44 West 106th Street
44 West 106th Street
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Date:Â 2001
NB Number:Â NB 102811771
Type: Â Apartment Building
Architect: Â Hustvedt Cutler Architects
Developer/Owner/Builder:Â undetermined
NYC Landmarks Designation:Â Historic District
Landmark Designation Report:Â Â Manhattan Avenue Historic District
National Register Designation:Â N/A
Primary Style: Â French Renaissance Revival
Primary Facade: Â Â Brick and Cast Stone
Stories: 6
Historic District: Manhattan Avenue HD
History:Â Originally one of the twelve row houses built by Brown and Gilbert and a mirror image of 122 Manhattan Avenue, 44 West 106th Street was demolished between 1966 and 1967. Following demolition, the vacant lot was converted to a park by the Manhattan Avenue Neighborhood Association between 1969 and 1970, and was hailed as a remarkable display of community cooperation and enthusiasm in a neighborhood which had suffered years of neglect. The park was replaced in 2001 by a six-story condominium apartment building. The building footprint covers the entire lot, including the rear yard which was once occupied by a private garage built in 1916. Although a modern building, in terms of scale, materials and style, this structure was apparently designed to complement the original Brown and Gilbert row houses to the south and east of it, as well as 36 West 106th Street.
Description of the West 106th Street facade: Brick facade; seven bays at first story, featuring cast stone door surround with angled, projecting cast stone hood with louvered details and projecting cast stone lintel at entryway, alternating paired and singular double-hung windows at remaining bays, including smaller window at sixth bay; wood door enframent and wood-and-glass door at entryway; seven bays at second through fifth stories, featuring tripartite single-sash windows with transoms at first bay, paired single-sash windows with transom at last bay, and single-sash windows with transoms at remaining bays, including smaller single-sash windows at sixth bay; two bays at sixth story, featuring tripartite single-sash windows with transoms; louvered vents beneath first story fenestration and throughout; fenestration at all stories featuring projecting cast stone sills, formed by continuous cast stone bands at second, third and sixth stories; horizontal bands of flush cast stone blocks at first, second and fifth stories adjoining vertical bands flanking first, second and sixth stories; narrower cast stone bands incorporated as lintels of second and sixth story fenestration; cast stone bands at roofline resembling a cornice; cast stone bands throughout structure continuous on Manhattan Avenue facade; single-story brick wall of rooftop structure at left of roofline; security grilles at first story fenestration; three brick encased vents at areaway attached to facade at ground; ironwork at areaway; concrete curb at areaway; lighting, intercom and awning at entryway.
Description of the Manhattan Avenue facade:Â Brick facade; two bays at first through fifth stories, featuring single sash windows with transoms (double-hung, no transoms at first story); single bay at sixth story, featuring single-sash window; fenestration at all stories featuring projecting cast stone sills, formed by continuous cast stone bands at second and third stories; horizontal bands of flush cast stone blocks at first, second and fifth stories adjoin vertical bands flanking first, second and sixth stories; narrower cast stone bands incorporated as lintels of second and sixth story fenestration; cast stone bands at roofline resembling a cornice; cast stone bands throughout structure continuous on West 106th Street facade; security grille at first story fenestration and second bay of second story fenestration; brick encased vent at areaway attached to facade at ground.