Hersch Tower

Hersch Tower is a historic Art Deco building in midtown Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Hersch Tower
General information
Type	Commercial
Location	125 Broad Street Elizabeth, New Jersey
Coordinates	40.6664915°N 74.2143118°W / 40.6664915; -74.2143118
Completed	1931
Cost	$1,750,000[1]
Height
Roof	42.67 m (140.0 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	14
Lifts/elevators	2
Design and construction
Architect(s)	Nathan Meyers
References
[2]
Mid-Town Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
New Jersey Register of Historic Places
Show map of Union County, New Jersey Show map of New Jersey Show map of the United States
NRHP reference No.	95001143
NJRHP No.	2665[3]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	October 5, 1995
Designated NJRHP	September 29, 1994

Constructed during the Great Depression with a façade of brick, marble and nickel in 1931 by businessman Louis Hersh, the tower is 14 stories and 42.67 m (140.0 ft) tall.^[4] The Newark architect, Nathan Myers (who had designed Temple B'Nai Abraham 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.^[5]

During the 1970s the building was partially renovated including replacement of the elevators and silver leaf in the lobby.^[5] It went into foreclosure and was purchased in 1990 by the Brooklyn-based Wydra brothers.^[6]

Hersch Tower is contributing property to the Mid-Town Historic District which also includes the Elizabeth Public Library and the Union County Courthouse.^[3][7] and other early high-rises, the Winfield Scott Tower and the Afbender Building.^[2]

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.^[8]

See also

• List of tallest buildings in Elizabeth
• List of Art Deco architecture in New Jersey
• List of tallest buildings in New Jersey

References

1. "Elizabeth through the Ages". Elizabeth Historical Society. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
2. "Elizabeth". Emporis. Archived from the original on October 8, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2014.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
3. "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places - Union County". New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
4. "Hersch Tower". Emporis. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014. Retrieved October 8, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
5. "The Elizabeth Forum". Elizabeth Historical Society. 2014. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
6. Goodnough, Abby (August 6, 1995). "In Elizabeth, Dusting Off an Art Deco Treasure". The New York Times. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
7. "Midtown & More". City of Elizabeth. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
8. "93 Apartments Coming to Historic Midtown Elizabeth Tower". March 20, 2018.