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7/25/2022: when scaffolding is removed, see if there is a monogrammed cartouche above the entrance door. It might be blocked by the awning.
1915 575 West End Avenue
– Charles V. Paterno (Kelley Paterno page 285)
NB 33-1915
West End Avenue, 569-577
12-sty brick apartment, 120×100 COST:
$500,000
OWNER:
Paterno Constn. Co., Chas. V. Paterno, president and treasurer, 272 West 84th st
ARCHITECT:
Gaetan Ajello, 1 West 34th st
ADDRESS IN REAL ESTATE RECORD:
WEST END AV, 569-77
Located in Riverside – West End Historic District designated 19 December 1989
WEST END AVENUE DOCUMENTATION Survey 2008
Address: 575 West End Avenue, southwest corner West 88th
Street
Block / Lot: 1249/36
NB Number: 33-15 Date: 1915
Original Use: Apartment House No. of units:
Stories: 13 Height : 130’
Estimated Cost: $500,000
Façade Materials: main material brick
base limestone lower floors limestone
trim terra cotta cornice terra cotta
Structure: steel
Original Owner: Paterno Construction Company, Charles V. Paterno, president, 272 West 84th Street
Architect: Gaetan Ajello, 1 West 34th Street
Landmark Status: Riverside Drive-West End Historic District
Comments: The Italian Renaissance styling, white limestone base, white brick upper stories, and bold white terra-cotta trim typify Gaetan Ajello’s pre-World War I designs.
Bibliography: New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, Riverside-West End Historic District Designation Report (New York: Landmarks Preservation Commission), 65-66. (source)
575 West End Avenue, AKA 300-302 West 88th Street
Date: 1915
NB Number: NB 33-1915
Type: Apartment Building
Architect: Ajello, Gaetan
Developer/Owner/Builder: Paterno & Son Construction
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: Gray Brick, Limestone, and Terra Cotta
Stories: 13
Window Type/Material: See Structure
Structure: This thirteen story apartment building is located at the southwest corner of West End Avenue and West 88th Street, extending 100 feet along the avenue and ninety feet along the side street. The building is faced with light gray brick laid in stretcher bond and has limestone and terra cotta trim.
West End Avenue Facade: This facade has three major horizontal divisions – a base, a midsection, and a top. The brick faced three story base has a stone water table and trim. The entrance is located in the center of this facade. Double entry doors of glass and metal have side lights and a transom; all have decorative metal grilles. Windows flank the entry and four double height paneled pilasters on tall bases frame the entrance doors and windows. Large cartouches surmount the capitals which are joined by a cornice at the third story sill line.
The facade is composed of seven bays of paired windows arranged with three at the center flanked by two on each side which are separated by smaller slit windows. Window openings have decorative lintels with soldier coursing, flat headed pediments, or terra cotta voussoirs. The nine story midsection is accented by decorative balconies, some with balustrades and some with wrought iron railings, at various locations. The one-story top is defined by an elaborate stringcourse and capped by a modillioned cornice.
West 88th Street Facade: This facade is six bays wide, with a slit window between the second and third bays from the east. It has the same overall design and articulation of detail as the West End Avenue facade.
Western Elevation: The western elevation, partially visible from West 88th Street, steps back to a rear courtyard and a southern wing. The gray brick of the primary facades returns, but the majority of the elevation is faced in tan brick with bands of white brick interspersed. Three bays of windows and a fire escape are visible on the northern wing of this elevation. The southern wing, beyond the courtyard, has three window bays.
Historic District: Riverside Drive- West End HD
Alterations: All windows of the primary facades have one-over-one aluminum replacement sash. The third bay from the south on the West End Avenue facade is now an entrance that has a large glass and metal door with sidelights and a transom in a metal frame. A recent canopy projects over the sidewalk at the main entrance. The first story stone window surrounds are painted, as is the transom above the entrance.
History: This apartment building was erected in 1915 for the Paterno Construction Company according to the design of architect Gaetan Ajello. The site was previously occupied by four vacant lots fronting on West End Avenue and one rowhouse on West 88th Street. Selected Reference: New York City Department of Taxes Photograph collection, municipal Archives and Record Collection, H 2370.. (source)
1915
33
$500,000.00
WEST END AV, 569-77 12-sty brick apartment, 120˙100
OWNER / OWNER ADDRESS
(o) Paterno Constn. Co., Chas. V. Paterno, president and treasurer / (o) 272 West 84th st COMMENTS
ARCHITECT / ARCHITECT ADDRESS
(a) Gaetan Ajello / (a) 1 West 34th st (source)
575 West End Avenue [a/k/a 300-302 West 88th Street]
Tax Map Block/Lot: 1249/36
Date of Construction: 1915 [NB 33-1915]
Architect: Gaetan Ajello
Original Owner: Paterno & Son Construction Company
Type: Apartment Building
ARCHITECTURE
Style: Neo-Renaissance
This thirteen-story apartment building is located at the southwest corner of West End Avenue and West 88th Street, extending 100 feet along the avenue and ninety feet along the side street. The building is faced with light gray brick laid in stretcher bond and has limestone and terra-cotta trim. West End Avenue Facade: This facade has three major horizontal divisions — a base, a midsection, and a top. The brick-faced three-story base has a stone watertable and trim. The entrance is located in the center of this facade. Double entry doors of glass and metal have side lights and a transom; all have decorative metal grilles. Windows flank the entry and four double-height paneled pilasters on-tall bases frame the entrance doors and windows. Large cartouches surmount the capitals which are joined by a cornice at the third-story sill line. The facade is composed of seven bays of paired windows arranged with three at the center flanked by two on each side which are separated by smaller slit windows. Window openings have decorative lintels with soldier
coursing, flat-headed pediments, or terra-cotta voussoirs. The nine-story midsection is accented by decorative balconies, some with balustrades and some with wrought-iron railings, at various locations. The one-story top is defined by an elaborate stringcourse and capped by a modillioned cornice. West 88th Street Facade: This facade is six bays wide, with a slit window between the second and third bays from the east. It has the same overall
design and articulation of detail as the West End Avenue facade.
Western Elevation: The western elevation, partially visible from West 88t Street, steps back to a rear courtyard and a southern wing. The gray brick of the primary facades returns, but the majority of the elevation is faced in tan brick with bands of white brick interspersed. Three bays of windows and a fire escape are visible on the northern wing of this elevation. The southern wing, beyond the courtyard, has three window bays.
ALTERATION (s): All windows of the primary facades have one-over-one aluminum replacement sash. The third bay from the south on the West End Avenue facade is now an entrance that has a large glass and metal door with sidelights and a transom in a metal frame. A recent canopy projects over the sidewalk at the main entrance. The first-story stone window surrounds are painted, as is the transom above the entrance.
HISTORY
• This apartment building was erected in 1915 for the Paterno Construction Company according to the design of architect Gaetan Ajello. The site was previously occupied by four vacant lots fronting on West End Avenue and one rowhouse on West 88th Street.
Selected Reference:
New York City Department of Taxes Photograph collection, municipal Archives
and Record Collection, H 2370. (source)
New York Architectural Terra Cotta Company Bids- Columbia University
Job #: 25507
Date: 1915-02-19
Architect: Ajello, Gaetan
Project: Apartment, 12-story
Client: Paterno Construction
State: NY
City: Manhattan
Address: SW cor. West End Ave./88th
Contractor: Paterno Construction
Outcome Atlantic TCC (Atlantic Terra Cotta Company)
Building Type (AAT): apartment houses
Notes: n/a
New York Times (1923-); New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 02 Jan 1932: 23.
