Symphony House, 235 West 56th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 235 West 56th Street by Carter Horsley

This very large, orange-brown brick, rental tower has a handsome polished red granite base and a very handsome entrance and plaza.

The building is known as Symphony House and has a 8-story commercial base.

The 44-story building at 235 West 56th Street, has 480 apartments and was built in 1987 by Jack Resnick & Sons, Inc., and designed by Emery Roth & Sons.

The building's south façade is distinguished by 9 columns of attractive, rounded balconies.

The building, which is also known as 1755 Broadway, has a health club and pool on the top two floors, a garage, a doorman, a concierge, a bicycle room, a storage room, a sundeck, a recreation room, a laundry on every floor, video security and valet service. It does not permit dogs.

In 2011, the developer converted the 9th floor setback into a "green roof, a 12,000-square-foot tenant amenity with planting areas, trees, scrubs, seating areas, lighting and attractive pavers. It also created a children's playroom and tenant meeting room on the same floor. The new spaces were designed by FXFowle.

The building's neighborhood has been improving steadily since it was erected and a opening of a Whole Foods store in the basement of the nearby Time-Warner Center complex removed one of the major problems for midtown residents.

This area has become very desirable as it is one block from Carnegie Hall, two blocks from Columbus Circle, three blocks from Central Park and not too far from the "new" Times Square and theater district.

There are many new major towers in the vicinity including the Hearst Tower designed by Sir Norman Foster directly across Eighth Avenue.

Public transportation is excellent and new construction, including a major office building directly across 56th Street, is continuing in the area.

The building's other address are 948 Eighth Avenue and 1751 Broadway.