(NEW YORK, NY) — Stunning would be an understatement when describing 2AB, a 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom,1917 cooperative at 50 West 67th Street.
Even in New York City, a home suited with this much charm and sophistication is rare to come across, which is why when I heard it hit the market, I had to ask listing agent Arabella Greene Buckworth of Brown Harris Stevens for an exclusive tour.
“Tree-lined, leafy and serene during summer, spring and fall, West 67th Street becomes a twinkling promenade during the winter when thousands of lights adorn the trunks and branches of the bare trees up and down the block. Walking down the block, one is captivated, not just by the beauty and architectural integrity but by a sense of history and luminescence,” said Arabella.
And captivated I was. After a breathtaking drive across Manhattan, I was met with the monumental brownstones and quiet side streets of the Upper West Side. Tucked away between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue was 67th street and its most opulent attraction, “The Musician’s Building.”
“50 West 67th Street was designed by the architectural firm of Shape and Bready, with sound-proof walls designed specifically for musicians. A front page article from 1915 in The New York Sun, describes “an eight story apartment (building) … in which the partitioning will be so completely soundproof that a prima donna practicing arias with the full strength of her lungs will not disturb or be disturbed by an amateur trombonist, say, who may be stridently perfecting his art – www.musiciansbuilding.com”
The lobby’s dimmed lighting and peaceful ambiance made me want to cozy up next to the antique master clock with a good book and hot coffee. The 24-hour doorman and live-in super were as welcoming as the space. With a lobby this incredible, I couldn’t begin to imagine what was waiting for me upstairs.
Upon opening the door, I was greeted with a foyer’s hand-painted Chagall-inspired ceiling. To my left was a spacious windowed-kitchen and straight ahead, a 27’ living room with a large wood burning fireplace and encapsulating tree-filled views of 67th street.
The spacious library to the left of the living room can easily be transformed into a formal dining room, a guest room, or office space depending on the resident’s preference.
The master bedroom is equipped with its own wood-burning fireplace, and an elegant en-suite bath, which is outfitted with Calacatta marble, Grohe fixtures and radiant floor heating.
While I spend much of my time exploring New York City apartments, it isn’t often I find one that’s hard to leave. But 2AB offers an experience for its residents that is hard to find. While touring the home I had to keep reminding myself that I was in fact in the heart of Manhattan. Its beauty is mesmerizing. Its history is rich. I got lost in the trees and stunning pre-war buildings every time I looked out a window. This apartment is the perfect home for a family looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Manhattan in a neighborhood that is truly one of a kind.
“Walking down the block, one is captivated, not just by the beauty and architectural integrity but by a sense of history and luminescence. Finally, one can stop for a cocktail or enjoy elegant Sicilian cuisine at The Leopard, formally The Café Des Artistes, located at the end of the block, amongst the legendary Howard Chandler Christy murals of cavorting nymphs in a sylvan paradise. Atmospheric, gracious and historic, that is West 67th Street.”
As I left 50 West 67th Street, there was only one thing on my mind: If walls could talk, I’m sure these would have the most elegant things to say.
