570-578 West End Avenue, 266-270 West 88th Street

 

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570-578 West End Avenue

 

Date: 1911-1912 NB Number: NB 649-1911 Type:  Apartment Building Architect:  Schwartz & Gross Developer/Owner/Builder: Henry Schiff NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District Landmark Designation Report: Riverside Drive- West End Historic District National Register Designation: N/A Primary Style:  Neo-Renaissance Primary Facade:   Brick and Limestone Stories: 12 Window Type/Material: See Structure/Alterations Structure:  This twelve story, brick faced apartment building is located on a lot at the southeast corner of West 88th Street and West End Avenue which extends 100 feet along West End Avenue and 135 feet along West 88th Street. The building is U-shaped in plan with a narrow courtyard opening to the north. Only a small percentage of original windows have been replaced. West End Avenue Facade: This facade is divided horizontally into a base, midsection, and top. The two story limestone base is topped by a simple cornice at the second story sill line. An eight story midsection rises above the base and is faced in tan colored brick set in Flemish bond and has a strong vertical emphasis created by recessing the windows. Transitional third and tenth stories are articulated by stringcourses. The two story top section is faced in brick and terra cotta and has a continuous balcony with decorative corbels at the lintel line of the tenth story. The facade is divided vertically into five bays, emphasized by bosses extending above the corniced roofline. Windows in the end bays contain pairs of three-over-one sash flanking a nine-over-one sash. The three central bays have pairs of twelve-over-one double-hung window sash, except for the second bay from the north which has twelve-over-one and paired three-over-one and six-over-one sash. The entrance to the apartment building, centered within the facade and flanked by two story pilasters with ornamental carvings, contains metal and glass double doors with sidelights and a transom (all with decorative metal grilles), placed under an ornament-filled arch and topped by three nine-over-one windows. An original metal canopy projects out from the second story sill line. Other detailing on the building includes ornamental arched panels above the twelfth-story windows, patterned brick panels set vertically between windows, and small stone balconies. West 88th Street Facade: This facade has two wings of unequal size which are separated by a courtyard. Both wings have three vertical window bays. End bays are similar to the end bays of the main facade. The central bays contain nine-over-one window sash, three at the larger eastern wing and two at the west. All detailing is similar to that on the West End Avenue facade. Courtyard elevations are faced in brick and have window positions similar to those already described, with the addition of bowed tripartite windows. Detailing is minimal on these elevations and is restricted to the use of soldier courses and gold color bricks. A small brick structure with stone trim and large windows rises to the first story level inside the courtyard. Southern Elevation: The Chautauqua has two side elevations. The southern elevation is partially visible from West 87th Street. The yellow brick facade is punctuated by three bays of windows, all groups composed of one-over-one windows. The only detailing on this elevation consists of three courses of arched brickwork over the first and third window bays. Eastern Elevation: The eastern elevation is visible from a narrow alleyway and has two parts. Its northern half projects a few feet forward from the southern half. The elevation is faced in brick to match the main facade, and contains no significant detailing. Its window configuration is similar to that of the other elevations with one bay of windows in the northern wing being slightly bowed. Historic District: Riverside Drive- West End HD Alterations: The limestone base is painted tan and basement windows on the main facade have been filled with concrete block. The metal canopy has been modified and a small percentage of the windows of the southern elevation appear to be new. History: This apartment building, designed by Schwartz & Gross, was erected in 1911- 12 for Henry Schiff. Previously on this site were seven rowhouses, five fronting on West End Avenue, two on West 88th Street. The building’s name, Chautauqua, recalls that of an upstate New York town which initiated an educational program in the arts, sciences and humanities. Selected References: “The Chautauqua, 574 West End Avenue, New York,” American Architect 109 (Apr. 19, 1916). New York City Department of Taxes Photograph Collection, Municipal Archives and Record Collection, G 2032. Thomas E. Norton, Jerry E. Patterson, Living It Up: A Guide to the Named Apartment Houses of New York (New York, 1984), 95.