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Preservationists Want West End Avenue Designated A Historic District

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Real Estate Agent
535 West End Ave


Construction at 535 West End Avenue at 86th Street                                           Artist rendering of 535 West End Avenue

Preservation group Landmark West is calling on the Landmarks Preservation Commission to designate a new historic district on the Upper West Side, including all of West End Avenue between 70th and 107th streets, the New York Times reported.

Landmark West said developers have been seizing individual row houses along the avenue, demolishing them and replacing them with glass apartment buildings.

The Upper West Side is already home to seven historic districts. The photo above was taken from my 9th floor apartment which is located diagonally across the street from the new 21 story luxury condo under construction.

While I support Landmark West, and I personally preferred my former view of townhouse rooftops, having lived in the neighborhood for more than 25 years, other than 200 West End Avenue at 70th Street and 535 West End Avenue I don't believe there has been any other new construction on West End Avenue in decades.

The majority of buildings along West End Avenue are pre-war coops. The new buildings are condos. While 200 West End Avenue is a glass building technically it is located in Lincoln Square since it is below 72nd Street.

535 West End Avenue is primarily a brick building being marketed as 21st century pre-war. The architecture compliments the neighborhood. The grand size apartments are either half or full floors. Prices range from $8.5 million to $25 million.

Residents have moved into 200 West End Avenue. There are still apartments available for immediate occupancy while 535 West End Avenue anticipates occupancy in the fall of 2009.

Contact me to schedule appointments or to have listings emailed from these new buildings on West End Avenue or any other Manhattan new development. If you prefer pre-war coops click here.

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Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

Seems to me that we need to keep history in the context of history.  Pre-war isn't historical.  It's just pre-war.

I'm for rotating the crops.  Unless a building offers historical significance, it shouldn't, IMO, be preserved. 

After a while, those old buildings are not just old.  They too often become old and ugly, poorly maintained, lose value and cause the deterioration of neighborhoods. 

Of course, I don't favor municipalities using Immenent Domain scams to pay private developers.  If anyone is to profit from new construction, the existing property owners should too. 

Nov 18, 2008 03:28 AM
Mitchell J Hall
Manhattan, NY
Lic Associate RE Broker - Manhattan & Brooklyn

Lenn, I agree. It is one thing if the building has historical or architectural significance but to designate an avenue spanning 37 blocks is a stretch. I'm for preservation if there is a reason but I'm also for new developments. 2 new buildings 16 blocks apart in 50 years is hardly over development.

Regarding Eminent Domain, 30 blocks north in West Harlem, Columbia University can use Eminent Domain to expand their campus. Although they are using their own money and paying the existing property owners and relocating residents the state cleared the way for them by declaring the 17-acre expansion footprint as blighted, a necessary step before using eminent domain. Two reports characterized the area by aging, poorly maintained and functionally obsolete industrial buildings, with little indication of recent reinvestment to revive their generally deteriorated conditions.

Nov 18, 2008 09:07 AM