101 West 78th Street is a landmark red brick building originally constructed in 1886 by architect Emile Gruwe, prominently positioned on the northwest corner of Columbus Avenue directly across from the American Museum of Natural History. Originally known as "The Evelyn," this seven-story building underwent an extensive conversion from a 44-unit rental to a 24-unit boutique condominium completed around 2017. The conversion was handled by Newcastle Realty Services, who purchased the building for approximately $85 million in 2012, though the project faced legal challenges from the New York State Attorney General regarding the displacement of rent-regulated tenants.
The building's transformation was overseen by Stephen Sills, an Architectural Digest AD100 designer, who reimagined both the interior spaces and building amenities while preserving its historic character. Notable architectural features include decorative griffins adorning the façade, rusticated base and corner piers, and arched windows on the first and top floors. The original U-shaped courtyard was ingeniously converted into a skylight-covered fitness center, and a penthouse addition was added during the conversion. The building offers full-service amenities including 24-hour doorman, children's playroom, bike storage, and cold storage.
Residences range from historic 1-bedroom lofts to expansive 5-bedroom penthouses spanning up to 4,800 square feet, with many units featuring direct views of the Museum of Natural History and its surrounding Roosevelt Park. Common luxury features throughout the building include 10'6" to 11-foot ceilings, custom Smallbone of Devizes kitchens with hand-painted cabinetry, solid oak herringbone floors in public areas, Miele appliances, White Carrara marble countertops, and Waterworks fixtures in marble bathrooms with radiant heated floors. The penthouse units are particularly notable, with one featuring over 6,000 square feet of outdoor terrace space including a private roof deck with outdoor kitchen and gas fireplace.
The building's prime Upper West Side location places residents just one block from Central Park and steps from popular neighborhood establishments. The ground floor features two sidewalk cafes, Gazala's and Ocean, while the surrounding area offers easy access to the B/C subway lines and numerous restaurants and shops that define this coveted neighborhood.
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