580-582 West End Drive, 267-271 West 88th Street

580-582 West End Avenue

NB Number: NB 533-1926

Type:  Apartment Building

Architect:  Roth, Emery

Developer/Owner/Builder: Morwitt Realty Corporation

NYC Landmarks Designation:  Historic District

Landmark Designation Report:  Riverside Drive- West End Historic District

National Register Designation: N/A

Primary Style:  Neo-Renaissance

Primary Facade:   Limestone, tan brick, and Terra Cotta

Stories: 15

Window Type/Material: See Structure

Structure:  This fifteen story apartment building is located on a lot at the northeast corner of West End Avenue and West 88th Street, which extends approximately forty feet along the avenue and 100 feet along the side street. The building is faced with tan brick laid in Flemish bond with limestone and terra cotta trim. The building is surmounted by a square structure housing a water tower. The tripartite steel framed multi pane casement windows with transoms are original.

West End Avenue Facade: This facade is composed of three horizontal divisions – a two story base, a twelve story midsection, and a one story top. The rusticated limestone base rests on a low water table and rises to a wide bandcourse at the third story sill line. The midsection is faced in brick and the top is faced in terra cotta. The facade has three bays. The entrance, centrally placed, is composed of glass and metal double doors with a transom (all with decorative metal grilles) in a simple floral enframement with a flat cornice and a central cartouche. The second story window above the entrance is flanked by pilasters with floral panels. A metal and glass canopy projects over the sidewalk. Third story windows have stone Gibbs surrounds with keystones and brackets supporting metal balconies at the fourth story. The central windows of the twelfth and thirteenth stories are joined by a double height surround with elaborate pilaster panels and a broken arched pediment. Elaborate cartouches flank the windows at the top story and a cornice with a balustrade above caps the building. The brick-faced roof structure is detailed with quoins, an opening with a pedimented surround, and a cornice.

West 88th Street Facade: The overall design and articulation of detail of this facade follows that of the West End Avenue facade. ‘There are nine bays, and the window treatments of the West End Avenue facade are repeated at the end bays. At the tenth story, the three center bays share a metal balcony. Two doors are located at the first story.

Eastern Elevation: The eastern elevation, facing onto a narrow alleyway, is partially visible from West 88th Street. Two bays of windows are visible. Ornamental detailing, including stringcourses, is less elaborate.

Historic District: Riverside Drive- West End HD

Alterations: Some of the original windows on both facades have been modified to accommodate air conditioners. The base and watertable of the building are painted.

History: This apartment building was erected in 1926-27 for the Morwitt Realty Corporation (Morris Rosenstein, president) according to the design of prominent architect Emery Roth. The site was previously occupied by two rowhouses. New York City Department of Taxes Photograph Collection, Municipal Archives and Record Collection, G 2042.