|
About The Dorchester, 131 Riverside Drive
This very fine apartment building has a grand entrance on Riverside Drive that is very impressive.
The 13-story building, which has fine views of Riverside Park and the Hudson River, has a three-story limestone base and is surrounded by a dry moat with a handsome wrought-iron railing and large limestone bollards. The wrought-iron entrance door has Art-Nouveau styling and the first floor windowsills have flower planters.
This building, which has inconsistent fenestration and protruding air-conditioners, was erected in 1904 and converted to a cooperative in 1968.
The facade of this building, which has 51 apartments, is quite similar, especially along Riverside Drive, to that of the Clarendon on the same block at 137 Riverside Drive. That building was erected two years later and was the residence for many years of William Randolph Hearst, the legendary publisher. Both buildings have limestone banding near their tops although the banding does not align perfectly.
The neighborhood is very attractive and excellent cross-town bus service is available on 86th Street and Broadway where there is also a subway station. There are several movie theaters, stores and restaurants in this area.
Carter B. Horsley
|
