The Astor, a condominium on New York City’s Upper West Side, is the remaining bauble of the legendary Astor family.
Williams New York
The names of historic buildings are sometimes taken for granted. They shouldn’t be. Often, those names confer exclusivity and class on structures that might otherwise go largely and unfairly unnoticed. A number of New York City buildings bear names defining the legacy of their builders or neighborhoods. Buildings with historical names often are considered to possess extra levels of character or prestige compared with numbered counterparts.
Here is a short look at a few Gotham City structures whose very names tells stories.
A striking blockfront trio of interconnected residential buildings at 235 West 75th Street on the Upper West Side might not command the same respect were it not called The Astor. It is the surviving gem of the Astor family. In 1890, that family controlled politics, society and business in Victorian era New York City, and was said to own one-twentieth of the city’s real estate. The entire Broadway frontage between 75th and 76th is filled by The Astor, a rental to condo conversion. The sophisticated three-tower edifice features 98 residences, a grey brick finish, an elaborate decorative cornice and a mosaic-detailed lobby.
“The Astor is a remaining jewel of the legacy of the Astor family,” said listing agent Kathy Murray of Douglas Elliman, the largest brokerage in New York. “Buyers are interested in the status and pedigree of the Astor name and the association with the family’s other well-known projects, such as the New York Public Library, Waldorf-Astoria and The St. Regis hotels. Residents are drawn to living in a piece of history. Fit for the resident of today, The Astor has been reimagined with grand proportions and gracious layouts.”
The Shephard
Constructed in 1896, the luxury condominium building at 275 West 10th Street in the heart of the West Village neighborhood has been redesigned, re-engineered and entirely renovated in the more than a century and a quarter since its unveiling. Meticulously restored by Naftali Group, with interiors by Gachot Studios, the red brick, Romanesque-revival building designed by Martin V.B. Ferdon started life as the Everard Storage Warehouse. It was renamed the Shepard Warehouse just before the crash of ’29.
“Our goal at The Shephard was to restore the significant West Village building by combining the elegance of the original architectural elements and re-creating the interiors with thoughtful modern design and building systems,” said Miki Naftali, founder and CEO Naftali Group. “The façade has been entirely restored, with the addition of a beautiful carriage house lobby and garden, while the interiors feature gracious floorplans, barrel-vaulted ceilings, and beautiful arched windows that accentuate the building’s original architecture. The Shephard is a truly magnificent combination of historic building meets modern living.”
The Chatsworth
Among the most legendary and exclusive buildings on New York City’s Upper West Side, The Chatsworth is a luxury pre-war co-op conversion. Standing at the base of Riverside Park, it is an historic and landmarked Beaux-Arts masterpiece that is the very definition of prestige and grandeur. England’s Chatsworth House, the magnificent estate of the Duke of Devonshire and since 1549 home to the Cavendish family, served as the namesake of this 58-residence jewel, which opened in 1904. The Chatsworth has been expertly upgraded, renovated and returned to its original splendor by Pembrooke & Ives.
“Borrowing its name from the Chatsworth House in England, The Chatsworth redefined luxurious living in the Upper West Side,” said Murray. “The elaborate detail and craftsmanship cannot be recreated and are reminiscent of the English estate. The re-imagined spaces and sprawling layouts also provide a level of prestigious living that today’s buyers yearn for.”