631 East 11th Street | Block : 394 | Lot #53

Description & Building Alterations

This Renaissance Revival, New-Law tenement was designed by Samuel Sass in 1905, the first year that he was in an independent practice without business partner  Max Smallheiser.  Housing 28 families and ground floor shops, the building was owned by Samuel Hillman and Albert Price who worked in the poultry industry and were members of the East Side Wholesalers Association.  In 1910, the two men were indited before a Grand Jury as part of this group, whom along with four other poultry and grocer associations were charged with monopolizing the poultry market and inflating prices.

The facade of the building features terra-cotta window details with classically inspired designs, arched sixth floor windows and bricks laid in such a manner as to evoke stone; these features are all in keeping with the Renaissance Revival.  The pressed metal cornice with its blocky modillions, dentils and simple frieze is slightly starker than what is typically found in this style, but not completely out of character.

In 1938 the ground floor shops were converted to additional apartments.