182 East 73rd Street Building

History and architecture

The 182 East 73rd Street Building is an example of the type of commercial stable built during the 19th century throughout New York City. Constructed in 1890 to house the S. Kayton & Co. Stable, the building both contrasts with and complements the private carriage houses that line most of East 73rd Street between Lexington and Third Avenues. The stable was designed by Andrew Spense Mayer; the architect of a contemporary group of rowhouses in the Hamilton Heights Historic District (423 West 141st Street and 1-11 Hamilton Terrace, 1888-92).

The stable at No. 182 is a component of the rare surviving group of carriage houses, stables, and garages built: on East 73rd Street between Lexington and Third Avenues to serve the wealthy families who lived on or near Fifth Avenue. Stables were a necessity during the period when private urban transportation was limited to horses and carriages. Only the very wealthy, however, could afford to build and maintain a private carriage house such as most of those found on this street. Others boarded their horses in large commercial stables such as that at No. 182. In the early 20th century as automobiles began to replace carriages as the primary means of transportation, the stables were converted to garages. No. 182 was converted in 1908.

The stables were built on streets that were convenient to the East Side mansions, but were not so close that their noises and smells would mat the exclusive character of the residential streets. A few stables were erected between Madison and Park Avenues, but most were constructed on the less elegant streets east of Park Avenue. Like many streets on the Upper East Side, East 73rd Street between Lexington and Third Avenues was initially developed in the 1860s with modest Italianate style residences. Most of these houses were replaced as the block became a prime site for carriage houses; only two of the original rowhouses (Nos. 171 and 175) survive.