282-284 Fifth Avenue, The Wilbraham
Surviving from the earliest days of apartment house life in New York, The Wilbraham at 282-284 Fifth Avenue is a grand essay in the Richardsonian Romanesque. Constructed in 1888-90 as an “apartment hotel”, the building was designed by David and John Jardine, a pair of Scottish American brothers who also designed a number of high-style cast iron buildings including the original B. Altman’s on Avenue of the Americas at West 18th Street.
Originally containing “bachelor flats” for single male occupancy consisting of parlors and bedrooms with cooking services provided and meals taken at a communal dining room at the penthouse level, the Wilbraham was reconfigured with kitchens and bathrooms in 1935. It is one of the few buildings in the district to remain residential throughout its history.
228-284 Fifth Avenue has been a city landmark since 2004.