THEN

This five-story Beaux Art structure is possibly the earliest surviving parking garage in New York City.  Built for the Automobile Realty Company in 1905-06, it signaled the decline of privately-owned stables, where horses were fed and groomed, and carriages maintained. This unique block has many impressive examples, such No. 166, designed by Richard Morris Hunt in 1883-84. Overnight parking was prohibited on city streets until 1950 and multi-story automobile  garages like this were greatly needed. Planned with a wide entrance and rear elevator, one can imagine the five floors filled with an ever-changing collection of the latest European and American models. Other architecturally distinguished parking garages in the neighborhood include the Duford Garage (1909) at 127 East 83rd Street and the Ardsley Garage (1914) at 165 East 77th Street.