New York City's Top Historical Residential Buildings

The Dakota

Located on Central Park at 1 West 72nd Street, the Dakota might be the most extravagant residential building to ever lay your eyes on. Built between 1880 and1884, the building is known to be one of Manhattans most prestigious and exclusive buildings and was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1976. There have been countless notable residents who have lived in this building over the years and many famous individuals have even been rejected when trying to buy a residence here.

This building may interest all those paranormal fans, as there has been reportedly many ghost sightings and the south entrance of the building was the location of the murder of John Lennon.

There are 93 units and 9 floors throughout the residence. Current listings range from 5 bedrooms and 3 bath for $20,500,00 to 2 bedrooms and 2 baths for 3,880,000. However, it is not easy to apply. Many have to go through a rigorous application process and then may still get denied. Although maybe too exclusive for the average New Yorker, this historical landmark is definitely worth the visit.

The Ansonia

With the intent to build “the grandest hotel in Manhattan”, the Ansonia is a residential building located on the Upper West Side between W 73rd and W 24th. It was built in 1899 by William Earle Stokes and the “architect-in-chief” was Stokes himself as well.

A fun fact about this building was that it was the first air-conditioned hotel in New York. It was originally eighteen stories and was considered the largest residential hotel of its day.

After decades of renovations, the Ansonia was converted to a condominium apartment building with 430 apartments and is 17 stories. Currently, listings go from $16,185,000, which includes 7 bedrooms and 5 baths to $2,295,000, which includes 1 bed and 1 bath. If you are looking for a place that offers an immense amount of history, this is the place for you.  

The Apthorp

Built between 1906-1908, the Apthorp is a historic condominium that occupies a full block between Broadway and West End Avenue between 78th and 79th. Known as monumental and magnificent, the building is built around a large interior courtyard. It was designated a New York City landmark in 1969 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was modeled after the Pitti Palace in Florence for the infamous William Waldorf Astor who had lived there when it opened. 

The building was named after the owner Charles Ward Apthorp and was eventually sold in 2006 to JSR Capital. The building underwent major renovation and changed from rentals to condos. Currently, a listing for 7 beds and 8 baths goes for $19,600 and a listing for 2 beds 2 baths goes for $2,995,000.

More NYC Landmarks Worth Knowing

The Dakota, the Ansonia, and the Apthorp are far from the only historic residential buildings worth knowing in New York City. The San Remo, at 145 Central Park West, was designed by Emery Roth and completed in 1930 as Manhattan’s first twin-tower apartment building, each tower capped by a lantern modeled on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Athens; it became an individual New York City landmark in 1987 and is a contributing building to the Central Park West Historic District. A combined unit there sold for a then-record $26.4 million in 2014. On Fifth Avenue, 998 Fifth Avenue, designed by McKim, Mead & White and completed in 1912, is widely credited as the city’s first super-luxury apartment building, the project that persuaded wealthy New Yorkers to trade private mansions for apartment living; it was designated an individual city landmark in 1974. On the Upper West Side, the Belnord, at 225 West 86th Street, was built in 1908 around a 22,000-square-foot interior courtyard that made it the largest apartment building in the country at the time; it became a city landmark in 1966, and a Robert A.M. Stern-led renovation converted it from rentals to condos starting in 2017.

FAQ: NYC Historic Residential Buildings

What makes a building an official New York City landmark?

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designates individual landmarks and historic districts based on a building’s architectural, historical, or cultural significance. Landmark status legally protects a building’s exterior from alteration or demolition without the commission’s approval, though interior renovations are typically still allowed.

Can you actually buy an apartment in a landmarked building like the Dakota or the San Remo?

Yes, though most of these buildings are cooperatives rather than condominiums, which means buyers must be approved by a co-op board in addition to affording the purchase price. Board approval at buildings like the Dakota is famously strict.

Which of these buildings is the oldest?

The Dakota is the oldest, completed in 1884. It predates the Ansonia (1899), 998 Fifth Avenue (1912), the Apthorp (1908), the Belnord (1908), and the San Remo (1930) by anywhere from 15 to nearly 50 years.