Tribeca Then and Now: The Old Fidelity Bank on Chambers and West Broadway

The bank was torn down in 2011 (exact?) and replaced by the hotel on the right

The demolition of this bank  building the SE corner of Chambers and West Broadway is one of the events that created the idea for Tribeca Trust.  The building fit well into the unprotected part of Tribeca South Historic District.  It was built around 1920.  The black and white image of the bank building is from the New York Public Library, as are the black and white photos shown below.  Note the fine belgian block street pavers.  Modell’s once rented space there, but Modell’s is an old New York business so we should not be surprised.  In 1994 that the building was falling into a state of neglect, but might have made an extremely fine public library for Tribeca.  Alas, Tribeca Associates bought it, tore it down, and made this hotel in 2008.  The hotel which does not  have the same patina and sense of belonging that the bank building had, but it is not the worst offender out there.