446 East 86th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 446 East 86th Street by Carter Horsley

Most developers have shied away from experimenting with color in their projects in Manhattan and have tended to go with whatever was conservatively fashionable at the time of construction.

This building hails from the infamous "white-brick monstrosity" era that dominated much "luxury" high-rise construction in the city in the 1950's and 1960's. The label has always been something of a misnomer because the bricks were often a light-grey rather than bright white and not all of the buildings were ugly "monstrosities." This type of building became popular after the success of the full-block Manhattan House project on Third Avenue between 65th and 66h Streets, and some architects and builders have noted that the "white" brick was helpful in marketing such projects because it implied modernity as it was the favorite color of the Bauhaus. An article in The New Yorker magazine in February, 1999, on the subject of "white-brick" buildings, also suggested that white became popular with some developers because it was different from the red and brown used in many public housing projects.

The "white-brick" buildings used a new brick that was glazed and which often developed "spalling" problems that caused them to chip and break apart in the city's freeze-thaw cycles. Many such properties experienced such problems especially at the top parapets where they were more exposed to the elements.

Here, the developer combined the white bricks with blue ones on the 86 Street façade to create a rather bold but simple and attractive pattern that has stood the test of time rather well.

Surprisingly, however, the First Avenue façade has no such patterning and is all white.

The building has a doorman, consistent fenestration, discrete air-conditioners and a canopied entrance with sidewalk landscaping.

The 14-story structure was erected in 1960 and converted to a cooperative in 1984 with 90 apartments.

Carl Schurz Park is one attractive long block away to the east and several fine private schools are in the neighborhood. There is excellent crosstown bus service, but the express subway station at Lexington Avenue is quite far away.

Carter B. Horsley