Thursday, November 15, 2012

one tough town



Built at 89th and Lex just one year after our ClockTower, this beautiful Romanesque apartment house is gone.


It was demolished and replaced with this in 1960:


You've gotta be kidding, right? 

Architect Henry J. Hardenbergh also designed the Dakota in 1884 and the Plaza Hotel in 1907. And we knock his buildings down?


Fortunately landmarks stepped in. Tucked away on a side street is one of his remaining, single-home masterpieces
 339 East 87th.


Red brick with terracotta inserts, archtop windows and zig zag brick, this building shares DNA with our ClockTower home.



But that wisteria is destroying the brickwork.

This vine is 100 years old.




The tendrils find the mortar lines and grow in and wedge the brick apart. Wisteria is very hard on brick.


It grew right through the iron rail, too.


Tough town, New York.

If the wrecking ball don’t getcha the wisteria will.




5 comments:

  1. Very interesting. Did not realize you were commenting back. Do like dinner with candles and some eye candy!
    Take care, xoxo
    me

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love candles and eye candy has its place.
    But only after you eat your vegetables. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lol. Is that my problem here. ;)

      Delete
  3. What does this have to do with Wisteria and brick?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sorry candyland we are old. Friends. Have a nice day

    ReplyDelete