US Post Office-Lenox Hill Station
Also known as: Lenox Hill Station Post Office
Why it's listed
Lenox Hill Station is a three-story post office at 221 East 70th Street in Manhattan, completed in 1935 and originally called Station Y. Its first floor is rusticated limestone on a granite base, with red brick laid in Flemish bond above and a limestone pediment carrying an eagle roundel. Round-arched first-floor windows and Georgian-inspired second-floor window surrounds give the facade a Federal and Georgian character. Inside, the lobby keeps its original bronze tellers' screens, a Doric order of honey-colored marble, and a terrazzo floor. Architect Eric Kebbon designed it while serving on the temporary staff of the Treasury Department's Office of the Supervising Architect, during the public works programs that responded to Depression unemployment. It was one of twelve postal stations built in Manhattan in the mid-1930s. The nomination ranks it among the finest Colonial Revival post offices in New York State, noting its side entrances and elaborate limestone decoration, which set it apart from most others.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an outstanding example of a Colonial Revival public building and one of the finest Colonial Revival post offices in New York State. It is an important work of architect Eric Kebbon and was built under 1930s public works programs to relieve Depression-era unemployment. Its facade is notable for extensive granite and limestone decoration.
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 88002363, listed May 11, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 221 E. 70th St., New York |
|---|---|
| County | Manhattan |
| Listed | May 11, 1989 |
| Reference number | 88002363 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1935 |
| Architect / builder | Eric Kebbon, Consulting Architect |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked as occupied and publicly owned; the building is described as retaining a high degree of integrity on the exterior and interior. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.76809, -73.96011 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 88002363.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7891150
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.