777 West End Avenue: The Strafford

777 West End Avenue

NB Number: NB 541-1910

Type:  Apartment Building

Architect:  Schwartz & Gross

Developer/Owner/Builder: Salisbury Realty Co.

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

Primary Facade:   Brick, Stone, and Terra Cotta

Stories: 12

Historic District: Riverside-West End Historic District Extension II

Significant Architectural Features: Stone base; Flemish-bond brickwork with burnt headers; granite steps and cheek walls at entrance; band course with corbels over entrance; entrance with foliate molding; windows at third story with keyed surrounds; terra-cotta band course with leaf-and-tongue molding above windows of outer bays at third story; windows at fourth through ninth, and 11th stories with keystones; windows at 10th story with sill course and molded cornice supported by scrolled brackets with swags; two-story piers with terra-cotta panels capped by scrolled brackets with swags; decorative terracotta lintel incorporating cartouches, pendants, and tympana with coquillage at 12th story; copper cornice

Alterations: Base partially painted; windows of eastern- and westernmost bays reconfigured; basement windows infilled; one possibly historic grille at basement reinforced with metal mesh; marquee; mirror; hanging sign with bracket; pipe and siamese standpipe at basement windows; remote utility meter; lights; thermometer

Building Notes: Entrance on West 98th Street. An image from 1913 shows multiple metal balconies, a stoop and cantilevered marquee, these were removed by the time of the 1939-40 tax photograph. Windows in the corner bays were originally triple windows.

Site Features: Metal fence across service alley with possibly historic gate with additional metalwork and metal mesh

North Facade: Designed (historic, painted, repointed)

Door(s): Possibly historic primary door

Windows: Replaced (upper stories); replaced (basement)

Security Grilles: Not historic (upper stories); possibly historic (basement)

Cornice: Historic

Sidewalk Material(s): Concrete

Curb Material(s): Stone; concrete with metal edge at corner

Areaway Wall/Fence Materials: Metal

Areaway Paving Material: Concrete

East Facade: Designed (historic)

Facade Notes: Similar to primary facade; lintels altered and keystones removed at northernmost bay; brick repointed and patched, base partially painted; windows replaced, those of southernmost and northernmost bays reconfigured; basement windows infilled; nonhistoric grilles; remote utility meter

Site: concrete sidewalk; stone curb

West Facade: Not designed (historic) (partially visible)

Facade Notes: Red and yellow Flemish-bond brickwork; brick repointed; tile coping; door; lights; cables; stone or terra-cotta sills; center bay of windows segmental-arched with brick lintels; windows replaced Site: concrete-paved service alley; concrete staircase with metal railing

South Facade: Not designed (historic) (partially visible)

Facade Notes: Brick; clay-tile coping