Lamartine Place Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Lamartine Place Historic District is a small historic district located between Eighth
and Ninth
Avenues in the Chelsea
neighborhood of Manhattan
, New York City
. It was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
on October 13, 2009, and includes twelve mid-19th century rowhouses on the north side of West 29th Street from number 333 on the east end to number 355 on the west end.
"Lamartine Place" was a name given to the street by the developers, William Torrey and Cyrus Mason, in order to give their project an identity distinct from the Manhattan street grid
. The name honored the French writer, poet and politician Alphonse de Lamartine
, who was instrumental in the foundation of the French Second Republic
. As part of their efforts, Torrey and Mason constructed a park on the east end of the block, between 28th Street – which they were also developing as "Fitzroy Place" – and 29th Street. The park, which was called Lamartine Park, enhanced the desireability of the townhouses as homes, and this name and Lamartine Place appeared on maps until 1902.
Wanting the same kind of continuity of design they have achieved at their earlier development at London Terrace on 24th Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, Torrey and Mason included covenants which limited the types of buildings that could be built on Lamartine Place. The units they built and sold were all Greek revival
rowhouses with consistent heights and setbacks; most of these were completed by 1849, while seven buildings at the western end were not finished until around 1852. Most of the buildings that remain today have been altered since, often with Renaissance revival elements.
Eighth Avenue (Manhattan)
Eighth Avenue is a north-south avenue on the West Side of Manhattan in New York City, carrying northbound traffic. Eighth Avenue begins in the West Village neighborhood at Abingdon Square and runs north for 44 blocks through Chelsea, the Garment District, Hell's Kitchen's east end, Midtown and the...
and Ninth
Ninth Avenue (Manhattan)
Ninth Avenue / Columbus Avenue is a southbound thoroughfare on the West Side of Manhattan in New York City. Traffic runs downtown along its full length...
Avenues in the Chelsea
Chelsea, Manhattan
Chelsea is a neighborhood on the West Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City. The district's boundaries are roughly 14th Street to the south, 30th Street to the north, the western boundary of the Ladies' Mile Historic District – which lies between the Avenue of the Americas and...
neighborhood of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The Commission was created in April 1965 by Mayor Robert F. Wagner following the destruction of Pennsylvania Station the previous year to make way for...
on October 13, 2009, and includes twelve mid-19th century rowhouses on the north side of West 29th Street from number 333 on the east end to number 355 on the west end.
"Lamartine Place" was a name given to the street by the developers, William Torrey and Cyrus Mason, in order to give their project an identity distinct from the Manhattan street grid
Commissioners' Plan of 1811
The Commissioners' Plan of 1811 was the original design plan for the streets of Manhattan, which put in place the grid plan that has defined Manhattan to this day....
. The name honored the French writer, poet and politician Alphonse de Lamartine
Alphonse de Lamartine
Alphonse Marie Louis de Prat de Lamartine was a French writer, poet and politician who was instrumental in the foundation of the Second Republic.-Career:...
, who was instrumental in the foundation of the French Second Republic
Second Republic
-Europe:* French Second Republic * Second Polish Republic * Second Hellenic Republic * Second Spanish Republic * Portuguese Second Republic, known as Estado Novo * Czechoslovak Second Republic...
. As part of their efforts, Torrey and Mason constructed a park on the east end of the block, between 28th Street – which they were also developing as "Fitzroy Place" – and 29th Street. The park, which was called Lamartine Park, enhanced the desireability of the townhouses as homes, and this name and Lamartine Place appeared on maps until 1902.
Wanting the same kind of continuity of design they have achieved at their earlier development at London Terrace on 24th Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues, Torrey and Mason included covenants which limited the types of buildings that could be built on Lamartine Place. The units they built and sold were all Greek revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
rowhouses with consistent heights and setbacks; most of these were completed by 1849, while seven buildings at the western end were not finished until around 1852. Most of the buildings that remain today have been altered since, often with Renaissance revival elements.
See also
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets
- Orange RiotsOrange RiotsThe Orange riots took place in Manhattan, New York City in 1870 and 1871, and involved violent conflict between Irish Protestants, called "Orangemen", and Irish Catholics, along with the New York City Police Department and the New York State National Guard....