601-603 West End Avenue

601-603 West End Avenue

NB Number: NB 186-1915

Type:  Apartment Building

Architect:  Roth, Emery

Developer/Owner/Builder: 601 West End Avenue, Inc.

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:   Buff brick and Granite

Stories: 13

Structure:  This thirteen story apartment building is located on a lot at the northwest corner of West End Avenue and west 89th Street which extends forty-four feet along the avenue and ninety feet along the street. It is faced in limestone.

West End Avenue Facade: This facade is divided into a four story base, a seven story midsection, and a two story top, articulated by two bays containing tripartite windows below the fourth story and paired windows above. Above a low granite water table, the banded first story features the main entrance in the northern bay shielded by a large metal canopy anchored to the facade by two tie rods. Above the doorway is a decorative stone panel with the inscription “601.” The tripartite windows of the first three stories are divided by stone mullions and separated by decorative stone spandrel panels; those at the first story are covered with iron grilles. Stone balconies with iron railings enhance the fourth story bays, which are crowned by projecting carved stone lintels. Stories five through thirteen are ornamented with simple stone bands and panels, with bracketed stone balconies at the twelfth story and arched openings at the thirteenth inscribed in larger arches that are enhanced with carved ornament. The facade is capped by a narrow beltcourse and a simple stringcourse at the parapet.

West 89th Street Facade: This facade features the same overall design and articulation of detail as the West End Avenue facade expanded to five bays. Two entrances are located between the two end bays at each side. A a narrow slit window is adjacent to the center bay at each story.

Northern Elevation: The northern elevation, visible above the neighboring building, is buff colored brick and has two window openings per story. Western Elevation: An alleyway separates the western elevation from the neighboring building. The elevation is buff colored brick with a stone return and has three visible window openings per story.

Historic District: Riverside Drive- West End HD

Alterations: Except for the arched wood frames at the thirteenth story, the windows have been replaced with dark brown one-over-one aluminum sash. The West End entryway contains paired multi paned aluminum doors and sidelights with a bronze finish. The West 89th Street entryways have been filled with concrete. Vents and air conditioner sleeves have been cut into the masonry to the north of each bay above the second story of the West End Avenue facade, and beneath the slit windows and the openings adjacent to the eastern bay of the West 89th Street facade. The eastern window openings of the northern elevation have been filled in with brick, and spot repointing is evident adjacent to the stone return.

History: Erected in 1915-16 for 601 West End Avenue Inc., this apartment building was designed by noted architect Emery Roth. It was constructed on the site of two four-story rowhouses with raised basements; one faced in stone and one in brick. Selected References: George Bromley, Atlas of the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan ( Philadelphia, 1899), vol. 3 plate 11. New York City Department of Taxes Photograph Collection, Municipal Archives and Record Collection, E 1295. “West End Avenue Project,” Real Estate Record & Guide 95 ( May 8, 1915), 801.