Friends of the Upper East Side Historic Districts

Hardly altered since it was built in 1891, 230 East 83rd Street is a five-story brick building with intricate brickwork and detailed stone lintels designed by Charles Stegmayer, a prolific Swiss architect in Yorkville in the late 19th century. During Prohibition a speakeasy operated in the building. While the establishment kept a low profile for years, it was raided in 1932, shortly before the passage of the Twenty-First Amendment. In the 1950s, Yorktown Heating & Engineering Co. operated from one of the building’s storefronts. Today, the storefront at 230 East 83rd Street houses Tokuyama Salon.

1. 230 East 83rd Street (center) today.
2. 230 East 83rd Street circa 1940.

The Metallic Lathers Union building was designed by architects De Rose & Cavalieri and built in 1931, replacing three-story tenement buildings. Though described at construction as a “two-story brick office and stores,” the building housed a 2nd floor dance hall, with a capacity of 120 people. Since the 1970s the second story has been the home of Local 46, an Ironworkers Union originally established in 1896 as the Metallic Lathers’ Union, giving the building its name. The mural on the northern elevation of the building showcases a number of , including the , alongside medallions of Local 46 at work. The small stores on the ground floor have hosted many different types of shops, from barber shops and nail salons to high-end boutiques and art stores and galleries.

1-3. The Metallic Lathers Union at
1322 Third Avenue today.
4. The Metallic Lathers Union at
1322 Third Avenue 1940s Tax Photo.

Come for the burger, stay for the nostalgia! The corner of East 74th Street and Third Avenue has housed a tavern since the 1920s. Jack O'Neil and George Mourges (J.G.) took it over in 1972 and decorated the restaurant with green and white checkered tablecloths adorned with watermelons, hence the name J.G. Melon. The 1868 row house’s distinctive green and neon sign make it a visual cornerstone of the .

🏙️ : Discover Manhattan House, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and Mayer & Whittlesey (1947-51): the ’s First "White Brick" Apartment Building! ✨🏢

Built by New York Life Insurance Co. as an urban renewal project, this light-filled marvel features an innovative self-cleansing light gray brick, AKA “White Brick,” which soon became a character-defining feature of mid-century apartment buildings on the UES. 🌞🍃 Skidmore, Owings & Merrill's innovative H-plan design maximizes light and cross-ventilation in 95% of apartments and creates a lush courtyard garden. 🌟🏙️ With Bauhaus-style balconies and an International Style glass lobby, it's a true architectural gem. 🎨🚪

Images courtesy NY Observer, StreetEasy, JC James Development.

Nothing beats the idyllic historic streetscapes of the during season. 🌇✨

One of the loveliest historic neon signs on the used to hang across the street from FRIENDS' office at Neil's Coffee Shop on the corner of Lexington and 70th. After 84 years in business at this location, Neil's sadly closed following an eviction notice in March 2023. It was one of the strongholds of diner culture in NYC. Unfortunately, the Neil’s sign was removed in late May. Learn more about Neil’s and the establishment’s commitment to the UES at the link in our bio.

1. Neil’s Coffee Shop Sign, April 2023
2. Neil’s neon sign illuminated courtesy UES PATCH

Beautiful polychrome terracotta tile entrance tucked away on this six story art deco apartment building at 226 East 70th Street. This building was designed by Joseph Martine in 1927 for Brentford Realty Company. The polychrome terracotta door surround beautifully enhances the geometric deco masonry.

While the Upper East Side is known for its grand Gilded Age mansions, townhomes, and apartment buildings, it also boasts a wealth of stunning modern architecture. FRIENDS will be celebrating these neighborhood gems with . This building at 1114-1116 First Avenue reflects the modern ideas developed at Germany's Bauhaus School in the 1920s. The goal of the International Style that the Bauhaus promoted was the creation of a rational environment, based on principles of design and modern technology. On this building, the mass-produced brick and glass block, horizontal banding, and ribbon windows exemplify principles of the International Style. This Modern work indicates the changing character of the architecture of Horace G. Ginsberg, who had previously specialized in Art Deco apartment buildings, most built in the Bronx. Today, the building retains a remarkable level of its original architectural detail and integrity.

Photos via LoopNet.

We are delighted to announce that Thom Browne, American fashion designer, and Andrew Bolton, curator in charge of The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, will be honored with the Ambassador to the Upper East Side Award at our annual benefit on September 19 for their restoration of a Georgian townhouse designed by Mott Schmidt and built in the early 1920s for Anne Vanderbilt on Sutton Place.

2023 Ambassador to the Upper East Side Award Dinner - Thom Browne and Andrew Bolton FRIENDS of the Upper East Side Historic Districts invites you to celebrate Thom Browne and Andrew Bolton as we honor these extraordinary New Yorkers with the Ambassador to the Upper East Side Award.

The Upper East Side, namely Lexington Avenue, is home to a wealth of fascinating historic signage. One of the most beloved was the Papaya King sign at 179 East 86th Street. Opened in 1932, Papaya King created the iconic fruit juice and hot dog combo that inspired numerous imitators throughout NYC. The neon sign at the Yorkville location was created by LaSalle Sign Corp. in 1964 and remained relatively unchanged until Papaya King was forced to leave this location earlier this year. The fate of the neon sign, since removed, is unknown. What are some of your favorite UES signs?

Many thanks to the research done by that so greatly informed this post.

1. Papaya King circa 2014, photo by Thomas Rinaldi
2. and 3. Sketches and design drawings courtesy Justin Langsner/LaSalle Sign Corp. and
4. Papaya King and signage circa 1970 courtesy
5. Justin Langsner, retired president of the LaSalle Sign Corp circa 2014, photo by Thomas Rinaldi

Between 1939 and 1941, the Works Progress Administration collaborated with the New York City Tax Department to take over 720,000 photographs of nearly every building in NYC’s 5 boroughs. The “tax photos” are an unparalleled resource for NYC preservationists to determine how a building and its context have changed over time. FRIENDS’ office at 966 Lexington Avenue, an 1871-72 Italianate rowhouse converted to shops and apartments in 1927, is pictured in the tax photo above. The block retains much of the same historic character thanks to its inclusion in the Upper East Side Historic District. Another fun feature of the tax photos? The tiny slices of 1940s New York life captured from the quirky tax photographers to the businesses and cars of the day. Learn more at the link in bio.

An amazing tour for FRIENDS members this morning with Kirsten Reoch and Debora Barros about their documentation and preservation work at the Park Avenue Armory — completed and ongoing — a true preservation undertaking that considers the whole history of the building while adapting it for a full roster of arts and culture programming and community uses. A neighborhood and NYC treasure. .212.barros