700 Park Avenue stands as an exemplary post-World War II apartment building located on the northwest corner of 69th Street and Park Avenue. Designed in 1959 by the architectural firms Kahn & Jacobs along with Paul Resnick and Harry F. Green, this 19-story cooperative building, also known as 37 East 69th Street, boasts 48 apartments.
Prime Location and Surroundings The building enjoys a prestigious Park Avenue address, directly opposite the distinguished Union Club, a Delano & Aldrich design. Nearby landmarks include the Asia Society, Hunter College, and the Seventh Regiment Armory. This area is known for its considerable light and air compared to the denser pre-war buildings nearby, and the apartments within 700 Park Avenue are notably spacious.
Architectural Highlights The façade features glazed gray brick above a two-story base of polished granite. The building’s design is accentuated by slightly protruding stone window frames. A distinctive feature on the Park Avenue side is a bay of small, delicate 4-by-4 cluster windows. The top of the building includes four major setbacks with continuous glass balconies, adding to its visual appeal. A canopied entrance with sidewalk landscaping enhances the building’s elegance.
Amenities Residents of 700 Park Avenue benefit from a doorman, storage facilities, a garage, and a pet-friendly policy.
Notable Apartments
- Apartment 10C: Ward Bennett designed, Mid Century modern Classic. This unit features a 20-foot-long entrance foyer, a 31-foot-long living room with an adjoining solarium, a 23-foot-long bedroom, a second bedroom, a 15-foot-long dining room, a 9-foot-long pantry, a 16-foot-long enclosed, windowed kitchen, and a 9-foot-long maid’s room.
- Apartment 16B: A two-bedroom unit with a 16-foot-wide entrance gallery, a 27-foot-long living room with a wood-burning fireplace, an 18-foot-long library, a 22-foot-long dining room, an enclosed 17-foot-long kitchen, a pantry, and a 12-foot-long maid’s room.
- Apartment 11A: This apartment has a 21-foot-long entrance gallery, a 27-foot-long living room with a wood-burning fireplace, a 16-foot-long corner library, a windowed eat-in kitchen, a 17-foot-long dining room, a 14-foot-long exercise room, and a pantry.
Historical Context The site of 700 Park Avenue was previously occupied by the Union Theological Seminary and later became the residence of Arthur Curtis James, a notable figure in American railroad history and the New York Yacht Club. Arthur Curtis James inherited a mining fortune and expanded his wealth through significant railroad ventures, eventually controlling a vast network of tracks across the country.
Overall, 700 Park Avenue combines historical significance, prime location, elegant architectural design, and modern amenities, making it one of the most desirable residential buildings on Park Avenue.
Amenities
Wood-burning fireplaces
Large apartments
Sidewalk landscaping
Doorman
Very attractive post-war building
Prime Park Avenue location
Not far from subway
Across the avenue from the Union Club
Near Central Park
Pet friendly
Storage
Some terraces
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