72-76 Perry Street (New York City, New York)

 townhouses, 1860s construction, Second Empire (architecture)

A trio of 3-story French Second Empire-style residential buildings. Designee by Robert Mook, they were built for different individuals, Nos. 74 and 76 in 1866, followed by No. 70, with a mansard roof, in 1867.

No. 76 is the handsome prototype of this row. It retains its high stoop, flanked by gracious balustrades ending in polygonal newel posts crowned by the symbolic sphere. The original beautiful doorway framed by paneled pilasters, has unusually impressive carved console brackets that support an arched pediment, and also an inner, round arch carried on pilasters. The basement is of rusticated stone. The roof cornice, above the third floor, is supported by console brackets and is ornamented with modillions, dentils and panels.

No. 74 is the handsome twin of No. 76 except for an awkward alteration intended to provide an entrance at the basement, which is completely out of harmony with the dignified and graceful detail of the house and of the row. This alteration is a barren two-story high cont. projection ending in a parapet, providing for a vestibule.

No. 72, although its facade has been shorn of ornament, retains the gracefulness of its segmental-arched windows. It still displays its fine mansard roof unchanged, with round-arched windows, paired and single, surmounted by attractive segmental-arched cornices.