Real Estate
The coveted London Terrace half-Olympic-size swimming pool.
London Terrace: Charming — and that pool!
BY MARTHA WILKIE
You’ve probably walked by London
Terrace, a massive complex
of 1,700 rental and co-op apartments
in West Chelsea that takes up an
entire city block. Those in the know
understand it’s actually two entities that
are managed separately: London Terrace
Towers (co-ops) and London Terrace
Gardens (rentals).
Construction began in 1929 and the
complex once boasted not only porters
and doormen, but a bevy of hired help,
including nursemaids and pageboys
— which you can see today in charming
vintage fi lms on the complex’s Facebook
page. It was, briefl y, the largest apartment
building in the world.
Bruce Wayne Solomon is an agent
with Douglas Elliman and the unoffi cial
“mayor” of London Terrace. He’s lived
in four apartments there and brokered
sales and rentals in the buildings for
more than 20 years.
“It’s been my pleasure to welcome almost
half of the current residents,” he
said. “We all boast about the half-Olympic
sized indoor heated pool that I call
the ‘crown jewel’ of the building.”
A resident told me, “I’m often the only
person swimming in the pool. I do swan
dives and languorous laps and feel like a
glamorous 1930s movie star.”
The complex has always been popular
with the creative set and was home
to such notables as Debbie Harry, John
O’Hara and Susan Sontag.
“London Terrace is fi lled with some
of the nicest, smartest and most creative
residents — from actors to neurosurgeons,”
Solomon said. “It’s the West
Chelsea version of The Dakota.”
Along with the spectacular pool, amenities
include steam rooms and saunas, a
gym, a landscaped, furnished roof deck
with stunning views, 24-hour attended
lobbies, and parking (additional fees apply
for some). Pets are welcome. Streetlevel
retail offers convenient shopping,
plus a post offi ce. However, the days
of ringing for a telegraph boy are sadly
long gone.
A sunny fi fth-fl oor studio co-op with
charming views of 19th-century townhouses
across the street has an elegant
foyer, dressing room and bed alcove.
465 W. 23rd St, Apt. 5I. $625,000. (Elliman.
com/new-york-city/465-west-23-
street-5i-manhattan-kiddbrv)
A 15th-fl oor alcove studio co-op offers
Empire State Building views and
lovely paneled walls. Heat, hot water,
gas and electricity are included in the
maintenance. 410 W. 24th St, Apt. 15D.
$495,000.
(Elliman.com/new-york-city/410-
west-24-street-15d-manhattan-ooopeyx)
This studio co-op has 9-foot beamed
ceilings, a dressing room, oak fl ooring
and original steel-frame doorways.
$555,000.
(Elliman.com/new-york-city/465-
west-23-street-12k-manhattan-ukvewlj)
A rental studio has beamed ceilings,
a charming black-and-white bathroom
with a vintage look, a dressing room and
a sweet little kitchen. $3,000.
(Compass.com/listing/405-west-
23rd-street-unit-3c-manhattan-ny-
10011/208576906637892513/)
A classic black-and-white tiled bathroom comes with this studio at 405
W. 23rd St.
30 May 16 - May 29, 2019 DEX Schneps Media
/410-
/465-
/405-west-