304-306 West 88th Street

304-306 West 88th Street

NB Number: NB 1501-1889

Type:  Rowhouse

Architect:  Taft, Joseph H.

Developer/Owner/Builder: James B Gunn

Row Configuration: ABCCBA

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report:   Riverside Drive- West End Historic District

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  Flemish Revival

Primary Facade:   Brownstone

Stories: 4 and basement

Basement Type: Raised

Stoop Type: Unknown

Roof Type/Material: Pitched

Structure: These six four-story houses on raised basements were designed as a unified row of alternating house types; the three designs within this row are arranged in a rhythm of ABCCBA. The facades, three bays wide are characterized by brown iron-spot brick fronts above brownstone faced basements and first stories, brownstone trim, projecting bays and oriels and alternating stepped gables and crenelated cornices.  The original windows were probably one-over-one wood sash with stained glass transoms at the parlor story (as can be seen at No 310.) There are carved keystones above the parlor story windows and doors of the four center houses. The original pitched roofs probably had standing seam metal surfaces (as can be seen at No 314) with stepped parapet walls separating the buildings at the roof.

Nos 306 and 312 are type “B” houses which originally had arched windows and and entrance at the parlor story (still retained at No 306.) Slightly projecting squared oriels unite the second and third stories, the fourth story windows are arched, and crenelated masonry cornices cap the facades.

Historic District: Riverside Drive- West End HD

Alterations: This house has no stoop and has been joined to No. 304,* which contains the main entrance to both buildings. The parlor story entrance has been replaced by a window. The alterations to this building are similar to those at No. 304 except that the keystones above the parlor story windows have been retained. The areaway wall has been altered with the addition of a wrought-iron fence. 1921: Alt. 2031-1921 (Source: Alteration Application] Nos. 304 and 306 combined and converted from residences to a school.

History: Designed by Joseph Taft, this complete raw of six houses, built in 1889-90, was probably built for the major West Side developer, W.E.D. Stokes, although the owner of record is listed as James B. Gunn. Stokes was responsible for many rows west of Broadway and north of 81st Street, although he frequently had others file his applications at the Department of Buildings; Taft was Stokes’s architect.between 1887 and 1890. These houses resemble No. 313 West 88th Street, the survivor of a four-house row located across the street, which was also designed by Taft and built in the same year. Selected References: New York City Department of Taxes Photograph Collection, Municipal Archives and Record Collection, E 1294. Lori Zabar, “The Influence of W.E.D. Stokes’ Real Estate Career on West Side Development,” Master’s Thesis Columbia University, 1977, 19. In 1921, Nos. 304 and 306 were combined and converted to a private girls prep school. The Eisman Day Nursery was located here in 1944. A school still occupies these buildings.