Rice, Isaac L., Mansion
Also known as: Villa Julia; Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim
Why it's listed
Standing at the southeast corner of Riverside Drive and West 89th Street, this four-story brick mansion with marble detailing was built in 1901-1903 for financier and inventor Isaac L. Rice. Herts & Tallant, architects trained at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, designed it as a modern Italianate and Georgian villa with a hipped tile roof, a two-story marble entrance arch and a side porte-cochere. C.P.H. Gilbert added rear and south extensions, an Italianate staircase and a balustraded wall between 1908 and 1912. It is the last freestanding private house with a garden enclosure on the drive, and it sits opposite the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, forming a harmonious pair. Julia Barnett Rice, a physician, founded the Society for the Suppression of Unnecessary Noise while living there. Later owners converted the interiors into studios and a school, and a yeshiva now occupies it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a skillful blend of Beaux-Arts, Georgian and Italianate styles and a notable turn-of-the-century urban residence. It is the only remaining freestanding private dwelling with a landscaped garden enclosure on Riverside Drive and occupies a key site opposite the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument. It is also tied to Isaac Rice and to his wife Julia Barnett Rice, a physician and noise-abatement reformer.
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 80002711, listed June 25, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 346 W. 89th St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | June 25, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002711 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Herts & Tallant |
| Architectural style | Synthesis of Beaux-Arts, Georgian and Italianate styles |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in educational use by a yeshiva; the interiors were adapted for institutional use but the original floor plan and much original detailing remain. The owner opposed listing. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.79141, -73.97883 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
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 80002711.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q17995016
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.