100 West 81st Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 100 West 81st Street by Carter Horsley

This small but very prominent property on the southwest corner of 81st Street and Columbus Avenue across from the American Museum of Natural History was created by converting four flats and a small commercial building from the 1880s in 1978 to 1982.

 The 7-story building has 16 co-operative apartments and is distinguished by its dark gray façades and curved balconies. 

George J. Beame and Columbus Avenue Associates were the developers. 

Fred C. Lary and Marvin H. Meltzer were the architects for the conversions. 

The buildings are in the Upper West Side/Central Park West Historic District. 

The building has a restaurant on the first floor. 

It is not far from the subway and is convenient to numerous restaurants and boutiques. 

It is across from the handsome mid-rise Endicott designed by Edward L. Angell that was erected in 1889 when the Ninth Avenue el was operating on what become Columbus Avenue.

Bottom Line

This grey-painted building was converted from four smaller buildings in 1982 on this prominent and desirable Upper West Side site and has fireplaces, some curved balconies and some duplex units.

Description

The building has asymmetrical façades with two large corner windows and several curved balconies.

Amenities

The building has a canopy entrance on the sidestreet and it has an elevator and a laundry and is pet-friendly.

Apartments

Apartment 5D is a one-bedroom duplex unit with a 15-foot-long entry foyer across from a three-landing staircase and a 22-foot-wide, double-height living room with a fireplace, an open, 14-foot-wide, windowed kitchen with a breakfast bar and a 9-foot-wide dining area with a small balcony on the lower level.  The upper level has the bedroom and a 28-foot-long, six-sided balcony. 

Apartment 3D is a two-bedroom unit with exposed brick walls and a wood-burning fireplace, white acrylic kitchen cabinetry, white quartz kitchen countertops, stainless steel kitchen appliances, 11-foot ceilings, a Jacuzzi jetted bathtub and basement storage. 

Apartment 3B is a two-bedroom unit with an entry next to an open, 9-foot-wide kitchen facing a 24-foot-wide living/dining room with a curved balcony. 

Apartment 2B is a two-bedroom duplex unit with an entry next to an open kitchen with a breakfast bar and an island that leads to a 34-foot-long living/dining room and a small curved balcony and a bedroom with stairs up to more bedrooms and a 35 foot-long roof terrace. 

Apartment 1D is a one-bedroom unit with an entry foyer that leads to a 19-foot-long living room with a fireplace and a 16-foot-long kitchen/dining area and an angled balcony and an angled bedroom.