304 West 91st Street
304 West 91st Street
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Date:Â 1893
NB Number:Â NB 513-1893
Type: Â Rowhouse
Architect: Â Ferdon, Martin V.B.
Developer/Owner/Builder:Â Walker & Lawson
Row Configuration:Â ABCBD
NYC Landmarks Designation:Â Historic District
Landmark Designation Report:Â Â Riverside Drive- West End Historic District
National Register Designation:Â N/A
Primary Style: Â Renaissance Revival
Primary Facade: Â Â Brownstone
Stories:Â 4
Window Type/Material:Â One-over-one double-hung/Wood
Basement Type:Â Unknown
Stoop Type:Â Unknown
Structure:Â Â These five brownstone fronted, four story houses were designed as a row. Each is seventeen feet wide except for No. 312 which is eighteen feet wide. They are unified by a common roof line, string course and sill lines, stoops, and multi story oriels at four of the five houses. Four designs alternate within this group of houses, arranged in a rhythm of ABCBD (from east to west). The historic windows are one-over-one double-hung wood sash which remain in most windows on all of the buildings. Original wrought iron grilles, in a twisted design, cover the ground story windows, basement entrance doors, and the cellar windows facing the areaways. Entrance doors above the stoops are the original oak and glass double doors with transoms and original hardware. The original basement level entrances are present under these stoops.
The A type house, No. 304, defines the beginning of the row with a full height projecting section. The window surrounds vary in design from story to story. The position of the recessed entrance bay is marked by an elliptically arched pediment at the third story. The metal cornice has an anthemion design.
Historic District: Riverside Drive- West End HD
Alterations: The brownstone facing at first and second stories has been painted gray while that at the third and fourth stories has been painted white. The stoop has been removed, and a ground level entrance created. A window has replaced the original entrance. The windows with wrought iron grilles at the first story are replacements. The windows in the projecting section at the second story have also been replaced. New wrought iron grilles cover all second story windows. One third story window is an aluminum replacement. A new wrought iron fence fronts the areaway. Storm windows have been placed over the windows at the third and fourth stories and one window at the second story. A new light fixture is placed above the door. 1949: BN 3129-1949 [Source: Building Notice Application] Stoop removed; new entrance created. Architect — Big City Building Corp. Owner — David and Marian Lerner
History: This row of five houses was designed by architect Martin V.B. Ferdon, who was active on the Upper West Side, and built in 1893. The developers, Walker & Lawson, were described in Real Estate Record and Guide as “…about the earliest pioneers among the builders” in the area around West 104th Street. Selected References: New York City Department of Taxes Photograph Collection, Municipal Archives and Record Collection, C 734. Real Estate Record & Guide 46 (Dec. 20, 1890), 39.