and townhouses whilst simultaneously paying homage to its past as the Greenpoint Theatre. On the ground floor, the eye-catching façade features rusticated brick piers and a granite base. Moving up to the 2nd – 5th floors, you will find brick and cast stone and simulated double-hung casement windows. For the 6th floor Penthouse, the aesthetic smooths into a pleasing stucco with a thermally broken aluminum window all and terrace parapets comprised of brick and cast stone. The complete composition emphasizes a new & contemporary building that was lovingly designed to honor the history of this renowned district.
During the 1850’s, Greenpoint saw a boom of economic growth with the influx of European immigrants. The neighborhood became known as a bourgeoning shipbuilding center as over a dozen firms moved into the area. The Civil War saw a decline in ship production, but industry continued to increase as countless businesses started popping up specializing in porcelain making, glass making, and oil refining. Not surprisingly, with industrial success came an influx of residential opportunities as workers’ housing was needed to support the thriving local economy. Ornate rowhouses also started cropping up to house business owners and upper management. Local institutions such as the Greenpoint Savings Bank and the Mechanics and Traders Bank also appeared around this time. Even today, a section of Greenpoint remains on the National Register of Historic Places.
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