The hidden loft buildings of the Upper West Side
Via Wiki Commons
When most of us think of “lofts” in relation to Upper West Side apartments, our first thought is probably the commonplace storage or sleeping loft found in converted brownstones and townhouses. While we tend to associate actual loft apartments with downtown neighborhoods like Tribeca and Soho, there are a handful of Upper West Side condos and co-ops where you can find the same soaring ceilings and open floor plans. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the five loftiest options you’ll find north of Columbus Circle.
The Forum
54 West 74th Street
Via Google Street View
The Forum is located on 74th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue, one of the prettiest streets in NYC. This cool prewar condo has a full-time doorman and some very unique loft apartments. If you aren’t in a position to buy, there are sometimes sponsor-unit lofts available for rent. (And there’s even a grocery store in the base!)
The Pythian
135 West 70th Street
Via Wiki Commons
The Pythian is an uber-luxurious prewar condo located at 135 West 70th Street. It’s hard to miss the unique glass and terracotta façade if you happen to be nearby. The Pythian was designed by famed theter architect Thomas W. Lamb. It began as a temple and meeting place, became a recording studio for well-known artists, was used as a school campus, and in 1983, was converted to a condominium. Residents today can choose from many unique floor plans, including several loft and duplex apartments with towering high ceilings and absolutely massive windows.
The Park & Tilford Building
100 West 72nd Street
Via I Love the Upper West Side
The Park & Tilford Building located at 100 West 72nd Street on the corner of Columbus Avenue is a six-story loft co-op built by architects McKim, Mead and White (yes, the same architects responsible for the original Penn Station and the Washington Square Arch). All of the apartments in this building have very high ceilings, and some units have sleeping lofts, too. There are several lofts and duplexes, and as a pied-a-terre friendly co-op, this could make a perfect setting for anyone looking for a second home in NYC.
The Alexandria
201 West 72nd Street
Via Google Street View
The Alexandria is a super-modern condo in a sea of old buildings. Amenities include an awesome roof deck and pool, and some of the apartments feature 18-foot ceilings and dramatic walls of windows.
Liberty Lofts
43 West 64th Street
Via I Love the Upper West Side
Originally a warehouse built in 1891, this 12-story condo has just three loft apartments per floor, all with private elevator landings and barrel vaulted ceilings. The units are huge and range from 1,600 to over 6,000 square feet. Sadly, the building’s 37-foot-high, copper statue that was modeled on the Statue of Liberty (hence the condo’s name) no longer remains on the facade.
Storage Lofts
In addition to these loft-style apartments, and much more common, is the overhead loft space found most frequently in brownstone and townhouse units, which can be used for both sleep and storage, depending on the amount of space provided. Some Upper West Side buyers and renters find that these overhead lofts do a good job of eliminating clutter and improving a floor plan, while others see them as a waste of space.
This post comes from I Love the Upper West Side, the ultimate source for new local restaurants, cultural events, real estate news, local business info, celebrity gossip, neighborhood history, and more.
