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About 860 Fifth Avenue
In 1950, this 20-story cooperative apartment building replaced the Thomas Fortune Ryan mansion of 1895 designed by William Schickel & Company and an adjoining, colonnaded garden that was the former site of the Charles T. Yerkes mansion.
By then, 'Millionaires' Row' had already been substantially decimated by other post-war demolitions that were inexcusable, though economically understandable, actions in a city that did not pass a landmarks law until the 1960's. Imagine, if you will, if most of the great mansions, and the Ryan fortune was one of the city's greatest, had remained and the new high-rise residential construction pushed to Madison Avenue or further east!
For residents of the 159 cooperative apartments here, of course, the question is moot as they are delighted at their wonderful views from broad balconies at this super location.
Designed by Sylvan Bien, this white brick building is strongly modeled with a setback central façade flanked by wings that stretch to the building line. The solid-wall balconies, which project from the façade as well as recess within it, give the building a robust horizontal emphasis, which is in keeping with its continuity with the existing streetwall and cornice lines. The watertank is handsomely enclosed in a simple, perforated enclosure that is consistent with the rest of the building.
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