Whenever I have errands to run around Union Square, I try to walk up Broadway just north of 17th Street. This is the Eastern edge of the Ladies' Mile Historic District which contains some really great buildings. One of my favorites is 874 Broadway at the NE corner of 18th Street.
874 Broadway was built in 1892 by prominent New York architect R. H. Robertson. Like most buildings in NY, it is more impressive at the upper floors, however it does have a pretty nice ground level storefront too.
Once you get past the horrible Sleepy's SALE and OPEN signs, you'll notice a beautiful set of windows (curved at the corner) set in ironwork and framed with stone where it meets the building.
After the ground level, the building rises into several stories of columned windows...
Which then give way to two stories of arched windows followed by another row of columns in a contrasting color...
The corner of the building is topped off by an ornate pitched tower.
The A.I.A Guide to New York City describes this mix of styles as ''unspeakable eclectic: a murmuration of Byzantine columns, Romanesque arches, Gothic finials and crockets -- the designer used the whole arsenal of history in one shot.''
