591-597 West End Avenue

591-597 West End Avenue

NB Number: NB 656-1922

Type:  Apartment Building

Architect:  Sugarman, Hess & Berger

Developer/Owner/Builder: 595 West End Avenue Corporation

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:   brown brick, Limestone, and Terra Cotta

Stories: 15

Window Type/Material: Six-over-one/Wood; Eight-over-one/Wood

Structure: This fifteen story apartment building is located on the west side of West End Avenue in the block between West 88th Street and West 89th Street, extending approximately seventy-eight feet along the avenue. The building is faced in scored brown brick laid in stretcher bond with a rusticated limestone base and trim of patterned brick and terra cotta. All of the original windows remain.

West End Avenue Facade: This facade has three major horizontal divisions – a base, a midsection, and a top. The two story base has a ground story of rusticated limestone, some textured, and a second story with limestone window surrounds and patterned brickwork. The main entrance has a stone surround with carved floral detail. The wood and glass doors have a marble paneled transom and are flanked by light fixtures. Three service doors are found at the first story in addition to the main entrance. The four central windows of the second and third stories, above the entry, are set in double height limestone surrounds with pilasters supporting molded arches over the third story windows. Windows in this area have marble panels at the lintels. Bowed metal balconies supported by scrolled brackets are located at these third story windows. The facade is articulated by six bays of windows; the two middle and two end bays have paired windows with six-over-one wood-framed sash, while the remaining two bays have single windows with eight-over-one sash. The eleven story midsection has a bandcourse with inset balustrades at the sixth story sill line and balconies with classically inspired detail at two tenth story windows. The two story top section surmounts a wide bandcourse embellished with balconies. Paired windows of these stories are joined vertically by terra cotta spandrel panels and are topped by large arches with decorative tympanums. The center portion of the parapet is arched and is decorated with a large cartouche. The flat portions of the parapet are joined to the center portion by metal railings.

Rear Wall: Part of the rear wall, which is faced in tan brick, is visible from West 89th Street. Three bays of paired multi pane windows can be seen.

Historic District: Riverside Drive- West End HD

Alterations: A recent canopy projects over the sidewalk at the entrance. First-story windows are painted black. Upper-story windows are painted green

History: This apartment building was erected in 1922-23 for the 595 West End Avenue Corporation according to the design of the architectural firm of Sugarman, Hess & Berger. Previously on the site were four rowhouses. A design for this building appeared in the February 10, 1923  “Real Estate Record and Guide”; its massing was similar to the building as it was constructed but its detailing was much different. Selected References: New York City Department of Taxes Photograph Collection, Municipal Archives and Record Collection, H 2370. “Plans Completed for Large West End Avenue Apartment,” Real Estate Record & Guide 111 (Feb. 10, 1923), 169.