1025 Fifth Avenue

This puzzling slot in the streetwall is explained by the desire of a developer to claim a Fifth Avenue address for a building actually located on 83rd and 84th Streets. Designed by H. L. Feldman, 1025 Fifth Avenue is accessed through the gap between 1020 Fifth Avenue and the mansions to the north, a solution that architect Robert A.M. Stern grudgingly called “one of the most ingenious if urbanistically destructive moves on the avenue.”

An added irony is that the entrance and lobby, designed by Raymond Loey Associates, are among the best of their era in the city – airy, elegant and featuring a beautiful garden court.  It’s a shame this sophistication comes at the expense of the block as a whole.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.