The Jacob Day Residence at 50 West 13th Street is currently in need of repair. A tax photo on the right shows how the building looked in the 1940s. Image Credit: LPC.
On October 22, 2024, the Landmarks Preservation Commission (Landmarks) voted unanimously to designate the Jacob Day House, located at 50 West 13th Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan, as an individual landmark. Jacob Day, a prominent Black businessman, abolitionist, and property owner, lived and operated his catering business out of the home from 1859 until his death in 1884. Day also rented apartments and rooms on the building’s upper two floors to other prominent members of New York’s Black community, including educator, abolitionist and suffragist Sarah Tompkins Garnet.
In the late 1950s, the Jacob Day House was renovated to include a basement theater, which hosted groups like the groundbreaking Afro-American Folklore Troupe. In 1972, it became home to the 13th Street Repertory Company, one of the city’s longest-running “Off-Off Broadway” theaters.
The Jacob Day House was originally calendared for landmark consideration on June 18, 2024.
Previously, on September 10, 2024, Landmarks held a public hearing to discuss the potential designation of the Jacob Day House. Both lifelong neighborhood residents and representatives from local preservation organizations such as Village Preservation, Save Harlem Now, and New York Landmarks Conservancy testified in favor of the designation. Speakers described the home’s rich history and culture, particularly highlighting its rare connection to Manhattan’s Black history.
“We look forward to working with the LPC to preserve this historic property and with their help, returning the property to productive use,” said a representative of 50 West 13th Street LLC.
“I strongly support the designation of 50 West 13th Street as a city landmark, which historically was a hub of civil rights advocacy and the residence of two trailblazing New Yorkers, Jacob Day and Sarah Smith Tompkins Garnet. A century later, the building became a hub for artistic performances and holds a rich cultural heritage,” said New York City Councilmember Carlina Rivera, whose council district includes the Jacob Day House.
“Building a better future starts with first understanding and reconciling with our past. Within Greenwich Village at the Jacob Day Residence, we have a tangible connection to a Black abolitionist who helped fight for freedom and civil rights. To honor the bravery and boldness at the Jacob Day Residence, the Landmarks Preservation Commission is taking a critical step in designating it as a landmark, ensuring that all New Yorkers are aware of the history that lives within our city,” stated First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer.
“The Jacob Day Residence is an incredibly rare surviving 19th century site with direct links to a Black abolitionist, and it is an important reminder of the role New York City’s Black community played in the fight for freedom and social justice. This site shines a light on the bravery and determination of those who risked their lives to fight injustice. Today’s designation reflects LPC’s ongoing commitment to recognizing, protecting, and celebrating places of Black historical and cultural significance, and will ensure this important historic site is protected for generations to come,” shared Landmarks Chair Sarah Carroll.
By: Cassidy Strong (Cassidy is the CityLaw intern and a New York Law School student, Class of 2025.)