The Blair House, 200 East 58th Street: Review and Ratings

The simplest and therefore the cheapest building to erect is a box and that is the solution that was adopted by most residential developers in Manhattan after World War II with few variations.   One of the nicer exceptions to the standard formula is The Blair House, this pleasant mid-rise structure close to Bloomingdale's, the department store that became very fashionable about the same time as it was constructed.   Built in 1963, this 19-story full-service building has a four-story base with a rounded corner in dark-colored brick with a setback tower in lighter colored masonry above its first level. The tower is quite attractive because it visually seems to "float" above the base since its first level is partially setback and is the same color as the base. The top of the tower, furthermore, has two setbacks and the top two floors are angled towards the northeast, opening up better views and giving the building a bit more individuality.   The 116-unit building was converted to a condominium in 1986 and offers amenities like a full-time doorman, laundry room, a landscaped roof deck, and a bicycle storage room.    Its location is very convenient to the East Midtown office district and to public transportation as cross-town bus service on 57th Street is excellent and the 4, 5, 6, N, R, W, E and M lines are all nearby.   There are several movie theaters nearby as well as an excellent design bookstore, to say nothing of Bloomingdale's, one block north across the avenue. Directly across the avenue is the former site of Alexander's, a large apparel store, that is likely to be redeveloped with a major mixed-use project that will replace the long-closed, low-rise building.   This building is also located on one of the city's important "restaurant row" sidestreets and is also close to the Manhattan entrance to the Queensborough Bridge, which creates much of the heavy traffic in the area.