One of the first apartment houses to be erected on Park Avenue after World War II, this 20-story building was developed by Sam Minskoff & Sons, which subsequently built many office buildings in the city, and completed in 1949. The site was formerly occupied by the Union Theological Seminary and then by a mansion owned by George Blumenthal. The famous, large patio interior of the former Blumenthal mansion is now on prominent exhibit next to the grand staircase at the Metropolitan Museum. The 100-unit building was designed by Sylvan Bien and was converted to a cooperative in 1979. It is located in the most prestigious part of Park Avenue, close to some of the most elegant and exclusive residential buildings in the city. Many people consider East 70th Street to be one of the most attractive sidestreets in the city. Although the building is not close to a subway station, there is cross-town bus service on 72nd Street, which is also a major access to the Central Park Drive. This area is one of the most desirable in the world with world-famous boutiques along Madison Avenue and many important art galleries and restaurants nearby as well as the incomparable Frick Collection a block and a half to the west.