The six-story co-op at 687 W. 204th Street in Inwood was built in 1935, a few years after the A train arrived in the area and when art deco style was all the rage. “Inwood is not only the largest enclave of Art Deco apartment houses in Manhattan; it is also one of the largest Art Deco architecture concentrations in the U.S.,” according to a report from the Historic Districts Council, a city preservation group. One of a handful of such residences on the street by architect George G. Miller, the yellow brick building features distinctive geometric detailing on its facade and chevrons popping up from the roofline. Once inside, molding extends from the entryway into the lobby and features triangles and fan shapes finished in metallic nickel, copper, gold and teal (the design was based on the original).
Recently restored by Michael Laudati, who specializes in restoring prewar buildings, the lobby feels like a hidden treasure with its jewel-toned terrazzo flooring, stone mantle, custom wall scones and a casement window painted with cherry blossoms. The piece de resistance is the lit, recessed ceiling decorated with a sprinkling of stars, a motif once found at Chrysler Building’s Cloud Club, a Prohibition-era hangout. The upper hallways, ceiling lighting, doors and signage were also updated. “They did a lovely job,” says Sabrina Seidner, a Corcoran real estate agent who has lived in the building and had listings there. “Now it has the feel of walking into an Upper West Side gem.” A longtime resident of the neighborhood, Seidner notes the area is full of actors, artists and musicians. “Inwood is the last bastion of affordability in the city if you want to stay on the rock of Manhattan,” Seider says. “And there are surprisingly a lot of options for transportation.”
Spacious layouts with prewar details
There are 55 units in the building, most of which have one or two bedrooms. As it’s a prewar building, layouts are spacious and feature foyers, arched doorways, galley kitchens and hardwood, herringbone floors. “And there are plenty of closets,” says Seidner, who had a first-floor, one-bedroom apartment listed in late 2024 for just shy of $350,000. Maintenance costs are relatively low for Inwood, Seidner notes, with the monthlies for the one-bedroom coming in at around $900. In early 2024, a two-bedroom sold for $535,000 — the only deal on record for the year as of December. There are just a few three-bedroom units; the last one sold in 2011 for nearly $550,000. Many investors own in the building, and rentals are more common than sales, with one-bedrooms fetching $2,100 a month and two-bedrooms leasing for $2,695.
Limited amenities include a live-in super and laundry facilities
The building has a live-in super but no doorman. Instead, it uses a key fob system for entry, and there’s a package area near the stairs. There is an old-fashioned elevator with art deco details, plus laundry facilities in the basement. Residents have set up a lending library, and there is storage and a small outdoor area outside the basement entrance with a table, some chairs and a few plants. The building is pet friendly.
From farmhouse to farmer’s market
West 204th Street is a residential street lined with other prewar co-ops. Most of the buildings in the area are low- to mid-rise, with many in a H shape, like this co-op. The blocks are shorter, with an extra street between Broadway and Seaman Avenue. Broadway is the main thoroughfare, offering a gas station, Inwood Bar & Grill, PJ Wine & Liquor (where even obscure spirits can be found) and a C-Town grocery store around the corner from the co-op. Manhattan’s only surviving 18th-century farmhouse, Dyckman House, is also a block away at 204th and Broadway. It’s open to visitors — or local dogwalkers — and includes the original furniture. “Almost half of the land is public park space that preserves the natural terrain and geological features of the island, as opposed to the designed landscapes of many parks in New York City,” according to the Historic Districts Council report. Isham Park is two blocks north of the building and hosts a year-round farmer’s market on Saturdays. Inwood Hill Park provides nearly 200 acres of green space overlooking the Hudson River. It connects to Fort Tyron Park in Washington Heights and the Hudson River Bike Trail, a 12.5-mile biking and walking path between Battery Park and Inwood.
Around the corner from the express A train
The A train is just a few blocks from the co-op. Since it runs express between 125th and 59th streets, residents can be in Midtown in 20 to 30 minutes, Seidner says. “And you always get a seat,” she adds, as it’s the terminal station for the A. There’s also the 1 train “down the hill” at 10th Avenue and 207th Street, with service downtown and into the Bronx. Several buses stop in the area, and the West Side Highway is easily accessible via Riverside Drive for a quick retreat from the city.
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Quantarium
Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
4/ 10
Bikeable
Bike Score®
66/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
90/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
96/ 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
Isham Park
6 min walk
Trails
Events
Monsignor Kett Playground
7 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Inwood Hill Park
8 min walk
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Bike Trails
Sherman Creek
11 min walk
Fishing
Picnic Area
Kayak/Canoe
Swindler Cove
15 min walk
Trails
River
Fort Tryon Park
15 min walk
Trails
Playground
Devoe Park
3 min drive
Basketball
Dog Park
Playground
Marble Hill Playgound
3 min drive
Basketball
Playground
University Woods
4 min drive
Trails
Schools
Source:
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