740 West End Avenue (aka 740-750 West End Avenue; 251 West 96th Street)

740 West End Avenue

Della Robbia

Date: 1913-15

NB Number: NB 441-1913

Borough of Manhattan Tax Map Information: Block 1868, Lot 1

Type:  Apartment Building

Architect:  Schwartz & Gross

Developer/Owner/Builder: Harry Schiff

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report: Riverside Drive– West End Historic District Extension II

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  Renaissance Revival with alterations

Primary Facade:   Brick, Roman Brick, Stone, and Terra Cotta

Stories: 13

Decorative Metal Work: Metal anchor plates from original marquee

Significant Architectural Features: Two-story, stone entrance surround with scrolled brackets, cartouche, and carved frieze; stone band courses with egg-and-dart and leaf-and-tongue molding at third story; paneled brickwork plaques and spandrels; terra-cotta sills at fourth through tenth stories; terra cotta sill course, modillioned cornice, and terra-cotta panels at 11th story; terra-cotta panels and sills at 12th and 13th stories; foliate cornice; steppe parapet with basketweave brickwork, and terra-cotta plaques and coping with scrolls

Alterations: Balconies removed; non-historic railing at roof; through-wall air conditioners and vents; fabric marquee; cameras with conduits; siamese hose connection; remote utility meter; lights

Site Features: Grilles; siamese hydrant

West Facade: Designed (historic, patched)
Door(s): Replaced primary door
Windows: Replaced
Security Grilles: Not historic (upper stories)
Cornice: Historic
Sidewalk Material(s): Concrete
Curb Material(s): Stone

North Facade: Not designed (historic) (partially visible)
Facade Notes: Brick, patched; windows replaced

South Facade: Designed (historic)
Facade Notes: Similar to primary facade; deep light court with decorative brick banding at third and 11th stories, and parapet; stone entrance surround; possibly historic light fixtures; windows of light court with terra-cotta sills and brick lintels; door and windows replaced; service entrance in light court with possibly historic security grille; fire escapes; nonhistoric railing; window grilles mixed, those on east may possibly be historic; balconies removed; fence and bulkhead on roof of eastern pavilion; brick patched; camera and nonhistoric light with conduits; historic plaque about Madame Carreno at corner Site: possibly historic decorative metal fence and gate across light court and around basement entrance; louvered vent in basement; altered, possibly historic fence across areaway;pipe; grilles in sidewalk; concrete sidewalk; concrete curb with metal edge

East Facade: Not designed (historic) (partially visible)
Facade Notes: Brick, patched and painted; fire escapes; bulkheads, one parged, the other vinyl sided with a through-wall air conditioner; water tank; pipes and railings on roof; windows replaced; conduit