Building at 210 East 68th Street
Why it's listed
Rising 16 stories at the southeast corner of East 68th Street and Third Avenue, this Manhattan apartment house was built in 1928 as a speculative venture. The architects were the firm of George and Edward Blum, brothers of French origin known for ornamental brick and terra-cotta work. The facades are buff brick with darker accent bricks, zigzag bands of brick, and polychromatic terra-cotta friezes in green, black and orange. The main entrance on East 68th Street has bronze and glass doors and a curved glass and bronze column form. Inside, a multi-level lobby keeps its terrazzo floors and scalloped wooden desks and cabinets. The building matters because it was among the very first Art Deco apartment houses in New York, predating most of the skyscrapers that established the style in the city. It was one of three Blum apartment houses with such terra-cotta detailing. Replacement windows and storefronts are the main exterior changes, and the building remains an apartment house.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is architecturally significant under Criterion C as a handsome Art Deco apartment house and one of the earliest in New York City. It is among the last works of the Blum firm and one of three Art Deco apartment houses they adorned with polychromatic terra-cotta. Its ornament resembles no other Art Deco buildings in the city apart from the Blums' other two. The exterior survives almost entirely intact.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 05000619, listed June 16, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 210 E. 68th St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | June 16, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000619 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | Blum, George & Edward |
| Architectural style | Modern Movement/Art Deco |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a multiple dwelling. The original windows and storefronts have been replaced and a canopy added at the 68th Street entrance, but the lobby spaces are largely intact. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.76695, -73.96236 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 05000619.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17629730
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.