131 East 70th Street

Building Name

131 East 70th Street (aka 960 Lexington Avenue)

Architect

Robert Mook

Year(s) Built

ca. 1871

Alterations

Altered in Anglo-Italianate style, Grosvenor Atterbury, 1909-11

Designation

Upper East Side Historic District

131 East 70th Street
Project Information:

A row house designed by Robert Mook, built ca. 1871, and altered in the Anglo-Italianate style by Grosvenor Atterbury in 1909-11. Application is to replace an existing rear addition.

CB8 Hearing: 11/5/12 (Approved)
LPC Hearing: 11/27/12 (Laid Over); 1/8/12 (Laid Over); 1/15/13 (Approved with Modifications)

FRIENDS' Testimony:

Grosvenor Atterbury’s charming series of additions to 131 East 70th Street is aptly continued with this contemporary expression of a greenhouse, an improvement over what is currently in place. The addition is successful in its subtle connection to the historic building and in how it reveals itself as a new accretion while implementing the material language of Atterbury.

However, the committee found the horizontal lines of the proposed design to be too strong for the whimsical row house. A more muted cornice would better relate to the delicate, idiosyncratic historic design. We ask the Commission to continue working with the applicant on this change before final approval of the proposal.

FRIENDS' Testimony:

In an effort toward full disclosure, a board member of our organization owns this building. However, he did not attend or comment on our review of this application.

Grosvenor Atterbury's charming series of additions to 131 East 70th Street is aptly continued with this contemporary expression of a greenhouse, an improvement over what is currently in place. The addition is successful in its subtle connection to the historic building and in how it reveals itself as a new accretion while implementing the material language of Atterbury.

However, the committee found the horizontal lines of the proposed design to be too strong for the whimsical row house. A more muted cornice would better relate to the delicate, idiosyncratic historic design. We ask the Commission to continue working with the applicant on this change before final approval of the proposal.