302-304 West 92nd Street

302-304 West 92nd Street

NB Number: NB 468-1912

Type:  Apartment Building

Architect:  Ajello, Gaetan

Developer/Owner/Builder: A C & H M Hall Realty Co

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:   Limestone and white brick

Stories: 8

Window Type/Material: See alterations/structure

Basement Type: Unknown

Structure: This apartment building of eight stories with a basement, extends seventy-five feet along the south side of West 92nd Street, 100 feet east of West End Avenue. In plan the building is arranged around an interior court which opens to the west. The building is faced in limestone and white brick with terra-cotta trim. West 92nd Street Facade: The facade is divided horizontally into a base, a midsection, and a top. The two story rusticated limestone base rests on a polished granite basement which is punctuated by three openings east of the entrance. The entrance, flanked by tripartite windows with transoms, is enhanced by a classically inspired stone surround containing a sculpted “H” in a cartouche. The lower eastern corner of the base contains the inscription “Gaetan Ajello/Architect.” The facade, five bays wide, is articulated by single window openings at each end with three paired window openings in between. All of the window enframenents have slightly segmented tops. The second story has terra-cotta mullions in the three center bays, with metal grilles filling the lower portions of each window. Stories three through seven are faced in white brick and have terra-cotta lintels and mullions. The center openings of the fourth story are enhanced by a projecting terra-cotta balcony. The bays flanking the center opening are crowned by cartouches with the letter “H” inscribed in the center. The three center openings of the sixth story have small wrought-iron balconies, and the larger, more fully arched bays of the seventh story have individual terra-cotta balconies. The facade is surmounted by a large metal cornice with paired brackets and dentils. Western Elevation: The western elevation, visible above the neighboring five story building, is of red brick with stucco facing at the rear.

Historic District: Riverside Drive- West End HD

Alterations: The original windows (which probably contained – one-over-one wood sash) have been replaced by one-over-one aluminum sash. The entrance contains recent plate glass doors with transoms and a brass surround. The flanking brass lanterns are also recent. The metal cornice has been painted green.

History: This apartment building was constructed in 1912-13 according to the designs of Gaetan Ajello, architect of the stylistically similar building at 645 West End Avenue (adjacent to 302-04 West 92nd Street) which was built for the same owner at roughly the same time. The “H” visible in the cartouches of the building’s facade refers to the owner, the A.C. & H.M. Hall Realty Company. It was built on three unoccupied lots. Selected Reference: George Bromley, Atlas of the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan (Philadelphia, 1899), vol. 3 plate 11.