In 1886, house numbers on the Upper West Side were renumbered based on distance from Central Park West (Eighth Avenue), so the Dakota became 1 West 72nd Street. [14] The Dakota's board announced in 2002 that it planned to restore the interior courtyard, and it hired Higgins & Quasebarth as a consulting architect. [155] Years after Lennon's death, the Dakota's residents tended to eschew publicity. [27], The Dakota is a nine-story building; most of the building is seven stories high, although there are also two-story gables. [131] The Dakota's completion spurred the construction of other large apartment buildings in the area,[129][131] several of which were named after regions in the western United States. It's also intriguing for a few darker reasons, most notably as the backdrop to John Lennon's murder. [159] The Dakota's board decided to repair the most deteriorated bricks rather than replace the whole facade. [32][33], The building is largely square in plan and built around a central "I"-shaped courtyard. [21] Clark developed another set of row houses at 1365 and 103151 West 73rd Street, some of which still exist. [106][110] Work was slightly delayed by a labor strike in March 1882. The opportunity to move to America. In a 1932 New Yorker article, the Dakota was described as being "as close to organic architecture as its most up-to-date neighbor: that is, they are both about fifty years away from the real thing". [a] All of these houses were designed by Hardenbergh. Image of The Dakota retrieved from Wikipedia, historical images of Nellie Bly (a.k.a. [173] The Dakota's co-op board, which decides whether to allow prospective tenants, has a reputation for selectivity. [46] The exterior walls function as load-bearing walls,[1][59] which measure up to 4ft (1.2m) thick. There is also a security guard's booth to the west of the main entrance. Fiona Davis:I love the research phase, when anything is possible and the ideas are bubbling away. [160] The LPC gave craftsmanship awards to the restoration architects, Ehrenkrantz & Eckstut Architects and Remco, in 1994. In 1884, a woman working at a hotel named Sara Smythe earns Theos respect and admiration, and he hires her to be the managerette of his new apartments, set to rival New Yorks famous Fifth Avenue. (I want it in hardback; its a challenging find). She beganher career in New York City as an actress, where she worked on Broadway, off Broadway,and in regional theater. The facade is largely composed of brick with sandstone trim and terracotta detailing. WebWhen a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house the Dakota, leads to a job offer for Sara Smythe, her world is suddenly awash in possibilityno mean feat for a servant in 1884. There aren't many Hollywood stories more tragic than Marilyn Monroe's. But when a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house The Dakota, leads to a job offer, her world is suddenly awash in possibilityno mean feat for a servant in 1884. [40] The Dakota's courtyard originally contained two fountains, which doubled as skylights for the basement. Car Lot Bought As Site for Apartments", "Tenants Buy Landmark; The Dakota, at 1 W. 72d St., Becomes a Cooperative", "Henderson Place Is Designated a Historic District", "Getting the Grime off the Face of the City", "Postings: Landmarks Preservation Commission Awards; 13 Projects Win Citations for Enhancing the Urban Environment", "Neighborhood Report: Upper West Side; Dakota Will Get Its Repairs, But Many Eyes Will Watch", "Forced Sales Set for Apartments at the Dakota", "Central Park West: one of New York's most sought-after addresses", "The Iconic Dakota, Built in 1884, Is Getting Some Work Done", "2 Kitchen Renovation Strategies Spark New Life in Old Spaces", "Ward Bennett, 85, Dies; Designed With American Style", "Leonard Bernstein, 72, Music's Monarch, Dies", "The Dakota: New York's Most Exclusive Building", "Harlan Coben Sells Dark, Brooding 'Writer's Lair', "Dakota Co-op Board Accused of Being a Bunch of Racists", "Upper West Side Butler Inherits Two Apartments in the Dakota", "Dakota co-op chief sells apartment for $27.5M", "Collector Pays $27.5M For Embattled Dakota Co-Op Head's 3BR", "Michael Kahn, the Shakespeare Theatre Company's risk-taker in chief", "John Madden's Dakota Co-op Returns to Market for $3.9M", "John B. McDonald Very Ill; Builder of the Subway Not Rallying from a Complication of Diseases", "Cardboard Mogul Buys Dakota Co-op 20 Years After Rejection", "15 crazy facts about one of New York's most exclusive buildings", "Renovated Apartment in Iconic Dakota Building in Manhattan Sells for $9.75M", "Plan by Nixon to Buy Coop in City Is Opposed by Some Other Owners", "Notes on People; Dakota Blocks Billy Joel's Bid to Buy Apartment A Poetic Senator From the Rockbound Coast of Maine Tea, but No Sympathy Aggie Ace Love Story", "Dakota-Spurned Cardboard Magnate Mehiel Asking $35 M. for Carhart Mansion Duplex", "Buyer Sues After Being Barred From Dakota Pad For 16 Years", "New York Co-op Living Gone Wrong: No Working Bathroom for Eight Months", "Judge Dismisses Case Against 'Racist' Dakota Co-op Board", "Suit Accusing Dakota Co-op Board of Bias Against Blacks and Hispanics Fails", "Recent Apartment House Design, Central Park West, New York City", "131-Year History of the Iconic Dakota Chronicled in New Book", "Go Inside New York's Most Famous Apartment Building", "National Register of Historic Places Inventory: Dakota Apartments", Christ & Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church, First Baptist Church in the City of New York, Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Manhattan, Cathedral Parkway110th Street/Central Park West, New York Central Railroad 69th Street Transfer Bridge, History of the National Register of Historic Places, National Register of Historic Places Portal, Unfinished Music No. "[173][209] Investor and resident Buddy Fletcher filed a lawsuit in 2011, claiming that the board had made racist remarks against would-be residents on numerous occasions,[178][179] but a New York state judge dismissed Fletcher's suit in 2015. [1][59][67] All of the elevators were originally hydraulic cabs with water tanks at the bottom. [18][28][29] Some contemporary sources described the building as being ten stories high, including the raised basement,[17][30] while others classify the Dakota as being eight stories high. [127][128], The Dakota's address was originally 301 West 72nd Street, since the address numbers of buildings on Manhattan's westeast numbered streets were based on the building's distances from Fifth Avenue. ', "An Unusual Design Is Improved, and a Landmark Is Born", "Rediscovering An Ornate Cast Of Cast-Iron Buildings", "Streetscapes: Columbus Ave. Sidewalks; Bluestone Dressing For Historic District", "Building Up a Desirable Portion of the City", "Go behind the exclusive gates of the Dakota, the city's first luxury apartment building", "A Peek Inside Some of New York's Most Glamorous Apartments", "The Fabulous Dakota Remains Symbol of Elegant Apartment Living Here; West Side Structure Was Opened in '81 -- Cost $2,000,000", "Wanted: Buyer to Restore Some Grandeur to Manhattan's Dakota Building", "New York Architecture Photos: Dakota Apartments", "This $17.5 Million Co-Op at the Dakota Has Gone Totally Mod! [94] There was a florist, a messengers' office, and a telegraph office for residents. [80] The building's facade was again renovated starting in 2015. WebBailey's grandfather was the ward of famed architect Theodore Camden, yet Bailey won't see a dime of the Camden family's substantial estate; instead, her cousin MelindaCamden's biological great-granddaughterwill inherit almost everything. The opportunity to move to America. [173], On numerous occasions, the board has refused to allow high-profile personalities to move into the building, including musicians Gene Simmons,[203] Billy Joel,[204] and Carly Simon,[205] as well as performers Madonna and Cher, baseball player Alex Rodriguez, and comedian Judd Apatow. Residential building in Manhattan, New York, This article is about the apartment building in New York City. WebWhen a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house the Dakota, leads to a job offer for Sara Smythe, her world is suddenly awash in possibilityno mean feat for a servant in 1884. ], Author| Interviewer |Book Reviewer| Photographer. According to Wilbur Ross, a former president of the Dakota's board, a planned "centennial art book" about the building was canceled in 1984 because the Dakota was so poorly documented. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Fiona Davis was born in Canada and raised in New Jersey, Utah, and Texas. [11], The Dakota's developer Edward Cabot Clark, who headed the Singer Manufacturing Company, selected the building's site based on several characteristics. "[34][98], The modern-day Dakota Apartments was one of the first large developments on the Upper West Side,[21] built at a time when large apartment blocks were still associated with tenement living. [9][122], The Dakota was completed by October 27, 1884,[107] and was fully rented upon its completion. WebWhen a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house the Dakota, leads to a job offer for Sara Smythe, her world is suddenly awash in possibilityno mean feat for a servant in 1884. [15][113] Though the Clark family never denied this story,[65] its veracity is disputed, as contemporary publications did not discuss the building's remoteness. [142] The Clarks were responsible for all repairs and maintenance and were subject to little, if any scrutiny. [6][11] One story claims that the name arose from the building's remoteness from the more populous parts of Manhattan, just as the Dakota Territory was considered remote. [212] The New York Daily Graphic wrote that the building was "one of the most perfect apartment houses in the world". [74], At each corner of the courtyard, four wrought-bronze staircases and four residents' elevators lead from the entrances to the upper stories. [31] Servants employed by the residents, as well as visiting servants, occupied the eighth and ninth floors. L.L. Of course, any large and regal building that was constructed in the 1880sis likely to have been the scene ofat least a few disturbing incidents. In 1985, Bailey Camden is desperate for new opportunities. In 1985, Bailey Camden is desperate for new opportunities. [90][91] Some units have been substantially redesigned; for example, a four-bedroom unit was renovated in the modern style in the 2010s. L.L. [40], A service driveway also runs along the western side of the main courtyard. [23][143] Since the building had been designated a New York City landmark five years prior,[152] the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) had to review every proposed modification to the exterior. John Pascal Camden. A.I.A. [65][66] Each apartment's dining rooms, reception rooms, and libraries were wainscoted in oak, mahogany, and other woods. Fresh out of rehab, the former party girl and interior designer is homeless, jobless and penniless. WebIn 1985, Bailey Camdenis desperate for new opportunities. [83] Many of the original apartments have been subdivided over the years, though the Dakota's co-op board has endorsed numerous apartment renovations in which the original layouts were restored. [4][5][6] The building occupies the western sidewalk of Central Park West (formerly Eighth Avenue[6][7]) between 72nd Street to the south and 73rd Street to the north. There are 11 bays on 72nd Street to the south and Central Park West to the east; 13 bays on 73rd Street to the north; and 17 bays to the west. As I dug deeper into its history, I knew it was the perfect choice for a dual-narrative historical fiction novel. [33][140] Stephen Clark intended to continue operating the Dakota and preserve the garden to the west. The opportunity to move to America. [73], In place of dumbwaiters,[44] the building contains four service elevators and four iron staircases for servants. The residents included lawyers, brokers, merchants, and clothiers, although they also included a cigar merchant, a coal-mine operator, and a stenographer. [34] Christopher Gray said in 2006 that "The Dakota remains Mount Olympus in the mythology of New York apartment houses, its baronial majesty the gauge by which all others must be judged. Horse-drawn carriages, entering from 72nd Street, used the courtyard to turn around. [81] A Look magazine article in the 1960s described interior designer and antique dealer Frederick P. Victoria as having decorated his apartment with wood "draperies" and antique clocks. Despite her caution after her mothers experience of being in love with a married man, Sara finds herself falling in love with Theodore Camden, the architect who hired her to manage the building. The dormer windows are arranged in two to four levels and alternately contain either stone or copper frames. [73] This gave residents a feeling of privacy, since tenants were largely separated both from each other and from servants. [143] The Dakota was one of twelve apartment buildings on Central Park West to be converted into housing cooperatives in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The opportunity to move to America and become the female manager of The Dakota, which promises to be the greatest apartment house in the world. Homeless and without any prospects she must lean on her cousin Melinda. But when a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house The Dakota, leads to a job offer, her The kitchens had marble wainscoting and Minton tile, while the bathrooms contained porcelain bathtubs. "[42][220] Hardenbergh, who remained involved in his designs after their completion,[221] wrote a letter objecting to American Architect's characterization of the courtyard. Clark announced plans for an apartment complex at the site in 1879 and work began in late October 1880. Ono even claims to have heard Lennon's ghost speak. More and more, they're moving away from creative people and going toward people who just have the money. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. When the courtyard was rebuilt in 2004, the sidewalk under the breezeway was reconstructed with bluestone pavers that measure up to 6ft (1.8m) long and 5in (130mm) thick. Producer William Castle's misfortune came nextwith a severe case of kidney stones. [119][120] Other tradesmen joined the strike but returned to work within a month. After all, everyone knows it as the place where Lennon died. The murder also prompted concern among residents, who demanded more stringent security; all visitors were already required to pass through the security booth on 72nd Street. The radiators in each apartment were placed under the window sills. ", "The Dakota. [27] The west elevation, facing the former yard, was sparsely ornamented. Martha Verda Camden. [17][30], The building's main entrance is a double-height archway on 72nd Street to the south. [69][220] American Architect had only one complaint: "The service-entrances to the suites are situated upon the same court-yard, so that grocers' wagons and ice-carts are almost always to be seen standing about in the space which should be reserved exclusively for more fashionable equipages, and for the promenades of the tenants of the house. [17][30] The northern entrance on 73rd Street was seldom used[34] except for funerals. [11][12] Even though a street address was sufficient to identify these apartment buildings, this trend followed a British practice of giving names to buildings without addresses. I couldnt get over the harsh conditions you depicted on Blackwell Island in the book. With 2016s debut of THE DOLLHOUSE, Fiona Davis made one of the most stunning entrances as an author who knows her way around historical fiction. Fresh out of rehab and struggling with staying sober, she gets offered a job by her cousin, Melinda, to oversee the Renovation of The Dakota. [30][67] Each corner of the building has a brick shaft with one elevator and one staircase;[17][43] this roughly divides the Dakota into quadrants. WebThe year is 1885 and brilliant architect Theodore Camden offers London hotel housekeeper Sara Smythe a once-in-a-lifetime chance to accompany Camden to New York to manage the Dakota, an apartment building on Manhattans Upper West Side, which he helped to build. [35][72] Consequently, the hallways were generally long and narrow at the Dakota, compared with later developments such as 998 Fifth Avenue. [67][84] The largest drawing room in the building was 49ft (15m) long[65] and contained a classical fluted column instead of a partition. [35][73] Each elevator served a small foyer on each floor that provided access to the two apartments. [26], The building was renamed the "Dakota" by June 1882. (LogOut/ [26][67] The main section of the basement is directly under the courtyard and has an asphaltum floor. WebWhen a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house the Dakota, leads to a job offer for Sara Smythe, her world is suddenly awash in possibilityno mean feat for a servant in 1884. [35] In some cases, an elevator served only one apartment on a floor, so the elevator doors opened directly into that tenant's foyer. The upper-story servants' quarters contained dormitories, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and dryer rooms. The Dakotawas also a prominent filming location for one of the most cursed movies in history. [20] The row houses were in the middle of the block, where land values were lower, whereas the Dakota was built on the more valuable site next to Central Park. [60][78][105] Hardenbergh simultaneously designed several dozen low-rise row houses for Clark on 73rd Street. [95][96] This was in part because of the West Side's steep topography and its dearth of attractions compared with the East Side. [40], Because the Dakota had fewer apartments than nearby co-ops, maintenance expenses tended to be much higher. At the time, the vast majority of development on Manhattan Island was south of 23rd Street. The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota. [28] Because the Dakota was one of the city's earliest luxury apartment buildings, the floor plans resembled those of traditional row houses. She was infamously killed by members of the Manson family. [65][69] After Edward C. Clark's death, Hardenbergh never designed another building for the Clark family;[63][117] their final collaboration, the Ontiora at Seventh Avenue and 55th Street, was similar in design to the Dakota. The thicknesses of the exterior walls varied at different stories: Sources disagree on the number of apartments that the Dakota originally had. Joey Harrow, a fellow musician, told people that he saw Lennon standing surrounded by light in the building's archway. [18] Above the sixth story is a stone cornice, which separates the seventh story and the roof from the rest of the facade. Lists of spooky places around the world where you might see, here, or feel a real ghost. [35] The parqueted floors are inlaid with mahogany, oak, and cherry,[1][85] which are laid on top of the earthen subfloors and concrete slabs. After World War II, the kitchen was closed and became a studio apartment for Giora Novak. [53] The first floor contained the building's main dining room, as well as a smaller private dining room and a reception room. One hundred years later, in 1985 NYC, Bailey Camden is an interior designer charged with renovating The Dakota. The project was budgeted using unit pricing, since it was impossible to know how many bricks needed to be repaired until the entire facade had been examined. Residents generally continued to live in the building for prolonged periods, and maintenance costs continued to increase. [35][41] After automobiles supplanted horse-drawn carriages, the Dakota banned automobiles from the courtyard[41] because the space could not support the weight of modern vehicles. Formerly, there was a garden to the west of the Dakota, underneath which was a mechanical plant serving the Dakota and some adjacent row houses. [38], A "handsome doorway", measuring 10ft (3.0m) tall,[60] also led from 73rd Street to the courtyard. [9][10] While most of the building contained fully-equipped apartments, with their own entrances and service elevators/stairs, part of the second floor was divided into smaller apartments and guest rooms. Each apartment at the Dakota had a unique layout with four to twenty rooms. [46] Under the co-op arrangement, the residents were obligated to share all maintenance and repair costs, which the Clark family had previously handled. : In my former career, I was a child/adolescent psych R.N. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. Oh but theres moreand to say too much would be giving it all awaylets just saytheres love and loss, success and ruin, mystery, poor decisions, passion and madness that drive the plot. When a chance encounter with Theodore Camden, one of the architects of the grand New York apartment house the Dakota, leads to a job offer for Sara Smythe, her world is suddenly awash in possibilityno mean feat for a servant in 1884. Slide over on that silk settee and join me in conversation with Fiona Davis. [217], Praise for the building continued in later years. [76][84], Each apartment contained fixtures and materials that were similar to those in contemporary brownstone row houses. Director Roman Polanski's wife, Sharon Tate, became increasingly interested in the occult as a result of the movie.