Strivers Row probably has one of the most unique townhouse plans in the city since the entire couple of blocks between FDB/8th and ACP/7th were originally constructed with carriage yards out back. One can see from the top photo (click to enlarge) that the gates facing 138th and 139th Street are marked with signs that indicate homeowners to walk their horses when entering the shared back road behind each estate. These mid-block portals seem to be the secondary point of entry for the other photos show the main gates on the avenue sides of the landmark blocks. As seen in the lower images, there is a small road that connects the entire section of townhouses that residents now use as their main path to park cars. The small, private carriage houses take place of the standard back yard lot but it appears that many homes just build a green deck on top of the former stables to accommodate.
Ya' know its amazing to me that the print on the signs instructing one to walk one's horses is still so visible! I can remember as a child going through this block & seeing the signs and thinking that perhaps some of the owners still had horses.
ReplyDeleteI walked down Striver's Row a few weeks ago and was struck by how shabby the alleys looked. A marked contrast to (most of) the frontages. Are the alleys in communal ownership or are the owned by a head landlord? Either way there did not seem much pride in ownership. As to the 'walk your horses' notices it looked to me like they had been touched up.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised residents haven't yet used this space for greenery (shrubs, trees, grass/outdoor space for people to use).
ReplyDeleteJust to expand on this post, the backyards were originally just backyards, of which most are gone having been replaced by garages (or perhaps I suppose to carriage houses pre-automobile). my residence on the block still has the backyard. re the alleys, the home property lines extend behind each house to the middle of the alley, so the alley is owned by a collection of individuals, but there is an easement. so neither communally or by a landlord. you try organizing 90 people for an expensive paving job!
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