A hotel-turned-condo with historic meaning, ornate architecture and landmark status
Living in Barbizon/63, an iconic, Lenox Hill building with nearly one decade of name recognition, means owning a piece of women’s history. Built in 1927, the 24-story tower was among the numerous residential hotels built in that decade for young, ambitious women. The Barbizon Hotel for Women, as it was named, was perhaps the most prestigious and well-known. Its brick facade was designed by 20th-century architect Murgatroyd & Ogden in a blend of Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles and remains noticeable along Lexington Avenue’s relatively simple architecture. Barbizon/63’s Art-Deco-esque marquee still governs the entry, where hundreds of impressive women once traveled between their small rooms and classes, auditions or newly-acquired jobs. Converted into a full-service, luxury condominium in 2005, the building is now composed of 70 residences as opposed to 700 hotel rooms. This New York City landmark is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
At the forefront of women’s progress
Post suffrage, thousands of women flocked to the city in search of work, from creative pursuits in fashion, art and literature to office jobs like secretaries or magazine editors. The Barbizon Hotel for Women served as a launching pad for them to pursue careers independent of their families or future partners. By striking a balance of rule-enforced structure and progressive thought, the hotel became popular with well-to-do families. The most notable rule? No men allowed: even male elevator operators passed shifts to their female counterparts after sundown. In the afternoon, ladies conversed over free tea, and in the evenings, they attended lectures in the communal library. Paulina Bern, author of “The Barbizon: The Hotel That Set Women Free,” wrote in her 2021 Town & Country article that “close to 100 famous fashion models, radio and television actresses along with many more stage and screen hopefuls, girls studying art, music, ballet and designing were residing at the Barbizon at any given time.” Among them were future pioneers like Joan Didion, Grace Kelly, Sylvia Plath and Liza Minnelli.
A time-sensitive transformation that resulted in 70 elegant residences
The iconic hotel shuttered in 2004 and was converted into luxury condominiums by international design firm CetraRuddy. Key architectural elements were restored to their original glory, including rosette and stained-glass windows, as well as the dramatic arches and arcades bordering the building’s cloistered sky terraces. The seventy residences range from studios to three-bedroom apartments, plus a few larger penthouses, each with new and enlarged French casement windows that let in as much as 30 percent more natural light, according to the firm. At the time, units were outfitted with dark, custom-designed cabinetry, hardwood floors and sculpted stone vanities, though many homes have been renovated in the years since. Buyers will find studios as low as $789,000, while three-bedroom residences may reach as high as $5.5 million. An assessment fee funding the repair of the building’s facade is currently in place through July 2025.
Posh common spaces, plus access to an upscale fitness center and pool
Residents pass under Barbizon/63’s famed marquee before entering the unique, rotunda-style lobby. The ivory, stone-clad space, featuring a compass-like design on the floor, is attended by around-the-clock security; an on-site resident manager is available, as well. The Club Salon is reminiscent of the building’s old days, catering to residents’ social calendars through a spacious library-like living area, a private dining room and catering kitchen, plus a 20-seat screening room. A low-level terrace, furnished with ornate, cast-iron dining sets, provides yet another entertaining space. One of the building’s most iconic amenities, the hotel’s original swimming pool, has since become a part of Equinox Fitness Center, which occupies most of the first four floors. Residents enjoy a private entrance to the 45,000-square-foot gym and spa.
Excellent parks, dining and transit within walking distance
This corner building benefits from all the perks that make Lenox Hill and the Upper East Side such a desirable area. Lexington Avenue and Third Avenue are lined with both casual and upscale eateries. Café Boulud, from Michelin-starred French chef Daniel Boulud, is also close by, as is Morton Williams Supermarket for groceries. Central Park and its namesake zoo are accessible within three blocks. For farther destinations, an entrance to the F and Q trains is right across Lexington Avenue, and the N, R, Q, 4, 5 and 6 lines are available three blocks south on 60th Street.
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Quantarium
Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
2/ 10
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
79/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
99/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100/ 100
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Powered by CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks. Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Environmental risk data is provided by First Street Foundation® and is designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios.
Parks in this Area
Tramway Plaza
7 min walk
Picnic Area
Grand Army Plaza
8 min walk
Honey Locust Park
9 min walk
Picnic Area
Trails
Twenty-Four Sycamores Park
11 min walk
Basketball
Picnic Area
Playground
Andrew Haswell Green Park
11 min walk
Bike Trails
Dog Park
Picnic Area
St. Catherine's Park
11 min walk
Basketball
Picnic Area
Soccer
Greenacre Park
14 min walk
Picnic Area
Nature Center
Channel Gardens
2 min drive
Picnic Area
Nature Center
Peter Detmold Park Dog Run
3 min drive
Schools
Source:
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