109 First Avenue Building Date : 1852 Original Use : Residential Original Owner : James Sparrow Original Architect : Unknown Description & Building Alterations This five-story brick tenement was originally built in 1852 as a house and was probably altered into a tenement before 1887. Its owner, James Sparrow, also owned the adjacent building at No. 111 First Avenue. Most historic details on the facade have been stripped, including the cornice, after multiple alterations through time.