50 West 96th Street, 1-A

From the moment you enter Apartment 1A, you are immediately greeted by all the best of what makes a prewar home so coveted and special. Details include gorgeous high beamed ceilings, wide baseboards, oak hardwood floors, lovely multi-paned windows, and a sprawling amount of Living and Dining space. A profusion of light permeates throughout every inch of this 6 room apartment, notable for its large-scaled windows designed for heightened ventilation during a period when air conditioning did not exist. Open exposures facing both north and east, allow views of the picturesque scene just outside. The home offers immense privacy, nestled in a secluded corner off the lobby. Although the interior has been totally renovated, it ultimately maintains the provenance of its early 20th century origin. A separate layout enhances the feeling of an unlimited expanse of indoor comfort. The modern kitchen has granite countertops, gleaming cherry wood cabinetry, including one large breakfront cabinet, white tiled backsplashes, and an abundance of storage. Further leading down a long hallway are 3 well-proportioned bedrooms that also feature a predominance of airiness and light from towering windows and lofty beamed ceilings. There is also ample storage space furnished by a total of 5 closets. The windowed bath is outfitted in all white with a pedestal sink, tub/shower and high gloss tile.

50 West 96th Street is an imposing prewar coop built in 1929 by the venerated architectural firm of George Fred Pelham, Inc., a father-son team that endured for close to three quarters of a century. They were also the designers of other apartment houses on the block, which included The Baldwin at 46-48 West 96, constructed in 1905, and its companion building at No. 42, as well as five adjacent brownstones further up the block that were finished in 1897. There is some disagreement about the year that No. 50 was actually erected. Although commonly thought to be completed in 1929, historical records put the date at 1925-26 instead. That timeline would make more sense because it fell within the era of enormous prosperity. By 1929, the stock market had crashed and the country was about to enter The Great Depression. Originally the building was created as a rental dwelling and it would be at least another 50 years before it was acquisitioned in 1978 with plans put in place to convert it into cooperative ownership. At the time, residents were either rent controlled or rent stabilized with two-thirds of the building in rent controlled apts. The initial offering stipulated an eviction policy for those who did not purchase, but that was later amended, although the opportunity to buy at insider prices eventually ended up getting rescinded for some holdbacks. After almost a year and a half, the final draft of the plan was adopted and the conversion took effect in January 1980.

The co-op itself is just 15 stories tall, predating the era of high rise buildings, and contains 61 units. The entrance is marked by a canopy, a curved archway, and majestic carvings. The lobby has been totally redone, but its refined grandeur has been meticulously preserved. Amenities include a 24hr Doorman, Live-in Super, Staff, Central Laundry, Bike Room, and a spectacular landscaped, furnished Roof Deck. The Board allows a pied-a-terre, individual in-unit Washer/Dryer, and is also pet friendly. The location of the building sits prominently on the wide crosstown thoroughfare of 96th Street, which makes it eminently convenient to both bus and subways lines. Central Park is nearby as are local neighborhood shops, restaurants, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's.