434 6th Avenue (New York City, New York)

 apartment building, 1894_construction, Renaissance Revival (architecture)

6-story Italian Renaissance residential building completed in 1894. Designed by Ralph Townsend, the first two floors are executed in smooth (ashlar) stonework, and the front door at the south end of the 6th Avenue facade has an arched Renaissance hood with oval window above, framed by cornucopiae. The 6th Avenue elevation is divided into four bays of three windows each, while the north facade on 10th Street has five bays of paired windows.

The windows of the upper floors are set off by terra-cotta frames and pilasters, with round-arches at the fifth floor, except for the center portion, which has square-headed windows. The 3rd floor has horizontal banding of Greek fret-motifs across the brick, and rope moldings around the window bays. Within each bay, the windows are separated by Ionic columns with spiral fluting. The 4th-5th floors have double-height fluted pilasters with garlands at their tops, and terra-cotta spandrels between the two floors. The top floor is set off by a dentiled cornice. Its window groups are separated by richly decorated terra-cotta panels. A white metal fire escape runs down the north facade. The cornice was removed in 1961 when the metal storefronts were installed at street level. The ground floor is occupied by Dramatics NYC barber shop, Sabon bath & beauty, Elixir Juice Bar, and InVite Health.