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134, 136, AND 138 EAST 16TH STREET
Architect: unknown; alteration to No. 136, Herter Brothers
No. 134, 1846; Nos. 136 and 138, early 1850s; alteration to No. 136, 1889

No. 134 is a late example of a Greek Revival rowhouse that retains much of its original appearance. Of special note on this tall four-story and basement house is its entrance enframement. This contains typical Greek Revival brownstone pilasters and an unusual cornice. The Italianate residences at Nos. 136 and 138 were built somewhat later than No. 134.

The most unusual house of this trio, and one of the most extraordinary buildings in the Gramercy Park neighborhood, is No. 136. The unique street facade probably dates from an alteration of 1889, when the architectural firm of Herter Brothers converted the single-family residence into five French flats. This is an early conversion of a rowhouse into comfortably apartments and reflects the fact that the area between Union Square and Gramercy Park was becoming a popular section for middle-class apartment houses. The brownstone front was updated by the addition of a series of cast-iron elements, including a free-standing Corinthian entrance portico capped by a pediment and window enframements with sawtooth detail and pyramidal bosses; all of the windows have triangular pediments except for those on the top floor, which are capped by ornamented blind fanlights. Also of note are the massive cornice, fine double doors, and cast-iron stoop railings and newel posts.