344 West 72nd Street

[doptg id=”1902″]

344 West 72nd Street

Date: 1902-1904

NB Number: NB 395-1902

Type:  Apartment Building

Architect:  Scharsmith, John E.

Developer/Owner/Builder: Johnson Kahn Company

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report: Addendum to the West End-Collegiate Historic District Extension Designation Report

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  Beaux-Arts

Primary Facade:   Brick, Buff brick, Limestone, and Russet Brick

Stories: 12 and penthouse

Historic District: West End-Collegiate HD Extension

Special Windows: Transoms with leaded roundel details at some windows at second and third
stories.

Decorative Metal Work: Iron railings at areaway (see “Alterations”)

Significant Architectural Features: Tripartite vertical configuration; three-story, heavily rusticated limestone base terminating in a cornice with details including voussoired window surrounds, scrolled keystones, garlanded cartouches, and ibex heads at first story, molded window surrounds with triangular pediments at second story, and oversized, stylized brackets with sculptural human and animal heads supporting shelf lintel at third story; russet-colored brick with limestone details and alternating three-sided bays at shaft; molded window surrounds with triangular and arched pediments and flanked by oversized sculptural cherubs at fourth story; Gibbs surrounds, voussoired lintels with foliate keystones, and plain limestone spandrels set between windows of each story at fifth through eighth stories; limestone oriels at outer bays at ninth story; pilasters and surrounds with triangular pediments or shelf lintels at remaining window openings at ninth story; round-arched window openings at central bays of 10th story featuring garlanded half-caryatids that function as brackets for the heavy, denticulated and modillioned cornice which caps the shaft; Gibbs surrounds with keystones serving as brackets supporting secondary cornice at capital; molded window surrounds with segmental-arched pediments at 12th story, except for central and outer bays which feature double-height configurations with broken and triangular pediments; six three-over-three oversized possibly original studio windows at mansard roof.

Alterations: Mostly replaced sashes (one-over-one double-hung sashes are the original configuration; existing three-over-three sashes may be historic but are not original); original porch and carport removed (date not determined, but prior to c. 1939 tax photograph; see 1905 photo available from the Museum of the City of New York for original configuration); present wrought-iron porch at main entry dates to 2008-12 alteration; historic decorative railings with black painted finish reinstalled in 2008; painted doors, transom and surround (2008); nonhistoric light fixtures (2008-12).

Building Notes: Designated a New York City Individual Landmark on September 11, 1984 (LP-1506). Along with its nearby Upper West Side contemporaries, the Ansonia Hotel and the Dorilton Apartments (designated New York City Individual Landmarks), the Chatsworth Apartments and Annex recall an era when wealthy New Yorkers began to forsake the practice of maintaining large houses in favor of residing in luxurious apartment buildings. At the Chatsworth Apartments and Annex the architect successfully reinforced the effect of luxury by relying on large-scale design, and exuberant use of classical detail and sumptuous choice of materials in the grand French Beaux-Arts architectural tradition. Both buildings, due to their conspicuous siting at the foot of Riverside Park, provide an appealing and arresting visual terminus from Riverside Park, Riverside Drive, and the Henry Hudson Parkway. (For more information, see LPC designation report for The Chatsworth Apartments and Annex).

North Facade: Designed (historic, painted at first story)
Stoop: Altered
Porch(es): Altered
Door(s): Replaced primary door
Windows: Mixed (upper stories); altered (basement)
Security Grilles: Possibly historic (basement)
Roof: Historic (pitched – slate)
Notable Roof Features: Mansard roof
Cornice: Original
Areaway Wall/Fence Material(s): Granite with decorative iron railings (see “Decorative Metal Work” and “Alterations”)
Areaway Paving Material(s): Concrete
Sidewalk Material(s): Concrete
Curb Material(s): Masonry

East Facade: Partially designed (historic)
Significant Architectural Features: Brown brick at lower stories; russet brick with Apartments and Annex).white brick and limestone details at upper stories; northernmost bay is most articulated, featuring white brick quoins, splayed limestone lintels with keystones at fifth through 10th stories, white brick banding at 10th story, limestone cornices at 11th story (continuous with primary (north) facade), and limestone Gibbs surround at 11th story; similar treatment as primary (north) facade at 12th story, consisting of mansard roof with double-height molded window surround capped by a broken pediment; projecting russet brick chimney with white brick quoins featuring blind-arch opening with triangular limestone pediment at 12th story, and capped by a limestone broken pediment.
Building Notes: Designed portion of facade appears to be limited to northernmost wing, and northernmost bay in particular. Large fire escape visible within courtyard.
Windows: Mixed (one-over-one double-hung sashes is the original configuration; existing threeover- three sashes may be historic but are not original).