305 West 89th Street
305 West 89th Street
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Date:Â 1890
NB Number:Â NB 678-1890
Type: Â Rowhouse
Architect: Â True, Clarence
Developer/Owner/Builder:Â William E Lanchantin
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 Romanesque Revival
Primary Facade: Â Â Brownstone
Stories:Â 3
Window Type/Material:Â One-over-one double-hung/Wood
Basement Type:Â Raised
Stoop Type:Â Unknown
Roof Type/Material:Â Hexagonal/Slate & Tile
Structure: The five brownstone-fronted rowhouses at Nos. 301 to 309, and a sixth at No. 319, each twenty feet wide, are three stories above raised basements and have two-bay facades. They are unified by a carrunon roof line and stringcourse lines, two- or three-story projecting bays on the eastern half of the facades, stepped parapets between the buildings, the use of both smooth and rock-faced ashlar on the facades, regularly aligned window and ‘cornice heights, and decorative sunflower motif grilles at the basement stories. Many of the houses have been altered but it is apparent that all originally had hexagonal slate tile roofs, similar facade materials, and stoops leading to parlor-story entrances. The windows all originally had one-over-one double-hung wood sash. The houses have a variety of gables and turrets at the roof, and the ornamental carved stone details of the houses are similar, but each house is individual and distinct from its neighbor.
This house is distinguished by its quarry faced ashlar and a full height rounded projecting bay surmounted by a semicircular conical roof with a finial. The original entrance arch at the parlor story level and carved ornament between the windows of the third story add interest. The roof retains its slate tiles.
Historic District: Riverside Drive- West End HD
Alterations: The stoop was removed, apparently sometime between 1960 and 1969, and a new entrance installed in the basement story. A wrought-iron railing shields the original entranceway at the parlor story. The building is painted yellow and has white aluminum replacement windows. The brick areaway wall is a replacement. There has been some resurfacing of the quarry-faced ashlar over the entire building.
History:Â This row, originally of ten houses which extended from No. 301 to No. 319, was designed by the renowned Upper West Side architect Clarence True, for William E. Lanchantin, a developer active in the construction of such rows in this district. The houses were built in the course of seven months in 1890. The row was broken in 1914 when Nos. 311, 313, 315, and 317 were demolished for the erection of an eight-story apartment building.