History and architecture
Graham Court Apartments, commissioned by William Waldorf Astor, was constructed in 1899-1901 as part of the great Harlem real-estate boom. Designed by the firm of Clinton & Russell, architects known for their many apartment houses, hotels, and early commercial skyscrapers in New York City, it is one of the signal achievements in the history of the apartment house in New York City. Quadrangular in plan and built around a central courtyard, Graham Court is one of the few apartment houses of this type in New York City. Stylistically the building recalls an Italian Renaissance palazzo in a conscious effort to evoke an image of luxury. Today it is one of the premier reminders of the urban development of Harlem at the turn of the century.
Sources and further reading
This history comes from the Landmarks app’s historical catalog. Names and building uses may reflect the period described.