Talk:Equitable Life Building (Manhattan)/GA1

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GA Review[edit]

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Reviewer: Eddie891 (talk · contribs) 01:00, 9 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

I can review this shortly. Eddie891 Talk Work 01:00, 9 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

Comments
  • ". An expansion in 1885 brought the total height to 155 feet (47 m)" do we know what the prior height was?
  • "Construction was completed in 1870 under the leadership of Equitable's president Henry Baldwin Hyde." would be nice to know when construction began?
    •  Done
  • "It was the first office building to feature passenger elevators" ever? in the world? In the US? In NYC? On Broadway? At 120 Broadway?
  • "The site was later redeveloped with the 40-story Equitable Building." date could be useful
    •  Done
  • "The building occupied the entire block and is bordered by Broadway to the west" er, that makes it seem like the building is still around rather than the block, which I think you mean
  • "though accounts differ on the height," so why begin by saying that it was 130 feet definatively?
    •  Fixed
  • " five separate structures at its peak" could you rephrase this? I don't understand what it's trying to say
    •  Fixed
  • " was considered to be one of the first skyscraper" so it is considered one of the first 'scrapers because of it's fire-proofness and innovative features?
  • " it was described " perhaps "it is considered" unless it isn't considered a predecessor anymore
    •  Done
  • " "most complete and imposing business hall"" I personally like to see quotes with in-line attribution, but won't require it
  • "accessed from a spiral staircase from Hyde's office" I probably missed it, but you haven't mentioned why Hyde is/was?
    • plus Added
  • " Three such rooms had marble floors," out of how many?
  • " one critic described it as a" er, the mosaic or ceiling in general?
  • "superseding the nearby 280 Broadway" why do we care about 280 Broadway? Did it have a particularly nice mosaic?
    •  Fixed 280 Broadway was the first commercial building in the Italianate style in New York City, and is considered the site of one of the nation's first department stores. It was something to be admired back in the day. 🇪 🇵 🇮 🇨 🇬 🇪 🇳 🇮 🇺 🇸 (talk) 17:43, 9 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]
  • "the seventh and eighth floors were furnished similarly to the fourth through sixth floors" did we ever hear how the 4th-6th were furnished?
  • "and office building heights did not exceed four stories" er, ever? if so, perhaps say "had not exceeded"?
    • Yes.
  • " because at the time, prestigious firms did not rent offices " why?
  • "The highest rental floor was in high demand:" which was?
  • "The floors were made of wood on brick- or hollow-tile arches between the I-beams" I'm just a little confused by this sentence, could you rephrase?
    •  Done
  • "Conversely, the storage vaults were fireproof and survived the 1912 fire" how does conversely fit in here? Isn't it a little redundant to mention how fireproof vaults survived a fire?
    • minus Removed
  • " hired to complete "Protection"" to complete but not start?
  • " The heads survived and passed through various ownership" survived... forever?
  • "Ward's statue commemorating Henry Baldwin Hyde," not your first mention of hyde?
    •  Fixed above.
  • "The statue survived the fire that burned down the building." the 1912 fire, presumably?
    • Yes.
  • ""to take on the properties of an important institution"" attribution wouldn't hurt
    •  Done
  • " $1.14 million of insurance in force" inflation template?
    •  Done
  • " Equitable had $82.5 million of insurance in force" ditto
    •  Done
  • " basis that Equitable necessitated" -> needed?
    •  Done
  • " he would build elevators" perhaps include elevators? This will omit the possible implication that he physically built the elevators
    •  Done
  • "Broadway and Cedar Street was commenced in 1868"?
    • minus Removed
  • "The first portion of the structure was "finished" on May 1, 1870." unclear why 'finished' is quoted? what does portion here mean?
  • " were accused of "extravagance"" by who?
    • plus Added
  • "The Equitable Life Building actually was more lavish " ?
    • minus Removed
  • "and in setting an example for other office buildings." what example exactly?
  • " "The building was earning $136,000 a year by 1871" in rent, presumably?
  • both in its profitability and in setting an example for other office buildings. The building was earning $136,000 a year by 1871, with 400 people working inside the building, and the structure's features led other landlords to add elevators and additional floors to their buildings" I know see the answer to both of my questions, but why separate them? Why not keep the statement and answer in the same spot?
  • " "embrace[] perhaps" ?
  • "A "massive expansion"" I mean you could just say "a large expansion"
    •  Fixed
  • "first office building with such lighting" first where?
    •  Fixed
  • link R. Carlyle Buley?
    •  Done
  • "was architecturally outdated, " perhaps "was considered..."
    •  Done
  • "namely, it was worthless" why was it considered worthless?
  • "The society also sold the land to T. Coleman du Pont" could use date and amount?
    • plus Added
  • what did the 1916 Zoning Resolution do and why does it matter?
    • plus Added

That's prose for me; it's rather in-depth, and most of the comments are rather subjective, so feel free to ask for clarification or discuss any/all. Other reviews will follow tomorrow. Very interesting and well-done read on the whole. Best, Eddie891 Talk Work 01:54, 9 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

...No DAB links... Eddie891 Talk Work 13:56, 9 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]
...External links are fine... Eddie891 Talk Work 13:57, 9 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]
...Earwig's shows 28.1% confidence, copyvio isn't a problem based upon that... Eddie891 Talk Work 13:57, 9 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]
...sourcing seems reliable Eddie891 Talk Work 14:00, 9 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Sourcing cmts
  • "Overall, the building was expanded eight times, " I don't see eight expansions in the history section... more like four-ish?
  • "There was also a law library with 40,000 volumes" source says almost 40,000. Might also add that the insurance library had around 8,000
    •  Done
  • "Also in the Equitable Life Building were three dining rooms, all lavishly designed" source doesn't really say they were lavishly designed, just big, unless I'm missing something
    • minus Removed
  • "By 1900, the Equitable Life Building had over 3,000 employees" Just occupants would suffice
    •  Done
  • "By the 1890s, the Equitable Life Building was architecturally outdated, and Post prepared plans for a 40-story structure in 1897, which did not proceed" source doesn't seem to explicitly say it's architecturally outdated and never mentions specifically whether post actually prepared the plans, or was just asked to

Spot-checked ~15 of the 58 sources or 25.8%. On the whole sourcing is really good, and I'm satisfied other than those minor qualms above. Eddie891 Talk Work 14:26, 9 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

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