A historic conversion less than a block from Central Park
The Olcott, a 15-story condo building on West 72nd Street, turns 100 in 2024. The street was lined with mansions in the early 19th century and was so exclusive that only residents — or those delivering their coal or groceries — could drive carriages down the street. Later, during the depression, the street was a center for mobsters who set up brothels in many of the apartment buildings on the thoroughfare, an example of how quickly New York City neighborhoods can change, according to Tom Miller, a New York historian and blogger. The area morphed again around World War I, he explains. “Developers were trying to lure people away from private houses into multi-family dwellings, and that was a hard thing to do,” he says. “By providing all the amenities of a hotel — maid service and such — you could lure people into what were essentially apartment buildings. One of the things they would say was, ‘well, this solves the servant problem.’” Although they might still staff a butler or a lady’s maid, they no longer needed chambermaids or cooks. It was still a residential hotel in the 1990s and was converted to condos in the mid-aughts, with Thomas O’Hara as architect.
Many Upper West Siders were “curious and enthusiastic” about the conversion, says Cathleen Carmody, a broker at The Corcoran Group who headed up sales when the building launched and is still the primary resale agent there. “It’s located in the Gold Zone on the West Side, a Central Park block in the 70s,” she says. “It was an unusual offering in that it’s a pre-war condominium, and there were only a handful of those on the Upper West Side.” Although there were some investors, many buyers were local to the area and wanted to stay on the Upper West Side, she adds.
Combining pre-war details with contemporary finishes
Residences at The Olcott were carefully renovated by Montreal-based designer Andrés Escobar. “He’s known for his modern sensibility,” Carmody explains. “He had a lot of fun bringing that sensibility while staying true to the integrity of the pre-war finishes.” For example, he used beveled tiles in the bathroom for a more contemporary look, and although the flooring was replaced, it was laid in the same pattern as the original. Solid-core panel doors were installed to bring an extra hush to homes, and Escobar chose nickel-finished fixtures from Baldwin Brass Hardware. Some residents have redesigned their living spaces since the condo opened in 2008. Others have upgraded to larger units. “We’ve had quite a number of combination units where the owners outgrew the space,” according to the agent. “The building has been open-minded with allowing that, and we’ve even had a couple of duplex apartments created there that weren’t there originally.” A one-bedroom unit costs about $1.3 million, with two- and three-bedroom starting at around $2.6 million and $3.1 million, respectively. A five-bedroom duplex on the top floor — which includes a 3,500-square-foot private terrace — costs $11.5 million.
A ‘thoughtful’ staff that cultivates community
“The building has a very thoughtful, attentive and caring staff,” Carmody says, noting that many of them have been with the building since the conversion, or even before. “They host seasonal parties and put on a Halloween party for kids. They go the extra mile to create a community in the city.” Events can be held in the residential lounge, which has a full catering kitchen. It can also be set up as a conference room. The exercise room is in the basement, but a glass ceiling was installed during the renovation to bring natural light into the space. There’s also a children’s playroom, private storage, a bike room, and laundry facilities on every floor, although larger units are equipped with washers and dryers.
Strawberry Fields forever
The Olcott sits next to the famed Dakota building, the former home of John Lennon. A memorial to the late music legend, Strawberry Fields, is right off Central Park’s West 72nd Street entrance. The street has several bars and restaurants, from classic New York pubs to all-you-can-eat sushi. The Beacon Theatre is located on Broadway between West 74th and West 75th streets, and the building is walkable to Lincoln Center around West 66th Street. Groceries can be found along Broadway—there’s a Trader Joe’s just south of West 72nd Street and Fairway and Citarella across from the Beacon.
Steps from the 2 and 3 express trains
Drivers can access the Henry Hudson Parkway directly from West 72nd Street. Subways also stop along the street, with the B and C trains at Central Park West and the 2 and 3 express trains at Broadway. The M72 bus offers crosstown service.
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Quantarium
Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
3/ 10
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
88/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
97/ 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
Verdi Square
5 min walk
Picnic Area
Trails
Richard Tucker Park
8 min walk
Picnic Area
Events
Matthew P. Sapolin Playground
8 min walk
Basketball
Picnic Area
Trails
Theodore Roosevelt Park
8 min walk
Dog Park
Picnic Area
Trails
Dante Park
9 min walk
Picnic Area
Tecumseh Playground
9 min walk
Basketball
Picnic Area
Soccer
South Lawn
11 min walk
Damrosch Park
12 min walk
Picnic Area
Events
Riverside Park South
2 min drive
Dog Park
Picnic Area
Soccer
Schools
Source:
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