Restoring 36 Gramercy Park East

A building’s character lives in its details

At No. 36, the eye travels upward: past projecting bays, across a richly worked terra-cotta facade and toward the figures at the roofline. Those details give the building its personality. They also make caring for it a demanding undertaking.

The restoration plans shared by the Gramercy Park Block Association in July 2014 reached from the terra cotta to the roof. Waterproofing, repairs to the ornate sheet-metal bays and the rebuilding of the cornice and decorative figures joined architectural care with the practical task of keeping the weather out.

Working with the people responsible

The newsletter described a constructive relationship with the building’s board and its president, Michael Del Giudice. It acknowledged the board’s attention to the neighborhood’s quality of life during the work and its respect for Gramercy’s historic character.

The restoration was led by the building and its project team. The Block Association supported the effort, maintained communication and advocated for the neighborhood’s interests.

2015

Progress between the plan and the award

In April 2015, the Block Association reported that the restoration was nearing completion. The newsletter anticipated the removal of scaffolding and the sidewalk shed in stages. This progress report connects the original 2014 scope with the preservation recognition reported in 2016.

Recognition in 2016

In April 2016, the Block Association congratulated 36 Gramercy Park East on receiving a Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award from the New York Landmarks Conservancy. The Block Association reported that it had supported the restoration and written to the Conservancy on the project’s behalf.

The award celebrated work on one building, but its effect reached the whole square. A repaired cornice or a renewed bay window becomes part of everyone’s view, whether they live at No. 36 or simply pass it on the way home.