295 City Island Avenue

295-City-Island-Avenue02Location: 295 City Island Avenue, Block: 5630 Lot: 32.

Status: Never landmarked or heard. It has been separated into four units.

Description from the Bronx Survey: One of the earliest styles found extant on the island is the Greek Revival which began to develop as a national style around 1830, A reflection of the self-consciousness of the new republic, the Greek Revival was the first revival style in America; its plain but bold compositions and surfaces and classical elements were deliberately intended to echo the purity and dignity of ancient Greek architecture.

A fine example of the Greek Revival style stands at 295 City Island Avenue and probably dates from the 1840 ‘s or 1850 ‘s. Although the frame structure is a simplified version of the style, its clean lines and composition and very plain facade contribute to a handsome design. Asymmetrically massed, the house is built in two sections. The southernmost part is one and one-half stories high with eyebrow windows at attic level, while the main portion contains two full stories. Typical of the style, the front entrance has received the most emphasis.

Placed to the far left to allow room for a single front parlor,the main door is flanked by narrow sidelights and shaded by a small porch comprised of Doric pillars supporting a full entablature. Although this treatment exemplifies an elemental version of the style, the structure’s austere simplicity is still extremely striking.

Share Post :

More Posts