Germania Bank Building (New York City)

The Germania Bank Building at 190 Bowery stands as a relic of a time when this neighborhood was known as Kleindeutschland, a dense enclave of German immigrants. Built in 1898, it was designed by the German-born architect Robert Maynicke to exude financial stability and permanence. Its robust granite base and arched windows served to reassure the local community that their savings were safe within its walls. The bank changed its name to the Commonwealth Bank in 1918 to avoid the backlash of rising anti-German sentiment during the First World War. Operations continued in this location until the mid-1960s, at which point the economic character of the Bowery had shifted significantly. In 1966, the photographer Jay Maisel purchased the entire 35,000-square-foot structure for roughly 100,000 dollars. For nearly 50 years, he transformed the former banking hall and its 72 rooms into a private home and studio for his family. During his tenure, the building became famous for its exterior, which was layered in decades of graffiti and often mistaken by passersby for an abandoned ruin. The building transitioned back to commercial use in 2015 after being sold for 55 million dollars. Following the sale, the graffiti that had long defined its appearance was cleaned away to reveal the original Beaux-Arts limestone and granite façade. Today, the interior serves as a mix of retail and office space, marking yet another chapter in the life of this massive, historic corner building.