O F THE UPPER EAST SIDE HISTORIC DISTRI CTS Voluml! I 0, No. 2 foll / 998
member of Lh c Regime nt, and built in 1880. building is a mo nument 1.0 the city's and Lh c state's military, social, architectura l, and decorntive histo ry. IL represents the pinnacle of architectural expressio n of militar y purpose as well as th e social standing of t11 e New York State Guard. Its crenelated towe rs, imposing b.-ick walJ s, hi ghly decorated interio rs, and soaring drill shed all re fl ect the best of architectural and artistic ta lent found in Nevr York City in that period. The Seventh Regiment itself was considered th e nine teenth century's most prestigio us milita ry group and was the first to adopt t11 e name "Natio nal Guards," ~t -'f:;'::..:}"f;,;::i~';;!k}t a 11illelttn1/h.ct'l111iry illustmtfon. after serving as an honor guai·d fo r the Marquis de Many have lo ng been aware of Lhe plight of the Lafayette in 1824. The Seven t11 was later nickn amed Seventh Regime nt Armory o n Park Avenue between East 66th and E..tst 67th Su·eets-Lhe cracks in th e fa cade, the leaking ceilings o n the point of coll apse, the brick that needs repoi,ning-but the fro nt-page article and a later cdiLO rial in the Nn.11 York. Tiu1l!S in March have bro ught to ligln exactly how much danger I.his mo nument faces. This massive fo rtress, il ~' ,..,,,~ ~ built to pro tect the community, is now in need of ' protectio n. Fonunately, there are people who are .. ,, ready to come to the Armory's aid. 'I The Sevemh Regin, cm Armory is perh aps the finest American armory of the ninc teenLh century. It was designed by Charles W. Clinto n, a former
TIie &:uen/J1 RL:gimtml Armory today. "the silk slOcking rcgimenl" because o r Lh c drill shecl. Walter Oamrosch its tics 10 such wealthy and prominent conducted a concert or the New York fa milies as the Asto rs, Phe lps, and Ph ilharmo nic there in 1881. Va nderbilts. T he administration building, facing The Armory's su·ucture is composed o n to Park Avenue, is a m uch d ifferent Hallru Rosentml o f two attached buildings - the drill shed structure. The Regime nt hired the most FlrstPresldent(l98l· 1991) and t.he adminisu-atio n building. The prominent decorating firms o f the day, Board of Directors 53,000 square-foot drill shed is one o f including Associated Artists with Louis Tony Rosenthal the la rgest Comfort Tiffany and Stanford White, Honorary Chainnan unobstructed the 1-le n e r Bro1.h ers, Alexande r Rou.x Anne LMll!ard President inLeriors in and Company, L. Marcone Company, Rla.C.Chu the city. and Pouier and Stymus, among others, Vice President Measuring 1.0 produce one of the most stylish and RobertK.lindgren Vi ce President approximate ly e laborate la te nineteen th-century HelenS.Tucktr 200 by 300 inte rio rs in New York City. Vice President O. KelleyAndel"$Oll. Jr. feet, a ma r vel The Armory's exte1ior was designated Treasure r of engin eering a New York Cily landmark in 1986 and RobertC. Q ulnllln whe n ii was the interim-:; of the fi rst lWO sto.-ies of the Secretary constructed, aclrninist.rntion Christopher C.Angell it features building and l 2 FRIENDS o} /lu, Upper En.st Sid, Hi,storir Di.strict.s Fall 1998 slate. Sectio ns or 1.he JirSL-floor ceiling have collapsed Thus, the SevenLh Regiment Armory is 1101 the onl y due to wa1.cr damage. The second-floor hal l has wha1. armory that has fallen into disrepair. seems to be permanent scaffolding- in case 1.he ceiling In response 1.0 1.hese condi1.io ns, there have been and its massive iron chandeliers come down. Two of a number or recem initiatives to u·y to save tJ1is Upper the major reception rooms on 1.he first fl oor are unsafe East Side landmark. A new 11 0 1.-for-profit organiza 1.io n and have had to be closed. Original s1.cncilcd ceilings is in Lhe process of being created under the auspices and walls, ornately carved woodwork, and the Armory's of tJ1 e Municipal Art Society. This Seventl1 Regiment collection or art and anifacts are all in jeopardy until Armory Conservan cy has a board of direcLOrs that the leaks in the b.-i ck walls are repaired. includes ne ighborhood residents, th e President of Unfortunately, the Deparm1ent or Mili tary an d th e Mun icipal Art Society, ve terans of l.h e Seventh Naval Arfairs, which currently operates the Armory Regiment, and o tJ1er concerned ci tizens. T he group and occupies o ffi ces th ere, does not have 1.he fu nds is auempting to crea1.e a plan to revitali ze the buiJding to make the necess.u-y repairs. As a publi c slate and wan ts to see it used by the public and communiLy. organization, it cannot raise private funds for the T he archi tectural firm of Beyer Bli nder Belle has done work needed. Far below market renlal rntes are iniLial conditions surveys and has produced a draft charged for use of the drill shed for an and antiq ue restoration and rehabilitation plan for tJ1e Armor y. shows, and 1.his minimal income goes back to 1.he The Conservancy has discussed its initial ideas wi tJ1 th e srn te. Limited ru nds arc allocated for repair and Landmarks Preservation Commission, Assemblyman maintenance of New York State's 65 armories. John Ravitz, Councilman Andrew Eristoff, and 0 1..her local and st.a te officials, as well as representatives of FRI ENDS oft.h e Upper East Side Histori c Dist:i-i cts, the Lenox Hill Neighbo rhood I-lo use, Hunter College, and Community Board 8. Kirsti'// Moffet/ is fl prf'-SM1}(J. /ion i.sl n 11Tl'ntly r:rms11llillgfor th r Srvt-11//, Rl'gimn1t Armory C,0 11.senm11ry Noll!: The M1mirijx1/ Al'I Society regulmfy .sd,nlllleJ lt>un nf lht! Annory. Cn/1 tlu M.A .S. it/ 935-3%0Jnr more i11for111nlio11. 'l'/ui .~!l!n//r /lq;i,iin11S1NUtdri/J5/1 "1l,11."0/1u11/!11rkillgfo1. President's Message ------Au August Day in New Yorll City 11.'s a IOI-degree August New York Cit.y clay. As I pee r frorn the room I am a mazed and achn iring of o ur New Yorkers. Now geared in summer alt.i re, tJ1e runners and joggers are still going strong. No mall.er what tempennurc - they still run and ro llcrbladc. An indomitable group. T hi s year seems LO have added a new dimension . Everyone seems Lo run or jog wi th tJ1cir dogs. Somehow. see ing a hot and ovcd1 eatcd runne r signals good heal1h . Btu 1h c dogs - be th ey small or big, big an d furry. or sleek and trim - witJt th eir tongues hanging o ut the side of tJ1 eir mo uths say, "Pl ease, take me home to yo Lu- feathered nest." We have a wonderful booksLore across the street t.hat has a big bowl of fresh cold water waiting for t.h c returning four-legged athletes. T he dogs know it 's waiting fo 1· them .-is 1..h ey line up to have a slop and a slurp :md then head home to a delicious cool and dry aparlme nl where they can go back LO bed and d ream of chasing squirn:! ls whi.l c tJ1 eir master 01· mistress heads to 1h e office. What do t11cy say- "lt's a clog's life" - the New York City way. Fall 1998 FJUENDS of tl,L Upper t.li.st Sidt HiJtorit Districts J Long-Deserved Landmark Status Conferred on East 67th Street Buildings What's wrong wilh Lhis and firehouse had been slated pictu1·e? Fo ur cxu-ao rdinary for d emo litio n, to be replaced buildings, o ne right next to tJ1 c by a new station huu.sc with other, each clearly a landmark underground parking. In .s pite in e,•ery sense oft.he worcl, but of the Landmark Prcscr w1 tion o nly two legally protected. Commission's (LPC) designation Until earlier this year. 1.his of Lh e police srntion and fire was the case o n East 67th ho use, the Board o r Estimate Street be lween Lexington and overturned that decision. Third Avenues. The nort..h side Seeming to possess more of the block is a vcdtablc lives than a cal. the rejection museum of outst.:mdi.ng and or landmark staLUs did 11 0 1 intact nine tee nth-century spe ll immincm d oom fo r public a1·cl1it.ccnll"c. Beginning these two buildings. The on the Lexington Avenue end landmark rejection was o nly and marching eastward the allowed because the n-Mayor lin e-up is as fo llows: The Koch agreed that the fa cad es Ke nnedy Child Study Center, would be preserved in front 15 1 East 671.h Street (originally or a new statio n ho use - LO the ML Sinai Di spcnsa,·y) built be constructed. in 1890 by Buchma n & Dcislcr TI1e new building, designed and Bninner & Tyron; the by the Stein Partnership and 19th Police Precinct, 153-155 comple ted in 1991, is artful. l9tl, Pru.for/ Pol1aS1,111011 floriu, 133- ,,, £Mt East 67th Sm:ct (originally the 6itl, Stm,1, On the street, the gray set-back 25L11 Precinct) , bu ill in I 887 by inlill bcLwcc n the two buildings NaLhaniel D. Bush; Engine is the o nl y evidence o f new Co mpan y No. 39 and Ladder construction. Tl1c fa cades Company No. 16, 15i-159 East o r bo th the po li ce sta tion 67Lh SLreet (originally t.he I and fire ho use re main int,1ct, N.Y. C. Fire DcparuncnL and 1.h e essential character \ Hcadquaners), designed by ., e ndures. Even t.h e observer Napo leon Le Brun & Sons ~ \ ' who is familia1· with the in 1886; and Park Ea.s t \ I hisLO ry or these buildings is Synagogue, 163 EasL 67th impressed with the effect. SLreet, built by Schneider and .. _., Had it no t been for the Herter in 1890. Writing in the buildings' preservatio n New York Times in May or this ~ guardian angels (Mayo r year. Christo pher Gray referred 1f Koch, fo rmer LPC Chair Kent to them as buildings that .. still Barwick, and fo rmer First make a statement." , iii( Deputy Po li ce Commissioner In 1979, the former Mt. William Devine), 1.he police Sinai Di spensary and Park I statio n and fire house miglu East Synagogue were each have been demo lished. Their designmcd as individ ual land imagination and talent saved marks, as wc,·e the po lice .: tt the buildings even though lcg-,1] station and firehouse. The ~ - 1 protection and regulation were landmark d csignaLion truly -r•~ lacking. rescued the buildings, Finally, in 199 , the police because Lit e poli ce stati on station and firehouse received a1nrnied1111pg..5 4 1'1UE/1lDS oJ_ the Up/,er East Si tie Nistllrl r Districu Fall 1998 the staLus and recognition they deserve. These marvelous buildings, Jandmai·k almost-rans situated bet-ween two designated buildings, were reconsidered by the LPC. This spring, t.hc firehouse was designated, and designation status for the police station is pending. FRJENDS spoke enthusiastically in favor of desig nating each building at their respective d esignation hearings. The East 67th SLreet public buildings arc all proud survivors. Landmai·k desig nation guarantees that a gl impse imo nineteenth century ch~c Life will be assured for all New Yorkers. /Jf«k oJ/a,11/mmllS: l~t 6ilh Slrttt ~twre,, Uxillgto,1 ,md Third A11t1Wtl' (,wrtl,s1dl!). Watching the Clocl< The Yorkville Clock, one o f eight individually landmarked sidewalk clocks in New York City, provides a ch arming window into yestcrye;u-. A vinual time machine, a glance at the clock conjures images of the Third Avenue El , cars with running boards and rumble seats, men in fedoras, and stylish wome n, outJittcd with hats and g loves. At 11 3-plus.-years-o ld , time has mkcn its toll on the clock. A vaguely fo rl orn appearance characterizes Lh e clock; gniffiti is scrawled o n its cast-iron stand, duct tape covers a break in its face . Until recen tly, it w·,1.s sandwiched be1wecn 1wo cano pi es, obscuring i1 to a ll passers-by, except for t.hc mome nt when they waJkcd between the two canopies. Margot Gayle, prcscrvaLionist cxt.rno rdinairc, l1 as turned he r co nsiderable en ergy to reviving 1.hc clock's clig nit)'. This pa.s t spring, Ms. Gayle convinced one of the canopy's owne rs-the Parade of Shoes store-to remove their canopy. Now she, along with FRIENDS and o ther interested parties are fo cusing on the Mc Do nald's canopy, which obscures the clock fro m t.h e south. McDo nald's is activel y seeking an alte rnative d esign that wil l ,·crlucc lhe canopy's le ngth . Such a design will provide McDo nald's with the advertising they need while freeing 1.h e clock from visua l o bstruc1i o n. A tre me ndo us amount of community spiri1 and civic pride characte rizes the owne rs and manageme nt or both Lh e Parade o f Shoes and McDo nald's. The e ncl result wi ll be a cleaned·up strectscapc with th e sidewalk clock as it.s cente rpiece . Next on tJ1e agenda: a fu ll resto ration o f tl1 e clock unde1· the aegis o f the Friends of the City's Histori c Clocks. For information abo ut conu·ibuting to th e clock's reswration, plea Fall 1998 FIUENDS of the U/)/m- East Sitlr Historic Di.stricls 5 FRIENDS to Petition for R8B In 1985. FRIENDS and iLS (individual landmark). P.S. lhc n-Presicl cnt, lhc inclcfatig-k 158, and t.he Town School are blc Hali na RoscnLhal. led 1..hc all within a o ne-block rad ius campaign for the crc:1Lio 11 of or tJ1 e p1·oposed building. Lhc R8B contcx wal zo ning clis Additio nally, some large-scale Lric1 throughout the Upper development has alread y E Before th e advent of R8B, 14- i\'(Jf'fh s;d, offal.St 7JtJ, Stffl't (obwe) (Ill// south 1111, ofEmt that il will allow development lO 2 1-s io ry buildings could be 7611, Slrrf'l,t (l~lmn)-,1il, of fl projxll(l/ Mw r,,sfrltr1tial /owr.r: o n this scale. T he lo t in ques builL on virtually any side tio n comprises several diffcrcn, su-ccL o n the Upper East Side. zoning cli striclS, specifi cally, Clearly. this type o f dc\•d o1> RS, RS8 , RIO, and Ml-4. mc n1.. is incompatible wi 1..h the Ceobri·aphicall y, lhc area low-scale mid-bl ocks we kn ow includes portions o r East 75th an d cherish in our neighbor Street 1.0 East i7th Strec1 hood. between \'Ork Avenue and th e \Vhen appro\·ccl by the ri,·c1·. Oenihan would like to Board o f Esti mate, the RSB d is 1·c1;onc the enlil-c area tu RS. tri ct cm•cred 1..he \'aSl m:tjo rity FRIENDS agrees that the of the Upper Eas1 Side's rnid blocks in question should be blocks, from 6l s1 Lo 96th rcrnncd-to RSB. To that Streets, 5th A\'enue Lo the e nd, we have j oined fo 1·ccs river. Nevenheless. some blocks were not rezoned. with several sister o rganizations including Many or these blocks were zoned for manuf.i cLurin g C.ommtmily Board 8. CIVITAS. East Side Rezoning use, and thus would not be compatible with reside n Alliance (ESRI\ ), and 1he East i9th Su·eet Neighborhood tial development Othe r "strips," particularly be twee n Associatio n, and have fil ed an applicatio n with th e First and \'ork Avenues from East 62nd to East 72nd Department or City Pl anning to rezone the lo t to S1 1·eets we re simply omincd . The zoni ng d istri cts on R8n. 11 is our contention that an R8B designation is these "no n-RSB" blocks vary: many arc zoned R8 appropriate o n th ese blocks since they possess the while o thers arc M 1-4 or M3-2. Without R8B, the sa1nc characteristi cs that are ident.ifiable l11ro ugho ut characte r o r th ese blocks re1nai ns vu ln erable. 1h e ,·est o f" 1l 1c Upper E'.ast Side's m.id·blocks. The ho t real estate market or 1.h c late 1990s has ruclcd development thro ugho ut o ur ci ty. Whi le FRIENDS and other civic org,1nizatio ns are not o pposed to development pe r sc, we remain committed to res1>0nsible and compatible constructio n. One proposed project has e merged thal, FRI E OS believes, wi ll compromise 1he intcg1i ty or se\'eral or o ur low-rise, highl)-residcnt.i al side strccLS. To be clcvclo pcd by 1hc De nihan Company, 506 East 76th Su·ee1 wi ll be a 30-plus.- story residential tower straddling East 75th and East 76th StrccLS, be twee n Yo rk Avenue and 1.h e river. To lhose fruni liar fokmg nml rlwkmg: dw,npti,,>"' rntmoriy to rom1rw1um11, filmg of R8IJ with 1his parti cular nook of the Upper East Side, il t•l1:lua//1J11 imlh 1h, /Jrpar1111ntl 11/ C.,/J l'fom1mg. (I lo r)_: J1me C.Ou1t1n. is just thal- a small , o ut-or-the-way, tranquil nook. J olin.fay Park, ll1 e Cherokee Apart111 cnts (individual ~~:~;:;; ~~;;;,t;;,/!7~~;:,~zn~n~!~'i:?,,'!~. ~~~~ ~~:l'- M'llli"K 1Ji, lf"1JIIJ,; IJ1.1rry S<.hm!itln; Chmr ofCommumlJ IJoord s.-1,~,,. landmark). City and Suburban York Avenue Estalc Jh,m, D1r«tm; f~ul Sul, Rr..1111mg Allumr,. 6 FRIENDS oJ t/1, U/IJKr East Siclt Historir Di_.,trfrts foll /998 News in BRIEF FRIENDS' " Hot Topics" Series a Success It's Official-The In early J une, FRI EN DS co-sponsored a two-pa rl Upper East Side series o r panel d iscussions wilh the Mun icipal Art Society (M.A.$.). Held at the M A S, bo th pane ls provided a Has a Sixth forum to discuss topical civic issues. O n June 9, the s11bjec1 was pri\':ttiza t..i o n of m 1111 icipal Histo1·ic Disu;ct services. Panelists debated the positive cffecLS o f p1·ivm.i- Th i! lll'W Rhintlarider/ fl11nln1Ml{!t 1.atio n. e.g., an increase in the quality and quanthy of f-lousa H istoric Dfatrirl, /340 - services to supplement those provided by th e city ,·crsus 1 )50 /..o:illgton 1hv,,ru, mu/ their po tcn1ia11 y ncbratiw.: con~ qucncc.,;. Kent L Barwick, 121 East 89th Strttl. the panel's rnodc r,1to r, SLl"O\'c to push th t.: panelists LO address the questio ns about fairn ess that arc inherent in In Mti rch of th is rear. the La ndmarks Preservation any discussion abo u1 privmi:r.a ti o n, especiall y when tJ1 csc Commiss.io11 (U'C) hdd a designation hearing on the pro services arc d isu·ibmcd unevenly tll!'ougho m the city. posed Hardcnbergh-Rhinclandcr Historic Disuic1. T his tiny Spui-red by audience comments, particularly regard· cncla\'e or seven buildings comprises six houses on t.h c west ing many public parks that receive lcs. Fnfl 1998 FRJENDS of lhi! UJJJJe1· East Side Historic 0 /Stricts 7 Preservation Committee News Although the su1n mcr season has slowed 1.he number or Certifi cate or Appropriateness applications some what. FIUENOS' Prcserv.11io n Commiuee remains dedicated and Li rclcss. The commiucc mcclS o n a momhly basis 10 review applications that are pending before t.he Lancl m;u-ks Prcscrvatjon Commission (LPC). Concerns and comme nts are d iscussed with architects, owners, and lawye rs. Ultimately, FR IE.N OS test.Hies at the LPC's public li ca.-ing for each Upper East Side item. T his forum all ows us to express our support or raise issues concerning the long-te rm impact of the proposed alt erations on 1.h c individual landmarks and build ings wid1i n our his101·ic distric L'i , Following, in geographical order. is a li st ofCcrtific;ue of Appropriateness items for April • July, 1998, with the LPC's decision. 26 East 64th S/reet: A Queen Amn.' East 60s stylc row house buill in 1881-82 East 70s d esig ned by Theod o re Westo n. Applica1i011 10 insiall a llagpole: IVIT IIDRAWN 16 East 64th Street: A row house buih i11 1881-82 d esigned by Jamel! E. Wa re. Application lo painl lhc facade: LAID OVER 113 £as/ 651/i Stroel: ;\ nco-Fed eral sryle town ho use built in 1906-07 designed bv Pickeri11 g and Walker. Application to leg;1li ze the ins1allatio n ofa projecting hay window and widen· ing a window o pe ning 0 11 lhc t.h il'd noor of the rear clc\~1lion wit.hom L..andmarks Prcsen '.lt.ion Commission pc rmit.s: APPROVED 21 East 66th StnJl!t: A nct>Gothic,st.ylc apart111e11t building buill in 192 1 designed by Freel E French Com1>.111y. Applic:1Lion to alt.er wi11dow openings :md install 1hro ug lMrall 1-1 \/AC ec1ui1> mc n1 on a sccoucla1·y facade: 24 • J2 Em/ 69th Strttt, ,io/(JnfllU fur 1b ,.:.Xtnu,vr rntur11l/011 wo,h Mil b, rnmrtl flld ilkgnlfJ:mlfllbtl gnlk, ,mil rmrv, a ma_pr A P PR OVED a/4 ,.All 79tl1 Strrri. far,,.Jift. 19 East 70th StnJet: A neo-ltali:matc 52 Easl 66th Stni!I: A nco-Grcc-st.) le Re naissan ce-style residence built in row house built in 1877-78 designed hy I 7 East 62,id Strut: A row houo;e h11ih 19()9... 10 designed by Thornto n Chard. J.1 I. Valentine. Applic:uio n 10 modify in 1871·72 d esigned hy D. andj..Jardirtc Appli cati o n to legalize the install.it.ion a luminum windows t.ha1 were inst:1 llcd ;111d ;1hcrcd wilh a new facade in 195,1. ofa fence ,md g-a te without l...anclnml'ks without l..a 11d111a1 ks Presermlion Applicariu11 10 inslall a lirt in the l'rcscrvat.i o n Commissio 11 permits: Commission per111i1s: DENI ED :1 rcaway: A PP R OVED LA ID OVER 24 • 32 East 69/h Stnet: A row house 35 East 63rd Street: A row house built J) £tut 70/h Street: A nco-Ft·d eral-sl)lc buill in 1880 and .tltc!'ed in 1916 and in 1878 :ind ahc rcd in 1922. ap,u·uncnt home buih in 1928-29 1956 b) Zarch Sairia. Application 10 Application to ahe r the fron1 fac-.ulc. dt::!ligned by Schwa ru and Gros.i. con.5 1.ruct a lie\\ six....,tory building: con~m,c1 a sloop and install a 1,unp. Applicalion 10 legalil.t' lhe in.nall:11ion APPROVED (Zo,1ed CJ-I, RBB, ancl cons1ruct rooflop and rear addi· of lig h is, a securil) camera, and tions: NO ACTION (Zoruul RBB, Ul2AJ exposed conduit wilhout l..,1ndm:1rlu LN I -A) Prc~rv:1lion Commission permil$: WI T IIDRAWN 8 /•WENDS _of tJu• Upper Ens/ Sid~ I lulonc Ou/nets Fall /998 35 East 76th Strt!d: An Art Deco-style Fifth Avenue Madison Avenue hotel built in 1929-30 designed by Syl\'.ln Bien. Appliouion 10 aher win· 762 Madiso,1 Aven11e: All Itali anate/ dow openings on lhe 34Lh fl oor: nco--Crec..style row house built in 1876 DENIED and ahered in 1915. Application 10 install a glass and metal marquee: 53 East 77tli Strut: A nco-S 1>:111i sh W IT H DRAWN Renaiss.·m ce-sLyle row house buill in 1900.1926,.27 designed by Plcas;mL~ 937 Madiso11 Auem1e: A nco--Cr1.-c..style PcuningLon. Applic-.uion lo inslall an row house built in 1876 designed b)' enlra11 cc canop)', new windows at lhc S.M. Styles and altered in 1914 LO second floor, and 10 construct rooftop accommodate stores at the firsl two and reary:.ml acldiLions: A PPROVE D noors. ApplkaLion 10 install nagpoles IN IM RT (Zo11 edC5·l / ll88 ) l(J.18 Fij/11 Avn11u, lmdtfur \Villi/Im Starr and a banner: DENI ED Millt:r 11ml foter tht )'iim ln1tili1II', u~u ruld" 70 East 77th Street: A ru: o--Fedcral-s tyle bt1me,,.frrr ru:as.s ramp an.ti /Tagpo/4 aparm1cnl building built i11 1916--17 923 Fiftli Ave1111e: An ap:1r1rnr::n1 h11ild· Park Avenue designed by lwr.1rtz and Gross. ing built in 1949.-51 designed b)' Syh'.111 Applica1ion lo install through-the-wall Bic 11 . 1\pplica1.i11n to install a satellite 730 Park Avem 1e: A nco-Rcnnaissancc/ airconditioners: IVITUDRAW N dish: APPROVED neo-Jacobc:111-sLyle apal"lmcnl building built in 192S. 29 designed by Lafaye tte 4 East 79th Streel: A neo•halian 953 Fifth Ave1me: A nco-Rcnai~ 'lnCC· A. Goldstone. Applicatiou to construct Renaissance-style town house 01iginatly s1ylc apartment building built in 1924- an addition al t.h c 20th floor: buih in 18~}.1900 brC.P.11. Gilbert and 25 designed by 1.N . Phelps SLokes. A PPROVED (Zor1 ed RIO, R 8B) alLcred in 19 16 by Hcrbcn Luca.~. Application to conslruct a 011 1.-.story Application Lo alter the penthouse, rear add i1ion: A PPROVED (lo11ed 876 Park Avcm u: A m::o-Renaiss.-incc modify windm.,.s, and alt er Lhc rear R.10) style apanmem building built in 19 16-- y.1rd: A PPROVED (Zo11 ed R.1 0) 17 designed by W.L. Rouse, L.A. 960 Fiftli Ave,w e: An apartment hou~ Goldstone. Application to enlarge a 6 East 79111 Street: A nco--Fcder.11-stylc built in 1927·28 designed by Rosario window opening on the 13th noor of town house built in 189().. 1900 designed Candela. Applic.11 ion to inst.Ill one air the west elevmion: APl' ROV ED by Barney and Chapman. Applicatio n conditioning unit through the lime to install new wi ndows aL rear facade: stone: A PPROVED 1185 Park Avenue: A 11 eo--Go1hic'"!;t)'lc IVIT IJDRAIVN apartment building built in 192/i..29 1016 Fiftli Ave,me: A nco-- halian designed by Schwartz aml C1·oss. Applicatio11 lo inslall Lhro ugh-1J1c-w.11I East 80s Renaiss:m ce-style a partment building built in 1927 designed hy John It HVAC cquiprnc111 i11 the courtyard: Pe terkin. Application lO alter windows WITUDRAIV N 55 Easl 84111 Slnd · Regis High School in the pe nthouse: A PPROVED • l11 dividua l L Fall 1998 FIUENDS oflhe Upper East Sitk Historic Districts 9 Casi-Iron Architecture in America: TI1e Significance or James llogardus by Margot Gayle and Carol Gayle The first book on ~rarclus's lifo and \.\'Ork, Ca.st lror1 Arrhiluturt ;,, Amtritn (W.W. Norton, 19tJ8, 39.50) is a landmark achic,·ement and a rcmark:ible \.\'Ork or scholarship. With eloquence and clari ty, it describes how iron archiiecture remade the fo ce or Amcricau cit..ies in 1he mid-nine teenth century. foll owing the appe anrncc or c;m iron 0 11 the industrial scene in cightce111h-ccntury Eng land and Europe. It doc: umc n1.s the ro le pla)·ed by Bogardus, who pa1entcd his mc1h od for cast•iro n construction in 1850 ;md ch;nnpioncd its use in America's 1:,rrowing cities. from the firsi sclf·sup1X1 ning c:1s 1-iro 11 fronui in Am erica. the Milhau Pharmacy ( 1848) and ~i11g Stores ( 1849) in New York City, to the Suu lluilding in Bitltimore, prefabric:tted iron house~ for gold-rush Cali fornia, and the Harper buildings :mcl Tompkins ~larket ( 1854- ISf,5), Bogardm consu·uctcd over three cln1.c 11 c;lli t-iron b11ildin g5 and \.\'.Itched the pop11lari1y o r his me thod spread aero America. C:L~t iron foll out of favor afler the turn-of-the-century, supplanted by the stee l frame: c:1s1-iron building~ l:inguished, deca)·t.-d , and rell tu the bulldozers o furba.u renC\\'.11 in the 1950s and 60s. Onl)' in n.-cc nt years has ninc 1cc111h-ccntury urban archi1ecturc, including cast irou, come 10 be foll )' app1·ecia1cd, and the sun·iving builcli111:,rs rescued, restored, and reused. Four by Bogardus arc recognized as landmarks, and such cast·iron-rich districts a.s Sol lo in New fork lune hecn gh·en official h111d111ark s:iatus. U,s/. /ron Arrhi1ut11r, in Ammra includes illustrations or cn !ry Bogardus building for which an image can be found. Margot Gayle has had a long and distinguished career in historic preserva ti on. A nationally-known authority on cast· iron archi1 ccture, she has won numerous chic and historic preservation ;aw.mis. Additionally. she i§ 1he author ol many book and articles on ca.~1 iron. An acti,ist as we\J ,1s a .sc holar, she was a founding member orhoth the Victorian Society in America and the friends o f C.'L~t· lron Architecture, or whi ch she sen ·cs a.~ president. Carol G,1ylc, Margot Gayle's daughter. has t:iught histo ry for thirty rears at Lake Forest College, where she is the Directo r or Community F.ducatio11 and Associate Director of the C'.ollt:ge's Graduate l'rogn11n in Liberal Srndies. Beaux Arts New York by David Garrard Lowe &a11x Art.s Nnu )'Q,k (Watson~up1ill Publica Li ons, 1998, $19.95) starts "'ith a lively historic,11 account of the city's French connections. including the centuries-old lo,·c :1ffair be tween New York ,1 nd Paris. The beginnings of the grand archhccmral style rlc\'cloped at Paris' Ecole de lkaux Arts were recreated he1·e be1wcen 1880 and World War I by noted Gilded Age arti~t~ and architects 5uch as Augustus S:1int~audcns, John C,'lrrerc, Daniel Chester French, Cass Gilbert, Richard Morris I 111111 , Charles F. McKim, Frederick MacMo nnies, and Stanfo rd White, The chaptc~ are o rganized by h11ildi11 g function: gateways, hotels and restaurants, department siorcs, residences. duh~, ho uses or worship, and triumphal arches. A phrnographic css.1y featuring the palatial mansions o f the rl,1y's .rocially promine nt families enlivens the tex1 wi th a ,·isual reast. Although tJ1 c buildings and sculptures themselves are the heart of &mot Aris New l'o'*. che chapter-o pening tex1 and captions prmidc a scho larly ye1 emenaining commcn1ar) on the social, culmrn..l, and economic forces th.ti sh.1J>ed New York iu di e JXJSt-bcllum period. Lowt- brings New , brk's Beaux Arn treolSures to life, as lhe re:ider is imroduced 10 the fam ous people who worked and played in the idealized 111011umcn1..1 of tlu: City lk;iutirul. Architects to aristocrats, Wall Sln:ct "inrds to C-d pla in5 of industry, and memordble names from the world of ans and leucrs, are all here. inrusing the grdud cdirices \.\i th ,ibrancy. Cultural historian D,1Vid Garnml Lo"·c is rh e author of priz~winning lmt Clur.ago, Chic(lgo hllmors. and Stariforrl \\lh1tr'J New lorl I le is president or lhe Be:mx Aru All iance, which celebrnws the cuhurnl tics bclween New York and Fr,mce. Additionally, he is a regular lecturer ill the Smithsonian l11stilu1i on, 1J1 e American Ac-dde m)' in Rome, and the Metmpolimn Museum of A.11, JO flU£Vl)S of lhl' Upp,,- £rut Sidi' Historic l)ulnr.15 Fall /998 Drawing by PauL R. 1-fojfmaster, Prcseniat.ion News, December 1967 Ftiends of the Upper Ea.sl Side PREfl.O UM GOTS 1-fisloric Dist.,icls, founded, i11 For a donation o f $50: I 982, ;,s an in.dejJendenl, nolfor FRIENDS T-shirl. proflt mPm.bershiJJ mganization For a donation o f $100 or more: detlict1led lo preserving the The 3rd Edi Lion of the A.LA Guide lo NYC by Elliot Wi llcnsky archilectur(l.L legary1 livability, and Non,al White. and se11.se of place of the UfJjJer For a donation o f $250 or more: Ea.st Side. ln addition to scife Stmiford 1Vhile'.s New )'ork by David Garrard Lowe. guarding lhe future of lhe Up/;er Ea.st. Side's si.x histo,ic districts Membership Form and 125 individual la11.d111arks, D $25/ lndividual Name ______and being an advocate for so11md 0$50/ FamHy Address ______preservation polici.es for the cit,;~ 0 $ IOO/ Supporting City/ ST/ Zip ______Home Ph. (_), _____ FRJENDS has al.so been a leader in 0 $250/ Patron D $500/ Bcst Friend Work Ph. (_),____ _ successful ~Joris to clmmatically 0 $1,000/ Landmark im/Jrove zoning laws goveming Please return this fomi \\.ith your check LO : the area's a11enues and residential ME¼& FRIENDS, 20 East 69th Street, NY, NY 10021 side streets. ii½ or call (2 12) 535-2526 Fa/11998 - FRIENDS of the Upper £rut Side Historic D1~dricU I I Marl< Your Calendar! Upcoming FRIENDS' Events I WALKING TO URS • Guastavino Gadabout - Saturday, Se ptember 26, 1998. J anet Par ks, curator of Columbia University's 1996 exhibi t, "The O ld World Builds the New: U1 c Guastavin o Company and the Technology of the Catalan Vault, 1885-1962" will lead a tour of Uppe r East Side sites that foaLUre Guasravino ti le. • Singles Stroll through Yorkville - Saw 1·day, November 7, 1998. U)\'C architecture? Intcr·estecl in learning about th e history of New York's rapi dly--disappcaring German and Hungalian stronghold? Single? J oin architectuml histo ri an J ohn Kriskiewicz fo r a history a nd taste of Yorkvill e. After th e tour, enjoy Ge rman pastries and Gala Benefit T hursday, Oc,obcr 8, 1998. • Legendary jazz piani stJ oe Bushkin will per fo rm at the Colony Club. Hope lo see you the re! For infonnalion on any of tlu abow euents, plea~ a,ll FRJEJ\TJ)S' office, 535-2526. I NON-PROITT ORG US. POSTAGE PAJD Poughkeepo,. N.t Permit No. 316 FRI EN DS o r th e Upper Eas1 Sid e l-l is lo ri c Districu • 20 Eau 69Lh Slree t, NV, N V 1002 1 (2 12) 535-2526 fax : (2 12) 5!15-2 15 5 Yfilmg0 1' T HE U Pl' &K &AST Ji ll> & 111 $TORI C D I STRI CTS Castles Among Us o uld you like to visit a castl e? Who So what arc these m ock-castl es? And vo uldn'tl No proble m ...ju st 1ell yo ur whe re are they? a rents to ta ke yo u o ut of school fo r T h ey arc armo ri es. a nd th ey a rc locate d few weeks, buy plane ti cke ts, have all over New York C ity. Many o th e r ciLi cs a nd Wth e m rn kc some time o ff fro m wo rk th e mselves, Lowns Lhro ugho uL Lhe United Sta tes a lso have a nd j et off to a world-class castl e in Eng la nd, armori es. Well. tha t's helpful. Bm wha t's Spa in, France, o r any an a rmory? If a o the r fa r-nung place pe rfume r y is a place wh ere castl es a rc 1.ha1. ho lds pe rfumes, usua ll y fo und. th e n an armo r y If this so unds must be a place tha t prcu y complicalCd h olds a rms. Arms!? to you (allhough still Whose arms? a n ice idea ), don 't Not th ose kinds wo rry. The re a rc of anns, arms as in castl es he re, in armor- weaponry, e tc. Ame ri ca, in yotir Is it a ll beginning own back)'a rd. Now to become cl ear? In wa it a minute, you're 1.h e la te nine teenth probably thinking. century, in addi tio n .My teache rs and to Li1 e a rmy a nd th e MCaJlf," mr J>nrlc Avr11ru: bt.tw11 11 i::nJ/ 6,th nurl EfUI 66//, Strn l. It ',, 1/J e pa re n ts have a lways Sni,m tJ, Regim,.,,t An11ory j 11.sl nftt!r it ll!flJ /mi// in 1880. po li ce fo rce, m a ny said tha t Ame ri ca is cities and town s had a de mocracy a nd that we never h ad kin gs volunteer armies called the Natio nal G uard o r queens. If this is so , why wo uld we have to h e lp pro tect the people. (During this time, ca stl es? the re was a lot o r social unrest, and many We ll, we d on 't have actu al castles, but we people we re fearful or ri ots.) These vo lunteer do have m a ny buildi ngs th a t look a n awful 101 a rmies wo uld get w gethe r regularly and m arch , like castl es. If you use yo ur imagina ti o n , you practice, a nd drill. They n eed ed a place to ca n pre te nd tha t they a rc home to queens, carry o ut these acti viti es. They al so need ed a kings, d ragons, knigh lS, place Lo store th e ir uniforms a nd arms. The a nd a ny othe r me n (yes, girls-this was pre•wo me n's lib- it was do nj on-dwelling o nly men ) wh o we re in the Nati o na l G ua rd d enizens. a>'Jlroed(lf1pg2o I a l'0 11 ng FIUENDS of /he Up/,rr East Si tie Histo,ic l)istricts Fo.11 1998 a lso e nj oyed each o lher's company and they between East 94lh a n d East 951.h Stre e ts. Sadly, liked 10 socia lize and han g o ut with o ne a nothe r. this is the o nly secti o n left o r what was the And in lh e evc nl o f lro uble , lhey needed a Squadro n A Armory. It was d e mo li she d in pla ce whe re they cou ld meel a nd go o ver 1966. The bu ilding tha t took its place , Hunte r th e ir m a rc hing o rd e rs. Coll ege Cam pus Sch ool, was d esig n ed He nce the a r mo ries. Fro m lhc la te 1870s to reca ll th e arm o r y. through the 1930s, hundreds were built a ll Wh e n yo u look at a rmo ri es, th ey across th e counu·y. Pa rt boot camp and p a rt ce rta inly d o look like castl es. Like social club, th is type of b uilding ca n o nly most of the a rmo ri es that we re be fo und in the Un ited Srn tes. built. d uring thi s period , th ey were On th e Uppe r East. Side, b uilt in the rt1 slella1ell style. o n Pa rk Ave n ue be tween East 66th a nd Ertst 67th Streets. It is o ne o f the first and ce rta inly o ne o r the most im por ta n1 armories eve r b uilt. Today, you can still visit it--evc n go inside. Some of th e rooms we re d esigne d by fa mo us a n ists a nd a rc hi tects li ke Lo uis ComforL ma in purpose was pro te cti o n. Protecti o n for Tiffa ny and Stanford Wh ite. Ca ll You ng who me ver or wha tever was o n the inside a nd FR IENDS to fi nd o ut how to make a rra nge pro tec ti o n from who mever or whateve r was o n m e nts to visi1 1h c Seventh Reg ime n t Armo r y. th e o utside . T ha t's why lhey look so so lid and T he fragm e n t is th e wes1e rn facad e of the strong. T ha t's also why they have so few windows, Squadro n A Armo r y o n Mad iso n Ave n ue doo rs, a nd o the r o pe nings. Looking a t the m m a ke s you think o r words like massive , h eavy, im posing, a nd we ighty. As it tu rned o ut. no ne o f th e armo ri es were ever a n ackecl . Bu t they we re we ll -used by th e Nation a l Guard fo r training . Today, m a ny a re sti ll used by th e Natio nal Gua rd, while m a ny o the rs have bee n conve rte d into she lters o r concert ha ll s. Sti ll o the rs are vacant, sto lid All Ow1 ·s ltfl ofth, Squ adron A Armory. o,i Marluo11 Ai•niue sentine ls, st.t nding gua rd against the march bdumi f.od 941h ,11111 Erut 95th Strrtls. f v.m ru a fmgmnit, 11 iJ .1/ 1/f 1rn 1mpnsmg b11lwal'k. o f time , pa ti e nt ly awaiting a n ew use . 211 Yo1111g n u!O:NDS of ti,, Upper Easl Sidi' /-/islonr D1stnrts Fall /998 Castle Anatomy ust like your body, a castle is composed of many parts--each with its own name and purpose. Here, you may match the castle part to its meaning. Young FRIENDS guarantees that your teachers and parents will be very impressed when you use Jthese terms . In fact , you may end up teaching them a thing or two about castles. Find the word that goes with the picture and write it inl BATTLEMENT · a wa ll \\'iLh allc rnaling solid a nd o pe n pa rts. Usuall y for de fe nse. TURRET - a sma ll 1owcr. usually loc,n c d a t a castle's corn er. PORTCULLIS - a cas1l e's ga tewa)'. It is us ua lly rnacl c of iro n o r limbe r in a crisscross patt e rn, a nd moves up a nd down. MACHJCOLATJON - a str ucture lh:tt ove rha ngs fro m a cas1l c's or fo rt's wa ll. It has a ho le in th e floo r so tha t a pe rson h id i11 g in Lh c mach icola Lio n can d rop bo iling o il o r st.o ne s o n an attacke r. DR AWBR IDGE · a bridge ovc1· a moat or ditc h. ll can be raised o r 101,•c rcd to p reve nt or e nable e n tra nce in to a castle o r fo rt. MOAT - a broad, deep tre nch sur ro unding a ran o r ca SLle. Us ua lly lil lc cl with wa ler. MER LON - in a b:i u lc m e nt. th e soli d portio n of masonry (stone o r bricks). CR BNBL · in a baule me nt, the o pe n spac:c be tween the mc rlo ns. Fa ff 1998 Young FIUENIJ ::i Fold 1he lid in hair * Usi ng the damp * Take one piece of *and snip. Thi5 will be towel. wipe the iusidc gr.w com,truc1ion 1x1pcr 1hc slol :11 1hc top for of the c;inis1er 10 and roll the camstcr up in it. T:1 1:,e the papt•r in place. red and grey * With the magic construction paper marker, drn"' rectangle.~ to represent windows. Color 1)11: rc~c umglcs in. glue or. ir you're n:;11ly ambi· tious, you C'.tll draw a dragon or pnncCM or prince looking out of tape the window. Set :isidc. ruler Rcissors pencil black magic marker damp paper towel dry paper towel empty Pringle's potato chips can Yo1.1n1 Friends, cru.ted by Jan e Cow~n for FFllENDS of the Upper Eut Side Historic Dlnricu •ch«t ou1 thi, de/)nl1/on1 on !hi, prew,ou, pore 4a Young FRIENDS of tl,e UPJ1er East S1dt /-lutnnr Dutricts Pall 1998