NYC’s earliest known concrete building — a quirky billboard for stone manufacturers — has listed for $2.99M

New York Post - May 13th, 2025

The Coignet Stone Company Building, a historic landmark at the intersection of Third Street and Third Avenue in Gowanus, Brooklyn, is up for sale at $2.99 million. Built in the 1870s, this building is New York City's earliest known concrete structure, originally constructed by the New York & Long Island Coignet Stone Company as a showcase for their patented cement stone. Despite the company's bankruptcy in 1873, the building has persisted as a local landmark, known for its unique architecture including 13-foot ceilings, arched windows, and a curving staircase. The current broker, Erica Nieves, acknowledges the building's 'raw' condition but highlights its potential for restoration, especially given its prime location between trendy Gowanus and Carroll Gardens.

The Coignet Stone Company Building has seen several unsuccessful sales attempts, including in 2013 and 2019. A significant exterior renovation was undertaken in 2016, funded by its neighboring Whole Foods Market. Recently, the zoning for the building changed, now allowing only commercial uses such as restaurants or retail spaces. This change, coupled with the potential for a lease agreement, offers new possibilities for the building's future. The sale represents an opportunity for someone to revitalize a piece of history, turning it into a vibrant part of the community while maintaining its landmark status.

New York City Real Estate Whole Foods Market Coignet Stone Company Building Gowanus Historic Buildings Erica Nieves Landmark Concrete Architecture

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.8

Fair Story

Consider it well-founded

The article provides a comprehensive overview of the Coignet Stone Company Building, blending historical context with current market developments. It scores highly in accuracy, clarity, and readability, offering a well-structured narrative that is accessible to a general audience. The story effectively highlights the building's architectural features and historical significance, making it engaging for readers interested in Brooklyn's heritage.

However, the article's reliance on a single source, Erica Nieves, limits its source quality and transparency, as it does not provide a diverse range of perspectives or disclose potential conflicts of interest. The story could benefit from additional viewpoints, particularly from historical experts or community members, to enhance its balance and public interest.

While the article is timely and relevant, its impact and engagement potential are moderate, as it does not explore broader implications or provoke significant debate. By expanding its focus to include community perspectives and potential controversies, the article could increase its relevance and influence. Overall, the story offers a solid foundation for understanding the Coignet Stone Company Building's significance, with room for improvement in source diversity and broader context exploration.

Accuracy

The story provides a largely accurate account of the Coignet Stone Company Building, with several key factual claims supported by historical records. The claim that the building is the earliest known concrete structure in New York City constructed in the 1870s is consistent with historical sources. The timeline of the company's founding and its financial difficulties shortly after the building's completion are generally correct, though the bankruptcy timeline requires slight clarification.

The description of the building's architectural features, such as its 13-foot ceilings, arched windows, and overall condition, aligns with historical and current observations. However, the story would benefit from more precise verification of recent zoning changes and the current status of the building's sale and lease options, which are mentioned but not substantiated by external records within the text.

Overall, the story's factual accuracy is strong, with minor areas needing additional verification, particularly regarding more recent developments and market details.

Balance

The article provides a balanced view of the Coignet Stone Company Building's historical significance and current market status. It includes perspectives from the building's broker, Erica Nieves, which offers insight into its potential and challenges.

However, the story could benefit from additional viewpoints, such as those from local historians or community members, to provide a fuller picture of the building's cultural and historical impact on the neighborhood. The narrative focuses primarily on the building's market aspects and less on its historical preservation efforts or community sentiment.

While it does mention the building's landmark status and restoration efforts, the article does not explore opposing views or any criticism regarding its current state or future use, which could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.

Clarity

The article is generally well-written, with clear language and a logical flow that guides the reader through the building's history, current condition, and market status. The narrative effectively combines historical context with present-day developments, making it accessible to readers unfamiliar with the Coignet Stone Company Building.

The use of descriptive language, such as "soaring 13-foot ceilings" and "arched windows," helps paint a vivid picture of the building's architectural features. However, the article could benefit from clearer explanations of technical terms, such as "zoning changes," to ensure all readers fully understand the implications.

Overall, the article maintains a neutral tone and presents information in a straightforward manner, contributing to its clarity and readability.

Source quality

The article relies heavily on statements from Erica Nieves, the building's broker, which provides a credible but singular perspective. This reliance on a single source limits the article's breadth of viewpoints and may introduce potential bias due to her vested interest in the building's sale.

The story would benefit from incorporating additional sources such as local government records, historical experts, or real estate analysts to corroborate claims about the building's history, structural condition, and market potential. Including a wider range of sources would enhance the article's credibility and provide a more nuanced understanding of the building's significance and future prospects.

Transparency

The article provides limited transparency regarding the sources of its information, primarily citing Erica Nieves without disclosing any potential conflicts of interest due to her role as the building's broker. There is a lack of detailed methodology or background on how the information was gathered, particularly concerning recent zoning changes and the building's market status.

The story could improve transparency by clearly indicating the basis for its claims, such as specific documents or historical records, and by acknowledging the potential bias introduced by relying heavily on a single source. Providing context about the building's significance and the implications of its potential sale would also enhance transparency and help readers understand the article's foundation.