895 West End Avenue

Overview of 895 West End Avenue

Built in 1917 and converted to a co-op in 1983, 895 West End Avenue is a distinguished Italian Renaissance palazzo style building designed by Gaetano Ajello for the Paterno Brothers. This 12 story white brick building houses 48 apartments and features a two story rusticated limestone base with an elegant arched entrance flanked by globular lanterns. The building was one of three similar structures Ajello designed for the Paterno Brothers on this attractive stretch of the Upper West Side, alongside 885 and 905 West End Avenue.

The building's architectural details reflect the grandeur of the Edwardian era, with a step up creamy white marble lobby showcasing a large handsome Tiffany style stained glass window depicting the Italian countryside. The façade features decorative balconies, consistent fenestration, and large windows with seven panes. Most apartments boast the distinctive prewar details that define the building: floor to ceiling French casement windows, oak parquet floors with marquetry, elaborate wall moldings including dentil molding, French doors, and ceilings approaching 10 feet in height.

The apartments commonly feature Classic 7 layouts with spacious living and formal dining rooms, windowed eat in kitchens, and flexible bedroom configurations. Many units include staff or maid's rooms that can serve as fourth bedrooms or home offices, butler's pantries, and extensive built in storage. High end renovations are common throughout the building, with many apartments featuring luxury appliances from Sub Zero, Viking, Wolf, and Miele. Several units offer corner exposures, Juliette balconies, and decorative fireplaces, while maintaining original architectural elements like transoms above doors and mahogany inlaid hardwood floors.

The building provides live in superintendent and door attendant services, along with amenities including personal storage, bike storage, laundry facilities, and daily trash pickup on each floor. The co-op maintains excellent financials and liberal policies, permitting pets, pied à terre ownership, subletting, co purchasing, gifting, guarantors, in unit washer dryers, trusts, and up to 80% financing with board approval. Central air conditioning installations are also permitted, and the building allows thru wall AC units.

Located within the Riverside West End Historic District, the building sits on one of the area's most desirable blocks, just one block from Riverside Park's waterfront and five blocks from Central Park. The location offers convenient access to Columbia University, Barnard College, and excellent transportation options including the 1/2/3 and B/C subway lines. The neighborhood continues to evolve with new luxury developments, restaurants, and shopping, while maintaining the quiet, tree lined character that makes this stretch of West End Avenue particularly sought after.