Hersch Tower is a historic

Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French ''Arts Décoratifs'', and sometimes just called Deco, is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, that first appeared in France in the 1910s (just before World War I), and flourished in the Unite ...

building in midtown

Elizabeth, New Jersey Elizabeth is a city and the county seat of Union County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey.New J ...

. Constructed during the

Great Depression The Great Depression (19291939) was an economic shock that impacted most countries across the world. It was a period of economic depression that became evident after a major fall in stock prices in the United States. The economic contagio ...

with a façade of brick, marble and nickel in 1931 by businessman Louis Hersh, the tower is 14 stories and tall. The

Newark Newark most commonly refers to: * Newark, New Jersey, city in the United States * Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey; a major air hub in the New York metropolitan area Newark may also refer to: Places Canada * Niagara-on-the ...

architect, Nathan Myers (who had designed

Temple B'Nai Abraham Temple B'nai Abraham is a synagogue in Livingston, New Jersey. It was established in Newark, New Jersey, Newark in 1853. Its historic 1924 building at 621 Clinton Avenue in was designed by Newark, New Jersey, Newark architect Nathan Myers, who ...

on Clinton Avenue in that city) and Princeton-trained Joseph Shanley designed and planned the building. It originally had self-contained vacuum system, where each unit had a wall receptacle to which one attached a vacuum hose and proceeded without additional machinery. The building also sported a fire escape system—only two of which existed in the US—in which an internal slide would pass tenants from any floor to the street swiftly in case of an emergency. During the 1970s the building was partially renovated including replacement of the elevators and silver leaf in the lobby. It went into foreclosure and was purchased in 1990 by the Brooklyn-based Wydra brothers. Hersch Tower is

contributing property In the law regulating historic districts in the United States, a contributing property or contributing resource is any building, object, or structure which adds to the historical integrity or architectural qualities that make the historic distri ...

to the Mid-Town Historic District which also includes the

Elizabeth Public Library The Elizabeth Public Library is the free public library of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Serving a population of approximately 127,558, its collection contains 342,305 volumes, circulating 190,581 items annually from its four locations. Locations *Main ...

and the Union County Courthouse. and other early high-rises, the Winfield Scott Tower and the Afbender Building. In April 2018, the building received approval from the City of Elizabeth Planning Board to convert the 2nd through 11th Floors to residential dwelling units. Retail and commercial uses will occupy the ground floor and a rooftop lounge and deck is proposed on the 12th floor. The building modifications were designed by Graviano & Gillis Architects & Planners, LLC.

References

{{NRHP in Union County, New Jersey Buildings and structures in Elizabeth, New Jersey Office buildings completed in 1931 Art Deco architecture in New Jersey Tourist attractions in Union County, New Jersey National Register of Historic Places in Union County, New Jersey Office buildings in New Jersey New Jersey Register of Historic Places Historic district contributing properties in New Jersey

See also

References