271 North Avenue
| 271 North Avenue | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Complete |
| Location | 271 North Avenue, New Rochelle, New York 10801 |
| Coordinates | 40°54′42.8″N 73°46′56.3″W / 40.911889°N 73.782306°WCoordinates: 40°54′42.8″N 73°46′56.3″W / 40.911889°N 73.782306°W |
| Cost | $1, 000, 000 |
| Height | |
| Roof | 247.0 feet (75.29 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 13 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Schwartz & Gross |
271 North Avenue (also known as the Schiff Building, Pershing Square and the Kaufman or "K" Building) is a 13 story art-deco office tower located in the downtown section of New Rochelle in Westchester County, New York. The brick, limestone and terra-cotta structure was designed by the architectural firm Schwartz & Gross and constructed by Harry Schiff & Sons.[1] It was completed in 1930 at a cost of one million dollars. The building is built in the classic early skyscraper model, with massing derived from the classic orders of a base, shaft and capital as used for column design: the three-story storefront serving as the base, ten stories above serving as the shaft, and the cornice as the capital.[2] The lower floors include commercial storefronts on the first story with a round-arched arcade on the second and third. The upper facade is designed with flat topped windows with minor detailing in the brick surrounds. In 1936 an additional floor was added to the building. The cornice is of terra cotta and includes medallions and dentils.[3]
This was the tallest building in Westchester County when it was built in the 1920s. It was originally called the "Pershing Square Building", derived from its location on Pershing Square at the intersection of North Avenue and Huguenot Street. The building is located on the site of the former "Besley's Tavern", a Revolutionary War-era establishment where town meetings were held in 1773-1776. George Washington had once lodged at the tavern on a trip through New Rochelle. The building was developed, built and owned by Harry Schiff & Son, prominent New York developers who erected and owned numerous buildings in New Rochelle and New York City. It was later renamed "Kaufman" by a later landlord, the owner of Kaufman Studios in Queens, New York.[4] Paul Terry established his animation company Terrytoons here in 1934. The firm created such well known characters as Mighty Mouse and Heckle & Jeckle, in the building until 1949 when it relocated to a nearby downtown location.[5]
References
- ↑ Emporis.com
- ↑ Sanchis, Frank E.; American Architecture Westchester County: Colonial to Contemporary (Great Barrington, Massachusetts: North River Press, 1977.)
- ↑ Taylor, David (July 2000). Building Structure Inventory Form. New York State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.
- ↑ Animation Show Forums: Rare Terrytoons Opening/Closing
- ↑ The "K" Building
Sources
Emporis.com - 271 North Avenue building details
