605 West 156^th Street
Denby & Nute, 1909-10

611 West 156^th Street
Denby & Nute, 1909-10

Audubon Park Historic District

Reflecting the presence of the nearby Hispanic Society, the Velasquez and Goya were named after two of Spain’s most famous painters. The six-story apartment buildings were designed in the Renaissance Revival style by Denby & Nute for local builder James O’Brien. Two of the smallest apartment buildings in the historic district, the Velasquez and Goya nonetheless boast elaborate façades featuring detailed bay windows and masonry balconettes. Like those of other apartment buildings in the neighborhood, advertisements for the Goya and Velasquez boasted of their proximity to public transportation and cultural institutions, as well as scenic views. However, given their relatively low height, only those residing on the upper stories were likely to catch a glimpse of the Hudson River. These buildings were owned and marketed as a pair until the Goya was sold in 1948.