Audubon Park Historic District

AP

Designed by Schwartz and Gross who also executed Rhinecleff Court that you examined earlier, the predominantly brick façade rests on of a rusticated granite base that runs continuously around the first floor, with stepped sections that rise to the second floor at the corners and mid-block.  As you walk up the block towards the awning that marks the main entrance, you will notice ornamental brick sections rising above the two-story portions of the base.  Unique among apartment buildings in Audubon Park, the Grinnell apartments have never been sub-divided.

Among the new buildings which have been erected in Riverside Drive is the Grinnell, a nine story structure, which occupies a portion of old Audubon Park.  The building is triangular, having frontages in the drive, Audubon place and 157th Street, two entrances being provided, one in each of the two first named streets.  The building is named after the Grinnell family, which once owned the ground, and will be ready for occupancy shortly. Owing to Riverside Drive and Broadway practically converging at this point the Grinnell holds a strategic position.

Click picture for larger view

As laid out by the Centre Realty Company, the owner and builder, all the principal rooms face in one of the named streets, while in several of the suites the large majority of the rooms have outside exposure.  The building differs from almost every other apartment house structure, inasmuch as in almost every building erected on the regulation square corner plot the smaller suites are almost invariably located in the rear of the house.

The central court of the Grinnell is finished in faced brick, limestone

and terracotta and in design and appointment treated in a manner at once simple, imposing and attractive.  Owing to the width of the court the rooms , which have outlet into it, are as light as those facing in ordinary streets.

The building is laid out with ten apartments on each floor containing from five rooms and bath to nine rooms with three baths.  On the entrance and first floors there are several duplex apartments containing seven and nine rooms each.

New York Herald

June 4, 1911

The Grinnell (800 Riverside Drive)

For a larger view of the floor plan, click here.