Central Park West Historic District

Central Park West Historic District

The Majestic, Dakota, Langham and San Remo from Bow Bridge in Central Park, 2009
Location Central Park West between 61st and 97th Sts., New York, New York
Coordinates 40°47′4″N 73°58′10″W / 40.78444°N 73.96944°W / 40.78444; -73.96944Coordinates: 40°47′4″N 73°58′10″W / 40.78444°N 73.96944°W / 40.78444; -73.96944
Area 40 acres (16 ha)
Built Various
Architect Various
NRHP Reference # 82001189[1]
Added to NRHP November 9, 1982

The Central Park West Historic District is located in Manhattan, New York City, United States along historic Central Park West, between 61st and 97th Streets. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 9, 1982. The district encompasses a portion of the Upper West Side-Central Park West Historic District as designated by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and contains a number of prominent New York City landmarks, including The Dakota Apartments, a National Historic Landmark. The buildings date from the late 19th century to the early 1940s and exhibit a variety of architectural styles. The majority of the district's buildings are of neo-Italian Renaissance style, but Art Deco is a popular theme as well.

History

The Central Park West Historic District was federally recognized on November 9, 1982, when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. However, the area has a preservation history that predates the 1982 listing by almost ten years. In 1973 the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission (NYLPC) designated a T-shaped area, which included one block of West 76th Street, two adjacent blocks of Central Park West and a short stretch of West 77th Street, as the Central Park West-76th Street Historic District. The local designation and boundaries persisted well past the 1982 National Register listing.[2]

In 1990 the NYLPC formally extended the local boundaries of the Central Park West-76th Street Historic District to include almost all of the area included in the boundaries of the federal historic district. The much larger Upper West Side-Central Park West Historic District includes the area from 96th Street to 62nd Street and Central Park West to Amsterdam Avenue.[2]

Boundaries

The Central Park West Historic District is a linear historic district including the stretch of Central Park West from 61st to 97th Streets.[1] When the Upper West Side-Central Park West Historic District was designated in 1990 as a local historic district its boundaries closely mirrored those of the 1982 Central Park West Historic District, except the local historic district encompasses land stretching to Amsterdam Avenue.[2] The federal historic district is considerably smaller than the local district.[3][4]

Architecture

The expanse of Central Park West between 61st and 97th Streets is a mixture of late 19th- and early 20th-century architectural styles. By far the district's most dominant style is Neo-Renaissance, mostly neo-Italian Renaissance though there are German and Flemish Renaissance influences found in some of the structures. Art Deco, Second Empire, Beaux-Arts and Neoclassical architecture are all found in multiple buildings. Gothic and Romanesque Revival influences can be found combined with other styles in some of the buildings as well as on their own. A few Queen Anne, Art Moderne and Italianate buildings dot the streetscape of Central Park West.[3]

Structures

Of the buildings within the boundaries of the historic district only one was considered a non-contributing property to the historic character of the district when it was nominated to the National Register: the building located at 80 Central Park West, a 1965 modern building. The area within the district is home to nearly 40 high-quality, luxury apartment highrises. Sprinkled within the residential buildings are four Christian churches, one synagogue, several smaller-scale, multi-family houses, the New York Society for Ethical Culture, the New York Historical Society and the American Museum of Natural History.[3][note 1]

Contributing properties

These properties are contributing properties to the Central Park West Historic District. In general this means that they add to the historic character of the historic district.

Building name   Address   Architecture    Built   Architect(s)    Remarks  
Mayflower Hotel15 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1926 Emery Roth Demolished in 2004.[5][6]
The Century[7]25 Central Park West Art Deco 1931 Irwin S. Chanin At 30 floors, one of three buildings tied for the title of the district's tallest.[3] It was constructed at a cost of $6.5 million and designed by the firm owned by Irwin S. Chanin.[8] The Century apartment building is located on the former site of the Century Theater, which was demolished in 1930 and 1931 to make way for the apartments.[9] The building is one of three within the boundaries of the historic district that stretch upwards 30 floors, thus tying it for the title of the district's tallest building.[3]
Ethical Culture School33 Central Park West Classical Revival 1902 John Mervin Carrère and Thomas Hastings
Ethical Culture Meeting House[10]2 West 64th Street Art Nouveau1910 Robert D. Kohn
Harperly Hall41 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1910 Henry W. Wilkinson
The Prasada 50 Central Park West Second Empire 1907Charles W. Romeyn and Henry R. Wynne
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church1 West 65th Street Gothic Revival 1903
Ghostbusters Building 55 Central Park West Art Deco1929Simon Schwartz & Arthur Gross Informally known as "Ghostbusters Building" since 1984 film was filmed there.[11] In the film, the building (referred to as "Spook Central") was said to have been designed by mad architect Ivo Shandor, in reality, the Art Deco building was constructed in 1929 and designed by Schwartz & Gross. The 19-floor building was portrayed as taller in the film.[3][12]
65 Central Park West65 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1926 Emery Roth
70 Central Park West70 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1916 Charles A. Rich & Frederick Mathesius
75 Central Park West75 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1928 Rosario Candela
Second Church of Christ, Scientist (New York, New York)10 West 68th Street Classical Revival 1898 Frederick R. Comstock The building itself is seen in the Mafia II game.
The Brentmore88 Central Park West Beaux-Arts 1909 Simon Schwartz & Arthur Gross
91 Central Park West91 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1928 Simon Schwartz & Arthur Gross
Congregation Shearith Israel Parsonage99 Central Park West Classical Revival 1897 Arnold William Brunner and Thomas Tryon
Congregation Shearith Israel[13] 8 West 70th Street Classical Revival 1897Arnold William Brunner and Thomas TryonAlso known as the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. It is the oldest American Jewish congregation[14] is the fifth in a line of structures dating back to 1730, though only the current building was located near Central Park West.[14]
101 Central Park West101 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1929 Simon Schwartz & Arthur Gross
The Majestic[13]115 Central Park West Art Deco 1930 Irwin S. Chanin At 30 floors, one of three buildings tied for the title of the district's tallest.[3]
The Dakota[13] 1 West 72nd Street German Renaissance 1884Henry J. Hardenbergh Some sources indicate this was the first luxury apartment building in New York City.[3] National Historic Landmark.[15]
The Langham135 Central Park West Second Empire 1905 Charles W. Clinton & William Hamilton Russell
The San Remo[16] 145-146 Central Park West Classical Revival 1930Emery Roth Prominent, two-towered, 27-story building.[3]
The Kenilworth151 Central Park West Second Empire 1908 Townsend, Steinle and Haskell
Fourth Universalist Society of New York 4 West 76th Street Gothic Revival 1898William A. Potter Originally known as the Church of Divine Paternity.[3]
New York Historical Society[16]170 Central Park West Classical Revival 1908 and 1938 Edward York & Philip Sawyer, and Walker & Gillette
American Museum of Natural History[17] 79th Street at Central Park West Gothic Revival and Romanesque Revival1877 and 1900Calvert Vaux & J. Wrey Mould and J.C. Cady and Co. The building was constructed from 1874 to 1877 and designed by Calvert Vaux and Jacob Wrey Mould.[3]
The Beresford[18]211 Central Park West Classical Revival 1929 Emery Roth
The Alden225 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1926 Emery Roth
227 Central Park West227 Central Park West Queen Anne 1888Thomas & Wilson
The Bolivar230 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1926 Nathan Korn
239 Central Park West239 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1925Henry M. Sugarman & Berger
241 Central Park West 241 Central Park West Art Deco 1930Simon Schwartz & Arthur Gross
Flemish Renaissance Revival townhouses247, 248 and 249 Central Park West at W85 Neo-Renaissance 1887 Edward Angell Three townhouses.
Rossleigh Court251 Central Park West at W85 Beaux-Arts 1906 Mulliken and Moeller
Orwell House 257 Central Park West at W86 Beaux-Arts 1905 Mulliken and Moeller Originally known as the Central Park View, and then as The Hotel Peter Stuyvesant.
The White House262 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1928 Henry M. Sugarman & Berger
271 Central Park West271 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1912 Simon Schwartz & Arthur Gross
275 Central Park West275 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1930 Emery Roth
Walden School1 West 88th Street Classical Revival 1904 Louis Korn Demolished c. 1988; replaced by 280 Central Park West
The St. Urban 285 Central Park West Second Empire 1904Robert T. Lyons
1 West 89th Street1 West 89th Street Queen Anne 1899 Clarence True
293 Central Park West293 Central Park West Italianate 1899 Neville & Bagge
295 Central Park West295 Central Park West Art Moderne 1940 Emery Roth
The Eldorado[18]300 Central Park West Art Deco 1931 Margon & Holder At 30 floors, one of three buildings tied for the title of the district's tallest.[3]
The Brookford315 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1911 Simon Schwartz & Arthur Gross
The Ardsley 320 Central Park West Art Deco 1931Emery Roth
322 Central Park West322 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival 1925 George Blum and Edward Blum
325 Central Park West325 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1899 George F. Pelham
327 Central Park West327 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1928 Nathan Korn
The Turin333 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1909 Robert J. Bodker
336 Central Park West 336 Central Park West Art Deco and Egyptian Revival[3] 1929Simon Schwartz & Arthur Gross Undulating terra-cotta cornices at the top of the building and the water tower suggest Egyptian influences.[3]
350 Central Park West350 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1928 Jacob M. Felson
Romanesque Revival townhouses352, 353, 354, and 355 Central Park West, and 1 West 95th Street Romanesque Revival 1892 G.A. Schellenger Five townhouses; 3 (352 and 353 Central Park West and 1 West 95th Street) were demolished c.1992 and replaced by 353 Central Park West, a 19-story building
360 Central Park West360 Central Park West Neo-Renaissance 1928 Rosario Candela
First Church of Christ, Scientist (New York, New York)[19]1 West 96th Street Beaux-Arts 1903 John Mervin Carrère and Thomas Hastings

Non-contributing properties

Building name   Address   Architecture    Built   Architect(s)    Remarks  
80 Central Park West80 Central Park West 1965

Significance

The Central Park West Historic District is significant, in regards to the National Register, for its architecture and its character as a cohesive residential area. The district is located along one of the city's finest residential streets and consists mostly of apartment buildings which are among some of the earliest in New York.[3]

With the 1990 local boundary increase the NYLPC developed the theme that the strength of the historic district lay in its diversity. The Commission called the buildings in the district brashly "commercial" and "stylistically diverse." The Commission went on to stress the importance of the district's special skyline that challenged the whole of the New York skyline. "The stylistically diverse buildings of Central Park West create a streetscape and a skyline which is exuberant and varied as to scale, height and form," the Commission stated.[2]

References

Explanatory notes

  1. ↑ The list contains information on each structure including, its common name. If the building doesn't have a general common name that can be attributed to a reliable source then the address is substituted. The address is listed for each structure because it provides a general reference point to navigate the structures of the historic district. The list's default sort orders the properties as they are on the street, from low numbered blocks (e.g. 15 Central Park West) to high numbered blocks (e.g. 336 Central Park West). Properties with addresses on streets other than Central Park West also follow this order and are in place on the list as they would appear if the historic district were walked through. Linked information on each building's major architectural themes is also listed. Following the date of construction the architect or architects names are listed. Any pertinent remarks are listed in the last column.

Citations

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Answers to Questions About the Project - Addendum, New York Historical Society. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Central Park West Historic District, (Java), National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, New York's State and National Registers of Historic Places Document Imaging Project , New York State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2 April 2007.
  4. ↑ Map of Upper West Side-Central Park Historic District, (PDF), New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  5. ↑ Pristin, Terry. "Fewer rooms at the inn," New York Times, 19 October 2005. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  6. ↑ See also: 15 Central Park West
  7. ↑ Brockmann, Jorg et al. (2002). One Thousand New York Buildings, p. 337., p. 337, at Google Books
  8. ↑ "West Side Block in $6,000,000 Deal," The New York Times (1857-Current file); October 30, 1930; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2003), pg. 48. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  9. ↑ "$1,250,000 Chanin Bond Executed," The New York Times (1857-Current file); October 26, 1930; ProQuest Historical Newspapers The New York Times (1851 - 2003), pg. N20. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  10. ↑ Brockmann, p. 339., p. 339, at Google Books
  11. ↑ Gaines, Steven. "One Apartment, 75 Years," New York Magazine, 7 November 2005. Retrieved 31 March 2007.
  12. ↑ Aykroyd, Dan and Ramis, Harold. Reitman, Ivan, Director. Ghostbusters (Film). New York City: Columbia Pictures., 8 June 1984.
  13. 1 2 3 Brockmann, pp. 342-343., p. 342, at Google Books
  14. 1 2 Congregation Shearith Israel Archived February 17, 2007, at the Wayback Machine., Building Report, International Survey of Jewish Monuments. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  15. ↑ "The Dakota, NHL Database, National Historic Landmarks Program. Retrieved 3 April 2007.
  16. 1 2 Brockmann, pp. 344-345., p. 344, at Google Books
  17. ↑ Brockmann, pp. 346-347., p. 344, at Google Books
  18. 1 2 Brockmann, p. 354., p. 354, at Google Books
  19. ↑ Brockmann, p. 356., p. 356, at Google Books

Sources


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