46 Riverside Drive

46 Riverside Drive

NB Number: NB 641-96 (Alt. 2251-20)

Type:  Townhouse

Architect:  True, Clarence

Developer/Owner/Builder: Clarence True

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report: West End – Collegiate Historic District

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  Elizabethan Renaissance Revival

Primary Facade:   Brick, Limestone, and Roman Brick

Stories: 4 1/2

Elements: Four-and one-half-story town house on corner site; three-pavilion Riverside Drive facade, both ends with stepped gables;
corner pavilion with three-story curved bay; southernmost pavilion with three-story square bay; Roman brick facing with limestone trim; all windows (except square bay and above entrance) with Gibbs surrounds; quoins; one-over-one wood sash windows; recessed, round-arched ground level entry with double-leaf metal and glass entry doors, decorative panels, and decorative entablature supported by paired rusticated pilasters (with oval windows in between); round-arched windows on first and fourth floors; decorative parapets above bays and central pavilion (which also has heavy entablature above second story windows); interrupted segmental pedimented dormers with shields and pilasters; stepped, coped party walls; intricate north end chimney.

Historic District: West End - Collegiate HD

Alterations: Roof tiles removed and roof resurfaced; north facade cornice altered; terminations of stepped gables removed; wrought-iron railings installed on three parapets; entry steps resurfaced with yellow brick: new iron grilles at first floor and areaway fence installed; small dormer added to front facade; one air conditioner installed through the wall at ground level; canvas awning installed at fourth floor of south bay; replacement windows installed: second floor aluminum sash with storms, corner bay three-over-three metal sash, fourth floor square aluminum sash. Corner gable window surround removed and opening enlarged with paired aluminum one-over-one sash; entry lamps added.

History: Built as one of a group of six houses (Nos. 44-46 Riverside Drive and Nos. 334-338 West 77th Street).
Sold to Frank J. Goodnow on Feb. 23, 1897, and owned by the family until 1920. Goodnow was an author, lawyer, Columbia University professor, “expert legal adviser” to the Republic of China for three years, and, near the end of his life, president of Johns Hopkins University.
Building converted to apartments in 1920.

References: New York City, Department of Buildings, Manhattan, Plans, Permits and Dockets.
Who’s Who, 1918.