254 Fifth Avenue
It would be easy to dismiss 254 Fifth Avenue out of hand as another half-witted mid-20th century recladding job, similar to 240 or 253 Fifth, yet closer examination of this 1947 design reveals intriguing details.
Although the style in the Madison Square North Historic District’s designation report is given tersely as “none” and the name of the architects responsible – Melvin House Wreckers – does not suggest a major force for the advancement of architectural art, clearly some time was taken with the unusual window surrounds and the use of beige brick indicates a stab at then-cutting edge stylishness.
All that pales in comparison to the wonderful first floor, which houses the marvelous L&W Oyster Co. – and preserves original cast-iron elements.
A rare example of a building in New York that is intact at the street level and changed above.