311-317 West 89th Street
311-317 West 89th Street
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Date:Â 1914
NB Number:Â NB 11-1914
Type: Â Apartment Building
Architect: Â Wallis & Goodwillie
Developer/Owner/Builder:Â Excelsior Holding Co
NYC Landmarks Designation:Â Historic District
Landmark Designation Report:Â Â Riverside Drive- West End Historic District
National Register Designation:Â N/A
Primary Style: Â Neo-Renaissance
Primary Facade: Â Â brown brick and Limestone
Stories:Â 9
Window Type/Material:Â see detail
Structure: This nine story apartment building extends approximately 80 feet along the north side of West 89th Street near the middle of the block. The building is dumbbell shaped in plan with interior courtyards opening to the east and west. The building is faced with limestone and brown brick set in English bond. Approximately ninety percent of the original windows still exist.
West 89th Street Facade: The main facade is divided horizontally into a base, midsection, and top. The two-story limestone base has a smooth ashlar finish and is ornamented with cartouches and garlands. Above this rises a five-story brick midsection, articulated by slight variations in the depth of the face brick. A two-story top has vertically grouped windows topped by a cornice and detailed with stone panels and floral ornament. The facade is divided vertically into six bays. Windows of the end bays have simple one-over-one sash. Windows in the four central bays consist of three pairs of casements under pivoting or hopper transoms. This pattern is consistent throughout the facade with two exceptions: 1) Windows flanking the main entry at the first story contain a pair of casements flanked by single casements and topped by transoms, and 2) the easternmost bay of the first story has a service entry instead of a window. The entrance to the apartment building, centered within the facade, is set in a stone surround with floral ornament. A large cartouche surrounded by. floral detailing is placed above the door. Other detailing on the facade includes decorative metal balconies at selected windows, stone cartouches placed within the second bays from the west and the east, and triangular pediments capping the second and fifth window bays at the top story.
Western Elevation: Part of the western elevation is visible from West 89th Street. The brown brick of the facade forms a return on this elevation. The remainder of the elevation is faced in a brownish orange brick in which four window openings are visible. Original fenestration consists of tall paired casements. The elevation contains no significant detailing.
Eastern Elevation: Part of the eastern elevation is visible from West 89th Street. The brick of the facade forms a return on this elevation, which has no window openings and contains no significant detailing.
 Historic District: Riverside Drive- West End HD
Alterations: Two of the original casement pairs of the western facade have been replaced and one other opening has been sealed. The entrance now contains multi paned wood and glass doors in a painted surround with flanking light fixtures. Planters and urns have been removed from the front of the building. Part of the eastern elevation has been covered with cement.
History:Â This nine-story brick and limestone apartment building was constructed in 1914 according to the plans of architects Wallis & Goodwillie for the Excelsior Holding Company. It replaced four four-story rowhouses. Selected References: “Apartment House, No. 311 West 89th Street, New York,” American Architect 107 (May 5, 1915). New York City Department of Taxes Photograph Collection, Municipal Archives and Record Collection, E 1295. Peter Salwen, Upper West Side Story: A History and Guide (New York, 1989), 302.