About Claridge's, 101 West 55th Street
This very handsome rental apartment building occupies the full western blockfront on the Avenue of the Americas between 55th and 56th Streets.
It has a four-story limestone base and the dark brown-brick facades have several bandcourses and are topped by a small, nice cornice. While the building does not have too much decoration, the corners have very large quoins that are very attractive and the building still has multipaned windows. Its sidestreet entrance has a large and impressive marquee.
The 15-story building, which looks like a transplant from Park Avenue or West End Avenue, has a prime midtown location close to many famous landmarks.
It is a few blocks north of Rockefeller Center and the former CBS Building, and is on the same block as the very tall, mixed-use skyscraper known as CitySpire and the City Center for the Performing Arts. It is just a few blocks from Central Park and Carnegie Hall.
A supermarket is across the avenue and there are many restaurants in this area as well as a Rizzoli book store, the Arts Students League and famous New York hotels like the Plaza, the St. Regis and the Peninsula.
The pre-war building has 11 apartments per floor, a 24-hour doorman, a concierge, video security.
Public transportation is excellent although there is considerable traffic.
The building was erected in 1925 and designed by Carrere & Hastings. Its lobby was redesigned by Paul Rudolph in 1994. The building is owned by Donald Zucker. Thermopane windows and new elevators were installed in 2001. Kitchens have GE appliances. Apartments have 9-story ceilings and marble baths and some have fireplaces.
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