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Design

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{{Infobox NRHP
| name = LaGrange Terrace
| nrhp_type =
| image = Colonnade Row (51661214380).jpg
| caption =
| location = [[New York, New York]]
| coordinates = {{coord|40|43|46|N|73|59|32|W|region:US-NY_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| locmapin = Lower Manhattan#New York#USA
| map_label = Colonnade Row
| area = NoHo
| built = 1832
| architect =
| architecture = [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival]]
| added = December 12, 1976
| refnum = 76001242<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref>
| designated_other2_name = New York City Landmark
| designated_other2_date = October 14, 1965
| designated_other2_abbr = NYCL
| designated_other2_link = New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
| designated_other2_number = 0010–0013
| designated_other2_color = #ffe978
}}

'''Colonnade Row''', also known as '''LaGrange Terrace''', is a group of 1830s row houses on present-day [[Lafayette Street (Manhattan)|Lafayette Street]] in the [[NoHo, Manhattan|NoHo]] neighborhood of [[Manhattan]] in New York City. They are believed to have been built by Seth Geer, although the project has been attributed to a number of other architects. The buildings' original name comes from [[Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette|the Marquis de Lafayette]]'s estate in France, but the series of nine [[row houses]], of which four remain, owe their existence to [[John Jacob Astor]], who bought the property and whose grandson [[John Jacob Astor III]] later lived at No. 424.<ref name="seen">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/24/realestate/streetscapes-colonnade-row-428-34-lafayette-street-corinthian-columns-that-have.html|title=Streetscapes: Colonnade Row: 428–34 Lafayette Street; Corinthian Columns That Have Seen Better Days|work=The New York Times|accessdate=July 8, 2008|last=Gray|first=Christopher| date=December 24, 1995}}</ref> The remaining buildings are [[New York City designated landmark]]s and listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] under the name LaGrange Terrace. The facades remain standing on Lafayette Street south of [[Astor Place]].<ref name="ith">{{cite book | title=It Happened on Washington Square| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=thWVcHVixF4C&q=%22LaGrange+Terrace%22&pg=PA73| last=Kies Folpe| first=Emily| year=2002| pages=73| publisher=JHU Press| isbn=0-8018-7088-7}}</ref>

==Design==
[[File:La Grange Terrace Colonnade Row crop.jpg|thumb|left|325px|The original nine buildings]]

The nine original buildings, a series of [[Greek revival]] [[townhouses]] <ref name="met">{{cite book | title=New York, a Guide to the Metropolis: Walking Tours of Architecture and History| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ge1OAAAAMAAJ&q=%22LaGrange+Terrace%22| last=Wolfe| first=Gerald| year=1988| pages=114| publisher=McGraw-Hill| isbn=0-07-071396-0}}</ref> built by Seth Geer, a [[General contractor|contractor]] from [[Albany, New York]] (whose name is also given as "Greer"<ref>{{cite book|first=James|last=Trager|url=https://archive.org/details/newyorkchronolog00trag_0|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/newyorkchronolog00trag_0/page/71 71]|quote=seth greer lafayette.|title=The New York Chronology: The Ultimate Chronology|year=2003|publisher=HarperCollins|isbn=9780060523411 }}</ref>) were located at 418–426 [[Lafayette Place, New York|Lafayette Place]] on the site of the [[New York Vauxhall Gardens|Vauxhall Gardens Amusement Park]].<ref name="wtr">{{cite book | title=New York: 15 Walking Tours: An Architectural Guide to the Metropolis| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KS6lWxkeEF8C&q=%22LaGrange+Terrace%22&pg=PA135| last=Wolfe| first=Gerard| date=2003| pages=135| publisher=McGraw-Hill Professional| isbn=0-07-141185-2}}</ref> The property on which these buildings were constructed had been bought by Astor in 1804 for $45,000,<ref name="beur">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1902/02/09/archives/the-old-van-beuren-mansion-to-remain-colonnade-row.html|title=The Old van Beuren Mansion to Remain.; "Colonnade Row."|date=February 9, 1902|work=The New York Times Sunday Magazine Supplement|pages=SM3|accessdate=July 8, 2008}}</ref> and when the lease for the Vauxhall Gardens was up, Astor built a wide street through the property from [[Great Jones Street]] to Art Street, which is now [[Astor Place]], and named it [[Lafayette Street|Lafayette Place]] after [[Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette|the Marquis de Lafayette]], a hero of the [[American Revolution]].<ref name="inside">{{cite inside}}, pp. 56–58</ref> The original name of the buildings was Lagrange or La Grange Terrace, named after Lafayette's country estate, one of many places named in his honor in [[New York City]] and elsewhere in the United States,<ref name="lafl">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nysun.com/arts/when-lafayette-landed/66484/|title=When Lafayette Landed|accessdate=July 11, 2008|date=November 15, 2007|first=Francis|last=Morrone|work=The New York Sun}}</ref> after his [[Visit of the Marquis de Lafayette to the United States (1824-25)|triumphant return tour in 1824–25]].

The buildings each contained 26 rooms and were {{convert|27|ft|m}} wide, with {{convert|15|ft|m|adj=on}} deep front yards, uncommon at the time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/24/realestate/streetscapes-colonnade-row-428-34-lafayette-street-corinthian-columns-that-have.html|title=Streetscapes: Colonnade Row: 428–34 Lafayette Street; Corinthian Columns That Have Seen Better Days|last=Gray|first=Christopher|work=The New York Times |date=December 24, 1995 |access-date=December 1, 2018|language=en}}</ref> Their facades were made entirely of [[Westchester marble]] and linked with a colonnade of [[Corinthian order|Corinthian columns]] providing the homes with their current name.<ref name="whit">{{cite book | title=Whitman in his Time| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YI_hQFtz9nUC&q=%22LaGrange+Terrace%22&pg=PA156| last=Reynolds| first=David| year=2000| pages=156| publisher=Oxford University Press| isbn=0-19-512081-7}}</ref><ref name="b2b">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/29/realestate/six-building-to-building-tours.html|title=Six Building-to-Building Tours|accessdate=July 11, 2008|date=April 29, 1984|author=Merida Welles|work=The New York Times}}</ref> The marble for the buildings was found at [[Sing Sing]],<ref name="spc">{{cite book | title=Speeches and Occasional Addresses| url=https://archive.org/details/speechesoccasion02indixj| quote=LaGrange Terrace.| last=Dix| first=John Adams| year=1864| pages=[https://archive.org/details/speechesoccasion02indixj/page/190 190]| publisher=D. Appleton and Company}}</ref> where the convicts worked to cut it for use in construction.<ref name="beur"/>

The precise year of the buildings' construction, as well as the architect responsible are subject to some debate. The architects generally credited with Colonnade Row's design is [[Alexander Jackson Davis]],<ref name="ajd2">{{cite book | title=Hudson Valley Ruins: Forgotten Landmarks of an American Landscape| last1=Rinaldi| first1=Thomas|first2=Rob|last2=Yasinac| year=2006| pages=93| isbn=1-58465-598-4}}</ref> [[Ithiel Town]], and [[James Dakin]], who were believed to have designed the homes for the [[Astor family|Astor]] and [[Vanderbilt family|Vanderbilt]] families.<ref name="whit"/> Town and Dakin are believed to have begun work on the project, which they called LaGrange Terrace, during the winter of 1831–32, during which they worked on a number of design projects. Davis is not believed to have played a role in the final construction of the building,<ref name="ajd">{{cite book | title=Alexander Jackson Davis, Romantic Architect, 1803–1892| last=Cornelius Donoghue| first=John| year=1982| publisher=Ayer Publishing| isbn=0-405-14078-9}}</ref> which was completed in 1833 according to the Landmarks Commission, and there are some who believe that he did not work on the design at all.<ref name="seen"/>

Apart from [[John Jacob Astor III]],<ref name="wolf">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/08/arts/08fami.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=all&position=|title=Where Wolfgang Amadeus Meets Wolfgang Bigbad|accessdate=July 11, 2008|date=April 8, 2005|first=Laurel|last=Gareber|work=The New York Times}}</ref> [[Julia Gardiner Tyler|Julia Gardiner]] (who would become President [[John Tyler]]'s [[First Lady of the United States|First Lady]]) lived on Colonnade Row,<ref name="inside" /> as did [[Cornelius Vanderbilt]], [[Washington Irving]],<ref name="wis">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nycgovparks.org/sub_your_park/historical_signs/hs_historical_sign.php?id=10403|title=Washington Irving Statue|accessdate=July 11, 2008|publisher=New York City Department of Parks & Recreation|date=July 20, 2001}}</ref> and [[Warren Delano Jr.|Warren Delano]].<ref name="wtr"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Tyler House Gives Way to Business; Marble Landmark in Colonnade Row Where President Ate Wedding Breakfast. Built by David Gardiner Neighbors Were John Jacob Astor, Gov. E.D. Morgan, Franklin Delano, and John Milhau.|date=November 5, 1916|work=The New York Times|pages=9|accessdate=July 9, 2008|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1916/11/05/archives/tyler-house-gives-way-to-business-marble-landmark-in-colonnade-row.html}}</ref> In addition, [[Columbia Law School]] held classes for a time in the house that was once occupied by Astor.

==Decline==
At the time of their construction, [[Lafayette Street|Lafayette Place]], which was then a [[cobblestone]] [[cul-de-sac]],<ref name="wtr"/> was the most fashionable area in New York City and one of the first to be developed in the city's expansion north of [[Canal Street (Manhattan)|Canal Street]].<ref name="ajd"/> The upper-class demographics of the region shifted, and by 1860 [[Murray Hill, Manhattan|Murray Hill]] was considered a better place to live, and the area around the former Lafayette Place fell into decline.<ref name="beur"/>

The original buildings located at 418–426 Lafayette Place were torn down following a failed proposal in 1902 to relocate the remaining structures to [[Bryant Park]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1902/05/30/archives/frauncess-tavern.html|title=Fraunces's Tavern|date=May 30, 1902|work=The New York Times|accessdate=July 9, 2008}}</ref> after more than half were torn down to make room for Wanamaker's warehouse and department store.<ref name="wtr"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Silver|first=Nathan|title=Lost New York |publisher=Houghton Mifflin Books|year=2001|pages=130|isbn= 0-618-05475-8}}</ref> Some of the columns and decorative parts ended up in what is now known as [[Delbarton School]], a [[Benedictine]] boys school in [[Morristown, New Jersey]], located on the former estate of [[Luther Kountze]].<ref>[http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=90164 Rangefinder.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715154103/http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=90164 |date=July 15, 2011 }} Parts of demolished houses in Morristown</ref><ref>{{cite web|author1=Tomas Dinges/The Star-Ledger|title=Mystery of marble columns found near Morris Township school is solved|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/mystery_of_marble_columns_foun.html|website=www.nj.com|accessdate=March 16, 2017|date=August 18, 2010}}</ref>

==Protection==
The four buildings that remain, numbers 428, 430, 432, and 434 [[Lafayette Street]], were among the first to be landmarked when New York City began doing so in 1965,<ref>
{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1965/10/18/archives/first-official-landmarks-of-city-designated-20-sites-listed-each-to.html|title=First Official Landmarks of City Designated; 20 Sites Listed|work=The New York Times|accessdate=July 8, 2008|last=Farnsworth|first=Fowle|date=October 18, 1965}}</ref> despite having been sub-divided into apartments and commercial properties,<ref name="wtr"/> altered and generally in poor condition.<ref>{{cite book|last=Homberger|first=Eric|title=Mrs. Astor's New York: Money and Social Power in a Gilded Age|publisher=Yale University Press|year=2004|pages=105|isbn= 0-300-10515-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=13jwkUPvYGcC&q=%22Colonnade+Row%22+New+York&pg=PA105}}</ref> The public hearings regarding the landmarking were held on September 21, 1965 at which time a number of people supported the landmarking and the owners presented no objections.<ref name="428r">{{Cite web|url=http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/VIEW-428-LAFAYETTE-REPORT-IN-ORIGINAL-FORMAT.pdf|title=428 Lafayette Street Building|accessdate=July 9, 2008|publisher=Landmarks Preservation Commission|date=October 14, 1965|archive-date=March 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311043924/http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/VIEW-428-LAFAYETTE-REPORT-IN-ORIGINAL-FORMAT.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="430r">{{Cite web|url=http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/VIEW-430-LAFAYETTE-REPORT-IN-ORIGINAL-FORMAT.pdf|title=430 Lafayette Street Building|accessdate=July 9, 2008|publisher=Landmarks Preservation Commission|date=October 14, 1965|archive-date=March 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311044422/http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/VIEW-430-LAFAYETTE-REPORT-IN-ORIGINAL-FORMAT.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="432r">{{Cite web|url=http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/VIEW-432-LAFAYETTE--REPORT-IN-ORIGINAL-FORMAT.pdf|title=432 Lafayette Street Building|accessdate=July 9, 2008|publisher=Landmarks Preservation Commission|date=October 14, 1965|archive-date=March 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311041126/http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/VIEW-432-LAFAYETTE--REPORT-IN-ORIGINAL-FORMAT.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="434r">{{Cite web|url=http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/VIEW-434-LAFAYETTE-REPORT-IN-ORIGINAL-FORMAT.pdf|title=434 Lafayette Street Building|accessdate=July 9, 2008|publisher=Landmarks Preservation Commission|date=October 14, 1965|archive-date=March 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311031021/http://www.neighborhoodpreservationcenter.org/db/bb_files/VIEW-434-LAFAYETTE-REPORT-IN-ORIGINAL-FORMAT.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> The buildings were added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in December 1976<ref name="nr">{{cite book | title=National Register of Historic Places, 1966-1991: Cumulative List| last=American Association for State and Local History|author2=National Park Service| year=1991| pages=527}}</ref> after being nominated in August of the same year.<ref name="nomf">{{Cite web|url=http://www.gvshp.org/documents/LaGrangeText.pdf|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form|accessdate=July 9, 2008|date=August 1976}}</ref>

The owners (for 428 and 430, The Casper R. Callen Trust, c/o Salon Realty) have announced plans to restore the buildings as recently as 1995.<ref name="seen" /> However, this has not yet happened due in part to cost.<ref name="decay">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/02/realestate/despite-protections-landmarks-decay.html|title=Despite Protections, Landmarks Decay|accessdate=July 11, 2008|date=August 2, 1987|author=Mark McCain|work=The New York Times}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Astor Place Theatre]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.nyc-architecture.com/LES/LES026.htm NYC Architecture images and description]
* [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.ny0392 La Grange Terrace] [[Historic American Buildings Survey]], [[Library of Congress]]

{{NoHo, Manhattan}}
{{National Register of Historic Places in New York|state=collapsed}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Residential buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Greek Revival architecture in New York City]]
[[Category:Greek Revival houses in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Houses completed in 1832]]
[[Category:New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan]]
[[Category:Astor Place]]
[[Category:NoHo, Manhattan]]

Colonnade Row - Revision history

imported>Jjazz76: /* Design */