315 West 77th Street

315 West 77th Street

NB Number: NB 1610-1890

Type:  Rowhouse

Architect:  Taylor, Van Campen

Developer/Owner/Builder: Francis M. Jenks

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report: West End – Collegiate Historic District

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  English Renaissance Revival and Romanesque Revival

Primary Facade:   ashlar, Brownstone, rock-faced brownstone, and rock-faced masonry

Stories: 5 with basement

Elements: Five-story rowhouse with basement; originally built with mansard roof; rock-faced brownstone base at first floor with smooth, ashlar upper stories; curved bay, capped by balustrade and balcony, rises three stories;double-hung, wood, sash windows; stylized Romanesque arcade over entrance arch (shared with No. 317) embellished with foliate carving, voussoirs and S-scroll keystone; double leaf, wood and plate glass semi-circular doors at main entry with pellet molding motif; rock-faced masonry frieze at arcade forms second floor balcony parapet; groups of five one-over-one curved sash windows each in bay at second and third stories; three round-arched windows asymmetrically grouped with flush bead molding enframement at fourth floor.

Historic District: West End - Collegiate HD

Alterations: Fifth story brick addition replaces mansard roof; nine-over-nine windows at left of second and third floors, and nine-over-nine fourth story windows all replaced by one-over-one wood sash windows; storm windows installed throughout; areaway wall painted; wrought-iron railing applied to areaway wall and grilles added to basement windows and fourth floor window; poorly repointed mortar at stoop stair.

History: Built as one of a row of eleven houses (Nos. 307-327) by McDowell & Hoeney masons, at a cost of $12,000,00. Nos. 307-311 and Nos. 323-327 have since been demolished. As designed, No. 315 was the mirror image of No. 317. Eliphalet W. Tyler bought the house on May 10, 1892.

References: New York City, Department of Buildings;, Manhattan,. Plans, Permits and Dockets.