NYC is Full of Fake Buildings… Why?

One of the earliest known examples of fake houses was 58 Joralemon Street in New York when it was acquired by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company in 1907 and gutted for the use of ventilating underground transportation.^[6] As a historic building, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission had jurisdiction over the building. Local community wanted the façade to be historically appropriate and compatible with the neighborhood.^[7