Dorothy Parker’s Childhood Home on 72nd Street Could Be Replaced by 21-Story Apartment Building
The five-story building at 214 West 72nd Street near Broadway is set to be replaced by a 21-story apartment building, which likely be a condo development, according to NY YIMBY.
“The 219-foot tall structure will yield 30,650 square feet, with 29,560 square feet dedicated to residential use, and 1,090 square feet for commercial-retail use, to be situated on the ground floor.
The site will yield 20 units, with one per floor. The residences will average 1,478 square feet apiece, indicating condominiums. Tenants will have access to bicycle parking and recreation space on the second and third floors.”
Zen Nail & Spa closed its location at the base of the building earlier this year.
More than 100 years ago — from 1895 to about 1899 — it was the home of famous writer Dorothy Parker, according to the Dorothy Parker Society.
“When Dorothy lived here with her parents, Henry and Eliza, and siblings Harold, Bertram and Helen, the home had striped awnings and was a private home. Now it is home to apartments and retail space.”
The building was reportedly damaged when the Corner (the apartment building that houses TRader Joe’s) was being built. Dorothy Parker fans fought plans to demolish it then.
Demolition permits have not yet been filed.
Just don’t touch Joseph Pharmacy. It is the best in the ‘hood and a true gem.
Keith, I couldn’t agree with you more.
Thank you for that.
I love the old buildings on West 72nd – From CPW to Riverside . It’s amazing they still survive. Such interesting details ,flourishes and quirks. I hope these buildings never disappear.
This is disappointing. I live 2 buildings down and when I moved in I was told that all of those buildings were land marked and would never be torn down for condos. Live and learn.
Yeah, I live on 72nd too and am surprised by this. A city map shows that most of the block is a historic district, but the designation stops on this side of 72nd exactly at this condo (the rest of 72nd to the west is landmarked).
In any event, this seems like an awfully ambitious project for a narrow site bordered on one side by a landmarked building and the other side by a luxury building with lots of west-facing windows.
Thank you, good to know that the rest of the block is landmarked. ITA that it’s ambitious to have 1 unit per floor w/o a decent view.
More work for nannies, am I right?
Absolutely NOT! The West 72nd Street Community must stand up and prove that our community is already over used as a tall building jungle! I call on Community Board7, our elected officials and the entire community to put an end to this! Enough is enough!
What is wrong with America (a lot) but for now let us just concentrate on the domolition of the home of one of America’s Greatest Writers and Humorists.
This reminds me of 1982 when The Morosco and The original Helen Hayes Theatres were torn down to put The Marriot Marquis Hotel. Pave paradise to put up a parking lot.
Right at the bus stop too. Does that mean the bus stop gets moved? :p
neighborhood is changing… sad, really.
What fresh hell is this?
Not to worry. Dorothy Parker lived also on W68th St between the Park and Columbus. That townhouse isn’t going anywhere.
I was admiring these buildings today. Enough with the tall, uninspired, unsightly and incongruent glass boxes on UWS.
Ugly looking building, not sure why you would want to save it…..who’s Dorothy Parker?
So much for our sense of history & culture!
Steel and glass will never feed our spirit; shame on us all.
I don’t know about that. The Chrysler & Empire State buildings are both pretty awe-inspiring. To me at least!
This sliver building is inappropriate and must be stopped. Dorothy Parker was an iconic member of the “Algonquin Round Table” tnat flourished in the 1920’s. CB7 and all preservationists should spare no effort to disapprove this ill-conceived development proposal.
Indeed.
Zen Nail and Spa, another UWS tradition for decades bites the dust
The West End Preservation Society is claiming that the case the building owner made in order to exempt the structure from the District was very much at odds with this plan.
It will be interesting to see how this develops.
The existing building is too small and out of context for the rest of the area. Wide streets like Broadway and 72nd St have long been seen as the ideal location for taller buildings and denser development. Can’t wait to welcome the new neighbors (and customers for local businesses) to the neighborhood!
Um, have you not noticed that the rest of the block is made up of buildings that are NOT high rises (except for one monstrosity across the street)?
Oh no ! I’ve read a little of her writings; &, of some biographical information @ her. There was an effort , in vain, recently — to save a writer’s home in Harlem, N.Y.C.. I’m reading a book @ friendships ‘tween some various writers, [Wimmin]; just started a chapter @ Virginia Woolf. “Oh, to be …” back ,safely & happily, in TW9, England. P>S> Happy Hannukah on behalf of my Jewish folk, &, of the State if Israel.
Shaloha. U.W.S. was lovelier, in some ways — some of it @ 1954.
Who do we contact to protest this plan? I live next to this and I’m concerned. If 214 was truly damaged during construction of The Corner as the owners claim, how will they ensure that this new building won’t do the same to the remaining townhouses? Not to mention the effect this building will have on the neighborhood!
Well, I don’t know. I can get behind a protest to preserve a row of characteristic buildings in a historic district or any individual building that is of a specific architectural importance. But it seems to me that in this case arguing the Dorothy Parker connection is ill advised. She wasn’t born there. She didn’t work there. She lived there for just a few years when she was a little girl. A lot of other buildings around New York have more of a claim to Parker fame (http://www.dorothyparker.com/wordpress/dorothy-parker-homes).
I wonder if the developer relies the entry of the new building will share the sidewalk with Trader Joe’s loading area. Delivery trucks, pallets of food and trash are common events day and night.
Good point! Who ever thought there was an upside to Trader Joe’s? 😉