Spear and Company Factory facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Spear Building
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Looking west into interior view of cellular tower infrastructure
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 Location in New York City
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| Location | 94-15 100th Street., Queens, New York City |
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| Built | 1906 |
| Architectural style | Cast-in-place reinforced concrete |
| NRHP reference No. | 100001807 |
| Added to NRHP | November 17, 2017 |
The Spear Building is a large, four-story building in Queens, New York City. It covers about 85,000 square feet. This building was once a busy factory. In the 1920s, it made hats and fun wax items.
In 2017, the Spear Building became a special historic place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a great example of an old factory. It was built in the early 1900s using strong concrete.
You can find the building at 94-15 100th Street in the Woodhaven area. It's also famous for being the home of the Worksman Cycles Factory. This company makes well-known pushcarts, tricycles, and tough bicycles. The building was also listed on the New York State Register of Historic Places in 2017.
The Building's Early Days
The Spear Building has a rich history. It was built in 1906 for a company called Spear & Company. This was one of the first buildings in New York City made with a special type of concrete. This concrete was poured into molds right on the spot.
In 1920, the Spear Company joined with Regal Hat company. They became the Regal-Spear Co. This new company made cloth hats and fun items for kids. They were known for serving many customers. The factory on 100th Street was once called the largest cloth headwear maker in the world.
Later, the Columbia Wax Products Co. also used the building. They made unique novelty candles there. After that, the building became home to the Worksman bicycle company.
The Spear Building Today
Experts have studied the Spear Building's design. They say its simple and useful style is very important. It shows how strong concrete was used in early factories. Because of its history, the building was chosen for historic status.
Being on the historic register helps protect the building for the future. It also offers special tax benefits to the owners. These benefits can help pay for repairs and updates. For example, in New York State, owners can get money back for fixing up historic buildings. This helps keep these old places in good shape.
In 2017, the governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, approved the building's historic status. He said it was important to honor New York's history. He also said that listing these sites helps save them for future generations.
In 2016, the city's Economic Development Corp. (EDC) announced plans for the building. They said it would be updated to hold 24 businesses. This project would create 80 skilled jobs. The EDC provided $10 million in grants and a $3.7 million loan for the work.
The new businesses will include woodworkers, metalworkers, and home goods makers. These jobs are expected to pay good salaries.
Modern Updates and Features
The Spear Building also has a tall cell phone tower. This 95-foot tower helps people in the area get better cell service. It stands above the nearby homes and trees.
In 2018, the inside of the building was completely redone. A new roof was also put on. The building is being updated to be very energy efficient. It will be LEED certified, which means it meets high green building standards.
The building will also have 12,000 square feet of solar panels. These panels will help power the building. This will lower electricity costs for the businesses inside. A group called Greenpoint Manufacturing and Design Center has raised $40 million for these updates. The building will be known as the GMDC Ozone Park Industrial Center.
