The John Murray House (New York City, New York)

USA / New Jersey / West New York / New York City, New York / Madison Avenue, 220
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149-foot, 15-story cooperative-apartment building completed in 1941. Designed by Kenneth B. Norton, the L-shaped building is clad in tan brick with white stone trim. The east facade along Madison Avenue spans 10 bays: two bays of triple-windows in the middle, flanked by alternating bays of three single-windows and bays of triple-windows, in white metal frames. The north facade has end bays of single-windows; in between from east to west are: two single-windows, a bay of double-windows, a bay of single-windows, two bays of triple-windows (in the center), a bay of single-windows, a bay of triple-windows, another bay of single-windows, and another bay of triple-windows before the end bay.

The ground floor has a painted limestone water table. Slightly-projecting white stone piers rise from bases at the water table up to capitals at the 3rd floor, topped by stone panels with carved urns. The main entrance is on the avenue, at the 2nd triple-window bay from the north, with a red canvas canopy extending out over the sidewalk. The other ground-floor bays either have windows or secondary commercial entrances. Along the avenue, the facade is set behind a low wrought-iron fence enclosing landscaping. A painted white stone band course sets off the 2nd & 3rd floors, which have white-painted metal spandrels at each window between the two floors. The 3rd floor is topped by a non-painted limestone cornice.

The 4th floor is capped by a stone band course, and the windows all have decorative stone lintels with simple patterns. At the upper floors, the windows all have brick headers. The 12th floor is set off at bottom and top by stone string courses. There are setbacks above the 13th floor at the outer and middle bays; additionally, the far south bay on the avenue is set back one floor lower, above the 12th floor. The remaining bays set back above the 14th floor. Each of the setbacks creates terraces with metal railings.

The north facade shares the same design features as the east side. The west elevation is also clad in red brick, with a mix of single- and double-windows, and also some small bathroom windows. There are some commercial spaces on the ground floor, occupied by medical offices, and a parking garage with an entrance at the west end on 37th Street.

Originally built as a rental building, it was converted to a co-op in the 1980s, with 197 apartments.
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Coordinates:   40°44'58"N   73°58'55"W
This article was last modified 4 years ago