Building: 39 Fifth Avenue

Built in 1922 by Bing & Bing, one of the city’s premier developers of apartment buildings, this 17-story cooperative building was one of the first tall buildings on Lower Fifth Avenue. It was quickly followed by many others and today the stretch between 13th Street and Washington Square Park is one of the most elegant high-rise residential enclaves in the city.

Designed by Emery Roth, the dark brown brick building is distinguished by its colorful terra-cotta decoration in the style of a loggia at the third story. The rounded arch theme is repeated higher up on the facade in a less dramatic fashion and again on the north facade in an even more abstract design.

The 58-unit building was converted to a cooperative in 1986 and is across the street from two handsome churches, the Ascension and the Presbyterian, on the northwest corner of 10th Street and the northeast corner of 11th Street, respectively.

The building’s location is prime as 9th, 10th and 11th Streets to the west of Fifth Avenue are the most attractive blocks in Greenwich Village.