4. 605 East 169th Street

605 East 169th Street, built circa 1936. Architect: I.L. Crausman, who was active in the Bronx for decades and designed many Art Deco buildings during the 1930s.

Art Deco, one of the most prevalent architectural styles found in the Bronx, was extremely popular during the years leading up to World War II, when even the Great Depression did not entirely halt the Bronx’s development boom. Art Deco architecture typically features simple horizontal and vertical lines, rather than the more ornate details of styles popular before World War I such as Beaux-Arts.

Built about 1936, 605 East 169th Street in Morrisania is a good example of Bronx Art Deco but is also distinctive in certain respects. While many Bronx Art Deco apartment houses have predominantly yellow or beige brick facades, 605 East 159th Street is eye catching with its vibrant red bricks and brown trim. Its recessed entryway is consistent with Art Deco use of setbacks to create texture, but is particularly well executed with the geometric archway shape that follows the form of an octagon.

1022 Rev. James A. Polite Avenue, built 2005. Architect: Wormser + Associates Architects

As the Bronx has undergone a new wave of building in recent years, many new Art Deco buildings have been developed. For example, a building located several blocks away at the corner of Rev. James A. Polite Avenue and East 165th Street, which was completed in 2005, clearly draws upon predecessors like 605 East 159th Street for inspiration. In the Bronx, much has changed since the 1930s, but Art Deco remains a constant.