150-153 Riverside Drive, AKA 351-357 West 87th Street

150-153 Riverside Drive

NB Number: NB 581-1926

Type:  Apartment Building

Architect:  Maurice Deutsch

Developer/Owner/Builder: 150 Riverside Drive Corporation

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report:Riverside Drive- West End Historic District

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  Neo-Renaissance

Primary Facade:   Brick, Limestone, and Terra Cotta

Stories: 15

Window Type/Material: See structure

Structure: This fifteen story apartment building, now known as the Kateri Residence, is located at the northeast corner of Riverside Drive and West 87th Street, extending 100 feet along the drive and 157 feet along the side street. The building is faced in rust, black, and orange brick laid in common bond with limestone and terra cotta trim. U shaped in plan, its northern elevation is interrupted by a recessed courtyard area.

Riverside Drive Facade: This facade is divided horizontally into a base, a midsection, and a top. The two story base is faced in limestone and its central windows are topped by pointed arches. The ten story brick-faced midsection has an arched corbel table below the fourth story and above the twelfth story and is capped by a three story top whose windows have elaborate terra cotta surrounds, some with arches. The facade is articulated by two bays of single windows at each end flanking four bays of paired windows at the center. A small slit window is placed between the second and third bays from the south. First story fenestration differs slightly from that above, with the addition of doors at the north end and the absence of slit windows.

Other detailing on this facade includes: raised panels between the first and second story windows, double height Corinthian pilasters at the thirteenth and fourteenth story windows with rosettes in the spandrel panels, a spiral colonnette rising from the thirteenth through the fifteenth stories at the southwest corner of the building, and a bracketed cornice.

West 87th Street Facade: This facade follows the same overall design as that of the Riverside Drive facade. The window arrangement is similar, with one single bay at the west end, two single bays at the east end, and nine paired bays between. The building’s entrance is located nearly at the center and has a slightly pointed arched enframement. The bays flanking the doorway are also set in arches; the arches have latticework tympanums. The eastern most bay of this facade steps back successively at the ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, and fourteenth stories.

Northern Elevation: The brick faced northern elevation consists of two wings flanking a courtyard and a low brick wall. One central bay of windows is visible at each wing. There is no significant detailing. A portion of the west facing courtyard elevation, with one bay of paired windows, is visible. Eastern Elevation: The brick-faced eastern elevation is partially visible from the side street. Three window openings, one of which has been sealed, and two through-the-wall air conditioners are visible.

Historic District: Riverside Drive- West End HD

Alterations: All of the windows have one-over-one aluminum sash which replaced the original six-over-one and eight-over-one wood sash. The entrance has recent glass and metal paired doors with sidelights and transom. The base and the northern elevation are painted. Part of the eastern elevation is covered with cement. Some brick repointing has occurred on both main facades.

History: This apartment building was designed by Maurice Deutsch and erected in 1926-28 for the 150 Riverside Drive Corporation (Bert B. Gilbert, President). It replaced four rowhouses. At one time it was known as the Park Crescent Nursing Home and later the Hotel Park Crescent. Selected Reference: New York City Department of Taxes Photograph Collection, Municipal Archives and Record Collection, E 1297.