Holtz House (New York City, New York)

 office building, condominium

149-foot, 12-story Renaissance-revival/modern French-style office/condominium building completed in 1907. Designed by William C. Frohne as a store-and-loft building, its storefront was originally ornamented by an iron-and-glass canopy. Two years later the building was connected to buildings at 5 and 11 East 20th Street to accommodate the growing business of restaurateurs Holtz & Freystedt on the first two stories. Other tenants included producers of tea gowns and embroidery.

The 3-story limestone base is divided into two sections. In the lower section, each of two large doorways has a surround decorated with lions' heads holding boughs of fruit and a central garland. Atop each entrance is a large window opening with surround, lintel, and consoles framing paired, wooden casement windows with a transom. Between these openings stands the 2-story shopfront, which is composed of metal, wood, and glass. Its bottom half consisted of simple rectangular show windows, unadorned bulkhead, and transoms; however, the 2nd floor has five bays of small-paned, curved-topped casements capped by oval panes. Frohne lavished the two-story space with expanses of glass and at the second floor created a full wall of French windows. A frieze with a central cartouche bearing the name "HOLTZ" flanked by winged dragons with cornucopia runs along the top of the storefront.

Banded with limestone and brick, the upper section of the building's base establishes the organization of five central windows flanked by a wider window on each side. These window openings have prominent lion-head keystones which also support a simple cornice.

Above the cornice a 9-story arch of bundled laurel unites the bands of five central windows; spandrels alternate story by story between terra-cotta panels and simple brick. Each pair of stories is united by attenuated pilaster strips. The lunette-like top floor is decorated with wreaths and branches. Windows in the end bays feature prominent sills and keystones. Capping the facade is a deep, white metal roof cornice which has modillions, dentils and four large brackets. A white metal fire escape is attached to the westernmost bay.

The western sidewall is clad in plain brown brick with several columns of double-hung windows and white brick returns. The ground floor is occupied by Waterworks bathrooms.

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