305 West End Avenue

1916 307-311 West End Avenue
Hotel Esplanade

270-1916 – this NB perhaps was not executed
$125,000.00
WEST END AV, 307-311 13-sty fireproof apartment and offices, 60˙100
OWNER / OWNER ADDRESS
(o) Paterno Construction Co / (o) 2255 Broadway COMMENTS
ARCHITECT / ARCHITECT ADDRESS
(a) Warren & Wetmore / (a) 16 East 47th st (source)

DP 141-1919 @ Block 1184 Lot 77 aka 305 West End Avenue

Per 1916 Map on Block 1184:
301 is lot 76
303 is lot 77
305 is lot 78
307 is lot 79
309 is lot 80
311 is lot 81
313 is lot 82
315 is lot 83
317 is lot 84
319 is lot 85

It look like Hotel Esplanade assumed lots 301-313

305 West End Avenue (aka 301-311 West End Avenue; 301 West 74th Street)
Borough of Manhattan Tax Map Block 1184, Lot 77
Building Name: Hotel Esplanade, now Esplanade Manhattan Senior Residence
Date: 1919-20 (NB 234-1919)
Architect/Builder: Schwartz & Gross
Original Owner: 305 West End Avenue Corporation
211
Type: Apartment building
Style: Colonial Revival
Stories: 14
Material(s): Brick, stone, terra cotta
Significant Architectural Features: Decorative brickwork at base; stone balustrades above third
story; terra-cotta shields in spandrels; terra-cotta fluted pilasters and triangular pediment at top
two story window surrounds
Alterations: Non-historic fabric signage (“The Esplanade-Residence for Senior Living”) and
lighting below entrance marquee that may be historic; fabric awnings with light fixtures below at
first story; plaque (“Hearthstone Alzheimer Care”) by entrance doors
Building Notes: Northern first story windows may be historic.
Site Features: Sidewalk grates at light wells; wooden benches on sidewalk
Notable History and Residents: Maurice Maeterlinck, Belgium playwright and winner of the
Nobel Prize in Literature, lived here in the early 1940s.
References: “Maeterlinck Happy at 78,” New York Times, August 30, 1940, 21; “Planning
Performance in English of French Opera,” New York Times, January 25, 1941, 10.
East Facade: Designed (historic)
Door(s): Replaced primary door; non-historic door at northern end
Windows: Replaced (upper stories); replaced (basement)
Sidewalk Material(s): Concrete
Curb Material(s): Concrete
South Facade: Designed (historic)
Facade Notes: Similar to West End Avenue facade; historic basement window grilles; nonhistoric door and through-the-wall vents at service entrance; light fixtures, security camera and
intercom at service entrance; exposed conduit at eastern bay basement to second story and at
basement at the center of the facade; replacement sash; sidewalk grate at light well; concrete
sidewalk and granite curb
North Facade: Not designed (historic) (partially visible)
Facade Notes: Brick facade; exposed conduit and infill in masonry opening at first story;
replacement sash; steel flue to roof; brick chimney; rooftop railing
West Facade: Not designed (historic) (partially visible)
Facade Notes: Brick facade; replacement sash; two brick chimneys
(source)

NB 234-1919
West End Avenue, 301-303
14-sty bk hotel apartment, 142×100
Cost:
$400,000
Owner:
305 West End Corp., 200 W 72d [72nd]; Pres, Henry Mayer, 200 W 72d [72nd] – this is an address commonly used on Paterno Family new building permits
Architect:
Schwartz & Gross, 347 5 [Fifth] av
Address in Real Estate Record:
WEST END AV, 301-303

305 West End Avenue. Hotel Esplanade, redecorated dining room, north wall. (MCNY)
New-York tribune. [volume], June 14, 1919, Page 19, Image 19
source
1930 source
1916 source
1923 source
The sun. [volume], January 25, 1916, Page 13, Image 13
The New York herald. [volume], May 14, 1922, SECTION 6, Page 9, Image 77
New-York tribune. [volume], January 25, 1916, Page 13, Image 13 – is the second building mentioned the Hotel Esplanade? Gaetan Ajello?
The sun. [volume], July 01, 1916, Page 11, Image 11
The sun. [volume], October 24, 1916, Page 11, Image 11 – Warren & Wetmore?
New – York Tribune (1911-1922); Jul 2, 1916; ProQuest pg. B6
Real estate record and builders’ guide v. 110 1922.
continued Real estate record and builders’ guide v. 110 1922.
Real estate record and builders’ guide. v.107:JA-JE(1921).