134 East 60th Street

134 East 60th Street

The centerpiece of one of the most bizarre streetscapes in all of Manhattan, 134 East 60th Street is a tiny grey truncated row house connected to a gigantic contemporary 31-story glass and steel office building. The row house was originally built in 1865 as one of a row of multiple identical small houses. Each house was conceived and built exactly the same by Scotch-Irish builders, James and John Fettretch. Each house was originally 20 feet wide, with four stories, a stoop, and a basement. Since the 19th century, East 60th Street has changed dramatically. 134 East 60th Street is the only remaining row house built by the Fettretch brothers on the block. The beautiful roof is cut off and only the front half of the building remains. The bizarre appearance of a small row house juxtaposed with a tall contemporary office building is the result of tenant Jean Herman. Herman refused to sell her rent-controlled apartment at 134 East 60th Street to the developers of the office building. After years of frustrating negotiations, the developers decided to build around her. Since she was the only tenant left and resided in the front of the building, they were able to shave off the roof and the back of the structure. Jean Herman has since passed away but 134 East 60th Street remains as a testament to her determination. It is currently used as an alternative entrance to the large office building connected to it.