252 West 73rd Street
Date: 1887-88
NB Number: NB 569-1887
Type: Rowhouse
Architect: Mott, Charles T.
Developer/Owner/Builder: William J. Merritt & Co.
NYC Landmarks Designation: Historic District
Landmark Designation Report: Addendum to the West End-Collegiate Historic District Extension Designation Report
National Register Designation: N/A
Primary Style: Romanesque Revival with alterations
Primary Facade: Brick and Brownstone
Stories: 4 and basement
Historic District: West End-Collegiate HD Extension
Special Windows: Historically contained one-over-one double-hung curved sashes at rounded oriel window openings (replaced).
Significant Architectural Features: Rusticated brownstone at basement and first story; rounded brick oriel window at second through fourth stories capped by conical roof and supported on brownstone base with foliate details; metal arcaded cornice with foliate brackets above third story; grouped with 254 and 256 West 73rd Street to read as one larger house (mirror image ofno. 256); also similar to 262 West 73rd Street.
Alterations: Stoop removed, original door opening converted into window opening, and new main entry with metal facing installed at first story (date not determined; c. 1939 tax photograph is unclear); decorative metal balconette removed from above cornice (present in c. 1939 tax photograph; finials removed from conical roof (see no. 262) prior to c. 1980s tax photograph); replaced sashes (one-over-one double-hung sashes present in c. 1939 and c. 1980s tax photograph; see also “Special Windows”); screen windows; openings beneath basement window openings filled in; light and conduit above new main entry.
Building Notes: New building application 569-1887 was for the development of 19 row houses, designed by Charles T. Mott (238 to 272 West 73rd Street). Only 16 of the original row houses were completed (January 5, 1889), with two of the not-completed homes located in the middle of the row. These two homes, nos. 246 and 248, were later constructed as part of a separate building application (NB 597-1889). Four of the houses were later demolished for construction of the apartment house at 240 West 73rd Street (aka 238-244 West 73rd Street), leaving 14 houses of the original row still standing, including the two 1889 structures. The homes are each distinct in design, but some have interrelated architectural elements, including continuous bands and cornices, meant to tie them together into cohesive groups.
Site Features: Concrete stairs with non-historic metal handrails descend into areaway.
North Facade: Designed (historic, painted)
Stoop: Removed
Door(s): Replaced primary door
Windows: Replaced (upper stories); replaced (basement)
Roof: Replaced (pitched – historically featured barrel-tiles at conical and sloped areas of roof (replaced; present in c. 1939 tax photograph))
Notable Roof Features: Conical roof at oriel window; sloped roof to west
Cornice: Original
Areaway Wall/Fence Material(s): Non-historic metal fencing
Areaway Paving Material(s): Concrete
Sidewalk Material(s): Concrete
Curb Material(s): Granite