Demarest Building, Late 19th-century commercial building in Midtown Manhattan, United States.
The Demarest Building was a four-story structure on Fifth Avenue at 33rd Street, designed in Beaux-Arts style with intricate facades and a prominent corner position. The ground floor held retail spaces while upper levels served various commercial purposes.
Built in 1890 by architect James Renwick Jr., the structure originally operated as a luxury carriage showroom for businessman Aaron T. Demarest. It was demolished in 2022 to make way for a residential development project.
The building represents a period when Fifth Avenue changed from a residential neighborhood into a shopping district, with shops that became central to city life. It shows how commercial spaces shaped the character of Manhattan during its rapid expansion.
The building stood at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street in central Midtown, easily located near other notable landmarks. Since the site was demolished in 2022, visitors can now only explore the history of this former location.
The building gained fame for housing the world's first electric elevator, installed before the main structure was completed in 1889. This innovation set a precedent for other tall buildings that would soon rise throughout New York.
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