8. 825 Gerard Avenue, More Than Meets The Eye

Some pre-war buildings make an immediate impression with can’t miss elements that seem to scream ‘look at me’, while others, such as 825 Gerard Avenue, are a little more reserved.

At first glance, 825 Gerard Avenue at the corner of East 158th Street, appears to be another unremarkable beige brick, 6-story building with a few typical details thrown in for good measure. But take a second look and one notices more.

Constructed in 1928 by architect/builder Leo Stillman, 825 Gerard Avenue not only has terra cotta arches above some windows and patterned brickwork, but it also has color tiles interspersed among the bricks and a shield containing a crowned lion at the corner. But, the piece de resistance of this Renaissance Revival building is the highly decorative entry, setback from the street in a light court, which has extensive terra cotta detailing.