355 West End Avenue

355 West End Avenue

Date: 1891

NB Number: NB 47-91

Type:  Rowhouse

Architect:  Lamb & Rich

Developer/Owner/Builder: Lamb & Rich

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report: West End – Collegiate Historic District

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style: Eclectic Renaissance Revival

Primary Facade: Brick and Limestone

Stories: 3 with basement

Window Type/Material: One-over one wood sash windows

Basement Type: Limestone basement

Stoop Type: Limestone box stoop with basement entry at from stoopwall

Roof Type/Material: mansard roof; corbelled chimney at left

Structure: Limestone and brick

Historic District: West End - Collegiate HD

History: Built as one of a row of 14 house (Nos. 343-357 West End Avenue, 301-205 West 76th Street, 302-306 West 77th Street). Ida Mothner occupied the house from July 6, 1910 to 1013. The house was the residence of Henry Shiff between 1913 to 1930. Schiff, a real estate operator, build the Hotel Monterey, Hotel Embassy, and apartment houses on Central Part West, West End Avenue, and Riverside Drive. He was born in Russia and came to New York in 1888. (References: New York City, Department of Buildings, Manhattan, Plans, Permits, and Dockets; New York Times, Oct.21, 1939, p. 15 “Henry Schiff” (obituary)).

Elements: Three-story rowhouse with basement and mansard roof; limestone basement and first floor; yellow Roman brick upper floors with limestone trim; one-over-one wood sash windows; limestone box stopp with basement entry at front stoop wall; decorative carved lintel over main entrance; copper cornice with Gothic frieze; two dormers with conical roofs and finials; corbelled chimney at left.

Alterations: Roof tiles replaced with standing seam copper roofing; new one-over-one wood sash (in old frames); entry doors and ironwork are later replacements; entry lamps added