The most iconic building on the Bowery, and a personal Boogie favorite, has been listed on the open market, albeit in mysterious fashion. Photographer Jay Maisel’s epic, 72-room single family residence at 190 Bowery, known predominantly as a longtime haven for graffiti artists, may soon change hands. This would be a huge domino to fall in neighborhood gentrification…

A real estate listing for the landmarked Germania Bank Building just surfaced on the RFR Realty website. The firm is marketing the six-story, 37,000 square-foot property as an ideal location for either a full-building commercial tenant or mix of retail and office usage. No price is listed for the 1898-vintage limestone treasure, but estimates peg the value at upwards of $50 million.

According to property records, Maisel purchased the entire building in 1966 for $102,000. As the urban lore goes, the artist and family refuse to scrub the graffiti from the building because the city allegedly rebuffed his attempts to do the same in the bad old days of the Bowery.

Germania Bank Building in 1904, Photo: NYPL

The Beaux-Arts bank building was originally constructed in 1898 at the corner of Spring Street as the third location of Germania. As the Bowery descended into decrepitude, 190 Bowery fell into disuse. That’s when Maisel swooped in. 

Whatever happens here, perhaps the street artists should get in their last artwork while they still can.

[via Crain’s]