The Montana, 247 West 87th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 247 West 87th Street by Carter Horsley

This very handsome apartment building, designed by the Gruzen Partnership, is modeled on the twin-towered forms of the Majestic and Century, the important Art Deco towers on Central Park West.

While not as glamorous or detailed as those famous pre-war buildings, this 27-story building was a very important addition to the Broadway skyline and its setback towers respected the boulevard's traditional cornice line.

"It's a blandly handsome place, its twin towers signaling adherence to a West Side icon," observed Elliot Willensky and Norval White in their book, "The A.I.A. Guide to New York City, Third Edition," (Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1988). Such a cavalier snippet, however, does not do justice to this welcome attempt to revive the twin-tower building type, which is more expensive to build, but provides more views and considerably more public visual interest, than single spires. The twin-towered solution at this location was effective also because it provides a skyline landmark for the neighborhood, which was undergoing a significant redevelopment and renaissance and is now one of the city's most attractive.

The building has a two-story limestone base and many corner windows and spectacular views from its towers. It has a doorman, a concierge, a health club and pool, a sundeck, a garage, video security, a bicycle room, a recreation room and it permits small dogs.

There is excellent cross-town bus service and a local subway station one block south at 86th Street and Riverside Park is two blocks to the west. There are many restaurants and good neighborhood shopping nearby as well as a cineplex several blocks to the south.

Carter B. Horsley