History and architecture
The Prentiss Residence, designed by noted architect C.P.H. Gilbert and constructed in 1899-1901, is an elegant Beaux-Arts style town house located on a prominent site at the intersection of West 72nd Street and Riverside Drive and is one of four grand town houses remaining at that corner. Designed and built in accordance with restrictive covenants in an area long intended for high-quality residential development, it is an excellent example of an impressive town house designed for that area. A town house with an American basement plan, the Prentiss Residence is faced in limestone and has curved bays at the front and side facades and a mansard roof enlivened with dormers and a turret. These features, combined with the siting of the building, give the town house a striking presence at the gateway to Riverside Drive.
Sources and further reading
This history comes from the Landmarks app’s historical catalog. Names and building uses may reflect the period described.