Building Halved By Times

Somehow, these old buildings on East 62nd Street seemed even older today in the grey drizzle...

You can see by the halved pediment at the top that what once were two buildings meant to look like one have gone their own separate ways...

One reason for getting rid of the cornices etc. at tops of buildings is because of the cost and trouble of  maintaining them. During the 1980's, especially, many new co-op buidings voted to have these ornate old top parts taken off... not wanting to 1) maintain them 1) face lawsuits from pedestrians hurt on street by falling masonry.

Even some expensive buildings in Midtown did the same thing, such as the building which was the center for Tourneaux watches ..

Tourneaux now has a modern new building for watch repair, etc.-- no old ornate cornices as you will notice