Every Building on Fifth

A thoroughly trashed brownstone retaining nothing of architectural note save its cornice, 333 Fifth Avenue is still one of the area’s most popular locations, due to the popularity of the Papaya Dog chain, which dishes up tasty street food to tourists lining up for the Empire State Building a block to the north. A rather cheerfully… Continue reading

A typically restrained work by an architect famed for his country houses, 330 Fifth Avenue, The Astor Building, was built in 1926 to plans by Charles Adams Platt for the Astor Family.  New windows have somewhat obscured the prim elegance of the original Colonial Revival design. In addition to his work as an architect, Platt… Continue reading

One of the recent buildings to be completed south of 34th Street, 321 Fifth Avenue weaves an uneasy compromise between the glittering high-tech of its upper floors and an oddly hesitant attempt to meet the street level. The tower is all flashing reflections and airy balconies, suggestive of the tropical flair of Miami. The lower… Continue reading

One of Robert Maynicke’s best buildings, 320 Fifth Avenue, The Reed Barton Building, is unusual for the architect in being faced entirely in limestone.  The curved corner, handsome in itself, provides a wonderful foil to the angularity of the Empire State Building a block to the north.  The ground floor has seen some depredations, but… Continue reading

The polite and well-tended little Colonial Revival building at 319 Fifth Avenue was built in 1917 and makes an interesting contrast to the opulence of the Kaskel Building located cater-corner – to say nothing of 321 Fifth directly to the north. The building stands on the site of the original Knickerbocker Club, now located further… Continue reading