Elegance is often defined by Manhattan real estate developers as merely a limestone base. This 13-story, 52-unit cooperative building has a white marble base. The difference is dramatic and it is hard to walk by this handsome building, which was designed by Emery Roth in a somewhat Georgian-style treatment, without wanted to touch it. "Roth's styling for 570 Park Avenue was a delicate and refined classicism unlike anything else he had produced previously. Its white marble base seta luxurious tone that was carried all the way up its high facades with exquisitely molded white terra-cotta ornament. Juxtaposed to those graceful ornamental elements was richly textured and patterned red brick," wrote Steven Ruttenbaum in his book, "Mansions In The Clouds, The Skyscraper Palazzi of Emery Roth," (Balsam Press, Inc., 1986). The building, which was developed by Bing & Bing and completed in 1916, is a bit too chunky to be described as delicate, but the various courses and rounded pediments definitely enliven the facades. The north and east facades are almost symmetrical and the entrance is on the sidestreet. The lobby is large and attractive, if a bit conventional. The building, which replaced 8 rowhouses, was converted to a cooperative in 1923. One of its past residents was Willa Cather, the writer.