389 West End Avenue

389 West End Avenue

NB Number: NB 869-1885

Block: 1186

Lot: 79

Type:  Rowhouse

Architect:  White, Frederick B.

Developer/Owner/Builder: Henry H. Hewett

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report: West End – Collegiate Historic District

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  Flemish Renaissance

Primary Facade:   Brick, pressed brick, pressed red brick, Red Brick, and Terra Cotta

Stories: 2 1/2 with basement

Elements: As designed, No. 389 was a mirror image of No. 383 West End Avenue.

383 – Two-and-one-half story rowhouse with basement and steep gable roof; pressed red brick, molded brick and unglazed terra-cotta detail with tinted mortar; one-over-one paired wood sash; stained glass transoms in first floor windows; splayed brick lintels over square and round arch openings; recessed stone stoop below a round Syrian arch shared with No. 385; single-leaf panelled door with
square glazed opening; third-story gable end is articulated by stylized engaged colonnettes rising from a string course on the second
floor and terminating in the finials of the gable end; molded terracotta panel in gable; original roof surface was tile with crenellated cresting (see No. 307 West 78th Street); decorative, basement grille and railings.

Historic District: West End - Collegiate HD

Alterations: Inappropriate cleaning and repointing of brick with white mortar and wide joints; silver aluminum casement or fixed sash windows installed throughout; roof surface replaced with asphalt shingles; corbelled cornice removed at roofline above entry; two crockets removed at gable.

History: Originally built as a row of eight houses (Nos. 381-389 West End Avenue and Nos. 303-307 West 78th Street).
These buildings were designed in a picturesque mode to be viewed as a single composition. No. .389 was sold to H. Hobart Babcock on December 11, 1886.

References: New York City, Department of Buildings, Manhattan, Plans, Permits and Dockets.