The Ansonia

The infamous Black Sox scandal, the Chicago White Sox conspiracy to throw the 1919 World Series, was planned at The Ansonia. In 1968, after decades of neglect to the building overall, the basement pools of The Ansonia became the home to the gay bathhouse the Continental Baths. Entertainment provided included performances by a young Bette Midler, then known as "Bathhouse Betty," accompanied by Barry Manilow, drawing attendees including Mick Jagger, Alfred Hitchcock and Andy Warhol. And when the Continental Baths closed in 1976, Plato's Retreat, a membership-only swingers club for straight couples, moved into The Ansonia, complete with a clothing-optional dance floor, 60-person Jacuzzi and a hot and cold buffet. Bernie Gelb, Ansonia Realty's director of sales since the building’s ‘92 condo conversion, confirms that the notorious subterranean space, shuttered on New Year's Eve Day 1985, now serves as a parking garage. According to Gelb, properties in the iconic building don't linger on the market very long. "People follow our website, ansoniarealty.com, from all over the world. As soon as something comes up, I get emails from Europe, Asia and across the United States," he says. "People tend to stay as long as they can." (Among them is a current rent-stabilized tenant in his 60s, who was born in the building.) Occupying 550,000 square feet on Broadway between 74th and 75th Streets, the imposing behemoth is sometimes referred to as "the wedding cake of the Upper West Side" due to its ornate facade. The limestone, brick and terracotta structure includes a three-story convex mansard roof, cupolas, rounded corner turrets, intricate iron balconies and satyr gargoyles. In 1972, the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission designated The Ansonia a landmark, stating, "The Ansonia is a symbol of an era of opulence and elegance, and still stands as one of the truly grand buildings of Manhattan's West Side."

Prewar details, rounded walls and serious soundproofing

Homes at The Ansonia include studio to four-bedroom apartments and no two units are the same. According to Gelb, owners make up about 70 percent of the building's residents. Studios up to 550 square feet list for between $400,000 to $775,000 and one-bedrooms as large as 1,025 square feet ask up to $1.5 million. Two-bedrooms with a maximum of 1,850 square feet ask between $1.1 million to $3.2 million, and three-bedrooms up to 2,700 square feet list for up to $4.1 million. Four-bedrooms measure up to 5,700 square feet and ask about $4.9 million to $16 million. Residences retain many prewar features, including herringbone hardwood floors, crown and cove moldings, ceilings of at least 10 feet, fireplaces with ornate mantels, window seats and foyers. The oversized windows in the apartments are original and may not be altered, due to the facade's landmark status, and six courtyards maximize the number of windows and natural light in each apartment. Floor Plans may include oval bedrooms and curved walls and views may include Central Park and the Hudson River. Some apartments offer a private outdoor space such as a balcony or terrace. Newly renovated apartments include "top of the line" appliances and whenever possible, a washer and dryer. Buyers who purchase before or during a renovation may have input on selecting finishes and fixtures. Condo owners must pay an assessment through November 2034 for Local Law 11. Commercial spaces in the building include Sephora, TD Bank and a coffee shop at street level and The American Musical and Dramatic Academy is on the first floor. The Goddard School of Manhattan and Mt. Sinai medical offices are on the second floor.

A farm-turned-roof-deck and parking in a former bathhouse

The building is staffed by a full-time door attendant and concierge, a live-in super and an on-site residence manager. While the farm is gone from the rooftop, the building does have a large landscaped and furnished roof deck. Garage parking is available, and pets are permitted.

Extreme convenience in prime Upper West Side

The Ansonia is in the heart of the Upper West Side near several landmarks. Central Park is two blocks to the east, Riverside Park is two blocks to the west and the American Museum of Natural History and New-York Historical Society can be reached in 10 minutes on foot. Shopping and entertainment options nearby on Broadway include Fairway Market, Citarella, Trader Joe's and the Beacon Theatre.

Five subway lines within blocks and quick access to major routes along Manhattan’s west side

Public transit is easily accessible, with the 1, 2 and 3 trains a block away on Broadway and the B and C trains at 72nd Street and Central Park West. An entrance to the Henry Hudson Parkway along Manhattan's west side is at 72nd Street. Travel time to Newark Liberty International Airport and Laguardia Airport is about an hour.