THE PERFECT MANSION BLOCK The block on which this mansion is located is the only one on all of Fifth Avenue on the Upper East Side that does not have an 18-story apartment building. The reason: Henry Cook, who originally owned the entire block of Fifth to Madison Avenues, from East 79th to East 78th Streets, limited the height of all buildings with deed restrictions that persist to this day. This fact provoked a New York Times writer to declare the block for all time the choicest plot of land for elegant single-family dwellings in New York City. C.P.H. Gilbert's grand neo-Gothic mansion built for Isaac Fletcher on 79th and Fifth, today The Ukrainian Institute, anchors the northern corner of this block. Cook originally lived on Fifth Avenue at the corner of East 78th Street while he waited for his new Stanford White residence at 973 Fifth Avenue to be completed. At the time of his death, James B. Duke bought that home, 1 East 78th Street, and engaged Horace Trumbauer to erect the stately mansion that still stands at that location today. All in all, this single block has three mansions by Stanford White, three by CPH Gilbert and one by Warren and Wetmore. LITTLE & BROWNE ARCHITECT From their Boston beginnings in 1895, the architectural firm of Little and Browne designed several extraordinary Boston residences including a country home at Pride's Crossing, MA for Henry Clay Frick. Arthur Little, an MIT graduate, would partner with Herbert W.C. Browne after both received extensive training with architectural firms in Europe and later in Boston. Built as a neo-Georgian pair from 1901-1903 under the supervision of Harvey Murdock, No. 12 was built for Mary F. Ogden and No. 14 was built for her brother, Charles W. Ogden. Charles was a well-known in the real estate industry and held title for both properties until his passing in 1935 when the deed to No. 12 was transferred to his sister, Mary, with the restriction that it be used solely as a private residence. Characterized by their bowed bays, 12 and 14 East 79th Street feature brick and limestone facades. Iron fences, open urns, and broad low stoops provide a gracious entryway above and two practical service entries on the lower level. Roman brick walls on the upper floors feature limestone trim. Two additional floors above the balustrade were added to this building in 1960. THE RESIDENCE Perfectly positioned on today's Gold Coast about 125 feet from Fifth Avenue, this mansion is built 28 feet wide with a wide extension that is built to the full 102 foot depth on its lot. The lowest level of the residence features windows front and back as well as two separate entries to East 79th Street. 12 East 79th Street is currently configured for institutional use; however the grand original rooms in the front and rear remain open and intact allowing the new owner to experience the full 28 feet in width in many of the main rooms. Presently designed with a main stair, service stair, and elevator, each floor features a large center landing joining the large front and rear rooms. It has been in the same ownership since 1975, almost forty years. Encompassing approximately 16,000 total square feet on seven levels, this mansion is unique in possessing an incomparable historical provenance, and a location that can never be duplicated. Inviting the buyer to create the perfect space for their needs, it is truly a home for the ages.
16027
SF
