Westminster House, 35 East 85th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 35 East 85th Street by Carter Horsley

In the 1950's, high-rise residential developers in New York City were so impressed with the success of the white-brick Manhattan House project on the Upper East Side that the vast majority of new projects followed suite and used glazed white bricks for their façades. Unfortunately, most projects were not as good as Manhattan House, which occupies a full block and has extensive landscaping, and, worse, many experience severe façade problems due to bad brickwork that resulted in many bricks breaking apart in the city's freeze-thaw cycles. In addition, many such projects were far from distinguished architectturally. Indeed, they were often far worse than most public housing project above the lobbies. This building was erected in 1955 with a white-brick façade and in 1998 it took the courageous and expensive step of replacing its entire façade. The new façade was radically different. It was not white, but reddish brown and it also was no longer a plain façade but the new design called for more intricate masonry work.As a result, this large building, which extends through to 86th Street, will significantly improve the ambiance of this very desirable neighborhood when the renovation work is completed in 1999. The 158-unit building was converted to a cooperative in 1979 and has a very modern and attractive lobby and canopy entrance on 85th Street, underwent a major façade restoration. This property has a wonderful location that is convenient to many museums and the glamour of Madison Avenue. Adjacent to the Carnegie Hill district, which is one of the most desirable in the city because of its many fine schools and churches and family-oriented boutiques, this building has two supermarkets within two blocks and very convenient neighborhood shopping. Although 85th Street is an entrance to one of the transverse roads in Central Park, most of that traffic turns from Madison Avenue and this pleasant block is relatively quiet.