History and architecture
This house is a part of that outstanding group of neo-Federal townhouses which extends along the west side of Park Avenue, between East 63th and 69th Streets, sometimes referred to as the "Pyne-Davison Blockfront" due to the uniform architectural quality of these houses.
The chief reason why the four houses on the west side of Park Avenue are considered as a group is that they are all brick above and have rusticated stone bases and that their floor and window heights are approximately the same. Their cornices, balustrades and red Flemish bond brickwork are all very similar.
This circumstance resulted from the fact that the architects responsible for the design of these houses had, in each case, respect for the design of the neighboring houses and for the work of their professional confreres.
No. 686 Park Avenue was designed by Delano & Aldrich and built in 1916-19 as a residence for William Sloane. With a broader frontage on Park Avenue than its neighbor, No. 684 to the south, it has slightly larger windows with wider wall spaces between them. The entrance, located at the left-hand side, is framed by pilasters and by two well proportioned Corinthian columns in front of them.
Sources and further reading
This history comes from the Landmarks app’s historical catalog. Names and building uses may reflect the period described.