The St. Urban at 285 Central Park West stands as one of Manhattan's most distinctive Beaux Arts residential masterpieces. Designed by Robert T. Lyons and completed in 1906, this 13 story building commands attention with its exuberant French Second Empire architecture, featuring a dramatic domed corner tower topped with a cupola, curved mansard roof with pronounced dormer windows, and an ornate three story rusticated limestone base. The building's unique porte cochere driveway, originally the main entrance, adds both architectural flair and practical convenience for residents. With only 56 apartments and two units per landing, the building converted to a co-op in 1966 and has maintained its exclusivity ever since.
The St. Urban was remarkably advanced for its time, featuring the city's first central refrigeration system that allowed each apartment to make its own ice. Original apartments were lavishly appointed with mahogany and quarter sawn oak finishes, parquet flooring, libraries, grand dining rooms, and many included wine cellars and maids' quarters. Today's residences retain much of this grandeur with soaring 10 to 11 foot ceilings, large bay windows offering Central Park views, working fireplaces, and spacious room proportions. Several apartments have been combined over the years, including a spectacular 5,700 square foot combination unit with 8 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms that represents the building's largest residence.
Notable residents have included Ed Bradley of "60 Minutes" and renowned architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable, who grew up in the building. The building offers white glove service with a 24 hour doorman, resident manager, and two porters, plus amenities including a fully equipped gym with basketball court, bike storage, and laundry facilities. Recent renovations have updated the building's infrastructure while preserving its historic character, making it one of Central Park West's most coveted addresses for those seeking prewar elegance with modern conveniences.
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For some co-ops, instead of price per square foot, we use an estimate of the number of rooms for each sold apartment to chart price changes over time. This is because many co-op listings do not include square footage information, and this makes it challenging to calculate accurate square-foot averages.
By displaying the price per estimated room count, we are able to provide a more reliable and consistent metric for comparing sales in the building. While we hope that this gives you a clearer sense of price trends in the building, all data should be independently verified. All data provided are only estimates and should not be used to make any purchase or sale decision.
Notable past and present residents at The St. Urban