☞ ARCHITECTURE: Porches & Porticos on 145th

There are not too many porches seen in the majority of the townhouse stock in Harlem but a recent walk over to Riverbank State Park revealed an interesting pair in West Harlem.  Numbers 617 and 621 West 145th Street are located on a block just west of Broadway and have retained their modest late 19th century charms even though the majority of the surrounding area has been built up with prewar buildings. The townhouse at number 617 has a formal look with its arched portico porch while number 621 has a more provincial feel to it. Both buildings interestingly enough have also retained their casement windows which can not be said for most of the other dwelling on the block.  Click on photos to enlarge.  Of course the main area uptown that still has many preserved porches is on Astor Row in Central Harlem: LINK