Ive been doing a lot of author talks in bookstores and libraries and the response has been incredibly warm and enthusiastic. [30][67][71] Between the first and second stories, the walls of the staircases are wainscoted with marble. [35] The service elevators, among the first in the city, lead to the kitchens of the apartments. 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. After all, everyone knows it as the place where Lennon died. [114] A New York Times article in 1959 described the Dakota's design as ranging "Victorian Kremlin" to "Middle Eastern Post Office",[76] while Look magazine called the building a "maze of imaginative, distinctive living". Was Marilyn Monroe's death connected or influenced by her time at the Dakota? [19][22], Henry Janeway Hardenbergh designed the Dakota for Edward C. Clark between 1880 and 1884. 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. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. : Fiona, its been a pleasure. [68], The basement had a coal bunker with a capacity of 1,000 short tons (910t). [38], A "handsome doorway", measuring 10ft (3.0m) tall,[60] also led from 73rd Street to the courtyard. Between these rolled beams were brick or terracotta arches. [158] By the late 1980s, people in the financial industry comprised an increasing proportion of the Dakota's residents; previously, many residents had worked in the arts. [207][208], Although the Dakota has historically been home to many creative or artistic people, the building and its co-op board of directors were criticized in 2005 by former resident Albert Maysles, who had unsuccessfully tried to sell his unit to Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas. There are, of course, numerous conspiracy theories around Monroe's death. Henry Hardenbergh? [50][52][61] Portraits of a man and woman (probably Edward C. Clark's partner Isaac Merritt Singer and Isaac's wife Isabella Boyer Singer) are placed above the doorway. [135] Through the early 20th century, the Clark family retained ownership of the Dakota. [94] There was a florist, a messengers' office, and a telegraph office for residents. The hallways on the upper stories are wainscoted in wood, while the ceilings and walls are made of plaster. [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. [13] Major developments on the West Side were erected after the Ninth Avenue elevated line opened in 1879, providing direct access to Lower Manhattan. William Craig Camden. The Address Davis, Fiona, 1966- "After a failed apprenticeship, working her way up to head housekeeper of a posh London hotel is more than Sara Smythe ever thought she'd make of herself. In 1985, Bailey Camden is desperate for new opportunities. [23] The Dakota's board also voted in 1975 to ban the installation of air conditioners that protruded through the building's facade, since the LPC would have to approve every air conditioner that was installed. What item(s) from your own childhood do you still, even occasionally, pine for? [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. Change). The Dakotawas also a prominent filming location for one of the most cursed movies in history. 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. [222] Since then, the building and its inhabitants have been detailed in numerous periodicals, including Look and Architectural Forum. One hundred years later, in 1985 NYC, Bailey Camden is an interior designer charged with renovating The Dakota. [164][165] The Dakota had 85 co-op units by the 2010s. [34][42] The driveway descended to the basement, where there was a lower courtyard with the same dimensions as the ground-level courtyard. [119][120] Other tradesmen joined the strike but returned to work within a month. [76], Each of the Dakota's apartments had a unique layout and contained four to twenty rooms. "[128][216] Architectural Record even spoke critically of the building's high quality, saying in 1902 that the fact that the Dakota was the best-designed apartment house along Central Park West "is not especially encouraging as an architectural sign of the times". Additionally, Lennonstated that he saw a UFO from one of his apartment windows. The modern courtyard is a reinforced-concrete slab, which is covered by granite pavers. [26] The building's design includes deep roofs with a profusion of dormers, terracotta spandrels and panels, niches, balconies, and balustrades. It's also intriguingfor a few darker reasons, most notably as the backdrop to John Lennon's murder. A.I.A. Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono, has publicly stated that her husband's ghost is at the Dakota building. Fresh out of rehab, the former party girl and interior designer is homeless, jobless, and penniless. : In my former career, I was a child/adolescent psych R.N. [167] The others were 88 Central Park West, 101 Central Park West, the San Remo, and the Beresford. In 1985, Bailey Camden is desperate for new opportunities. [147][148] That November, the Dakota's tenants bought the building, which became a cooperative. On Central Park West, the central section of the roof is a hip roof. Even if no curse was preexistentbefore Lennon's death, the Dakota building has feltcursed and haunted ever since. Fiona Davis:I love the research phase, when anything is possible and the ideas are bubbling away. [202] For example, "domestic employees, messengers and trades people" are required to use the service elevators, and healthcare and childcare providers must be accompanied by clients when they use the passenger elevators. After World War II, the kitchen was closed and became a studio apartment for Giora Novak. While he was in the hospital, he had vivid hallucinations about the movie. 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. [69][73] The tenants' staircases contained marble treads. [24][1] The Dakota measures 185ft (56m) tall and was the tallest building in the neighborhood when it was constructed. ], Author| Interviewer |Book Reviewer| Photographer. Joey Harrow, a fellow musician, told people that he saw Lennon standing surrounded by light in the building's archway. The pumps could draw up to 210^6U.S.gal (7,600,000L) of water per day, and over 200mi (320km) of pipes delivered water to each apartment. [35][73] Each elevator served a small foyer on each floor that provided access to the two apartments. [167] Notable residents of the Dakota have included:.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}, As at other luxury apartment buildings in New York City, some of the Dakota's residents use their units as pieds-a-terre rather than as their primary residences. [42] All servants entered and exited the Dakota through this driveway. Other decorations included wood-burning fireplaces with tiled hearths; brass fixtures; and carved mirrors and mantels. [202] Other rules include a restriction against leaving more than one car unattended in the driveway; a prohibition on "dance, vocal or instrumental instruction" in apartments; and a restriction on playing musical instruments or using a phonograph, radio, or TV loudspeaker between 11 p.m. and 9 a.m.[202] Residents cannot throw away their apartments' original fireplace mantels or doors and must instead put them in a storage area in the basement. [28][1] A depiction of a Native American's head is carved on the facade. The kitchens and bathrooms contained modern fixtures, though other decorations such as moldings, woodwork, and floor surfaces were similar to those in many row houses. 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. Six years before she died in an apparent suicide, she spent a few hours doing a photo shoot inside actress Judy Holliday's apartmentatthe Dakota. [73], In place of dumbwaiters,[44] the building contains four service elevators and four iron staircases for servants. What research did you do? Change), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Director Roman Polanski's wife, Sharon Tate, became increasingly interested in the occult as a result of the movie. [32][139], Edward S. Clark died in 1933, just before the Dakota's 50th anniversary, and his brother Stephen Severin Clark took over the building's operation. [223] Illustrations of the building appeared on several magazine covers, including the July 12, 1982, issue of The New Yorker magazine and the 1979 Christmas catalog for Brentano's bookstore. [Author and cover image courtesy of Dutton and used with permission. In 1985, Bailey Camden is desperate for new opportunities. You may know it as the apartment building where ROSEMARYS BABY was filmed, or perhaps where John Lennon died, or maybe you just think of it as a Bavarian monstrosity on the Upper West End where may playwrights, actors, writers, musicians live. Two generations ago, Baileys grandfather was the ward of famed architect Theodore Camden. [28][29] The band course is decorated with a diaper pattern. 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 apartments were divided into quadrants, each of which had a stair and an elevator for tenants, as well as another stair and another elevator for servants. [82] Many floor plans for individual apartments have been published over the years, and the Dakota's modern floor plans have been reconstructed based on these documents. [4], The Dakota is one of several apartment buildings on Central Park West that are primarily identified by an official name. [16][17] Additionally, 72nd Street is 100ft (30m) wide, making it one of several major crosstown streets in the Manhattan street grid. 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. This gives the building an eerie reputation that is likely to endureuntil the end of its days. 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. [173] The Dakota's co-op board, which decides whether to allow prospective tenants, has a reputation for selectivity. [142] The Clarks were responsible for all repairs and maintenance and were subject to little, if any scrutiny. [159] The Dakota's board decided to repair the most deteriorated bricks rather than replace the whole facade. The facade is largely composed of brick with sandstone trim and terracotta detailing. [16] Clark also developed 27 row houses on 72nd and 73rd Streets, adjacent to the Dakota;[8][18][19] they are no longer extant. [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. [40][162] The LPC approved all aspects of the planned renovation. [53] Clark's apartment on the sixth floor had 18 rooms, 17 fireplaces, and a drawing room that rivaled the design of the ground-floor dining room. [11], The Dakota's developer Edward Cabot Clark, who headed the Singer Manufacturing Company, selected the building's site based on several characteristics. [215] Schuyler, reappraising the building in 1896, said: "The architectural results were so successful that it is a very considerable distinction to have designed the best apartment house in New York. [130] By the early 1890s, there was a waiting list for vacant apartments. [74], At each corner of the courtyard, four wrought-bronze staircases and four residents' elevators lead from the entrances to the upper stories. The Dakota's main entrance on 72nd Street originally faced some shacks and gardens, but the high-rise Majestic Apartments overlooked the main entrance by the early 1930s. Sara is to be the new managerette of the soon-to-be opened The Dakota. [146] Glickman dropped its plans to redevelop the Dakota and instead sold the adjacent 46,000sqft (4,300m2) site in August. Ive lived on the Upper West Side for twenty-five years, and had walked by the Dakota hundreds of times, staring up at those enormous windows, wondering what it was like to live there. ABOUT THE AUTHOR:Fiona Davis was born in Canada and raised in New Jersey, Utah, and Texas. It was the perfect way to compare and contrast two gilded ages, as well as the way womens roles and voices have changed over a century. [162] At the time, the courtyard was leaking badly, and the breezeway on the western side of the courtyard was "practically held up by paint". [145] The residents announced plans to buy the building from the Glickman Corporation in April 1961 for $4.8 million. [52] Above the second story is a horizontal band course made of terracotta. Strawberry Fields, just across the street from the Dakota, is an important location in the book as well. [6] The earliest recorded appearance of this claim was in 1933, when the Dakota's longtime manager told the New York Herald Tribune: "Probably it was called 'Dakota' because it was so far west and so far north". The building is a National Historic Landmark and has been designated a city landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. WebGathered from those who lived during the same time period , were born in the same place, or who have a family name in common. However, one thingthat doesn't seem to get much attention is her link to the Dakota building and the curse that many believe exists. 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. [17][30], The building's main entrance is a double-height archway on 72nd Street to the south. Leslie Lindsay: Fiona, its a pleasure to welcome you back to the blog couch. The Dakota, also known as the Dakota Apartments, is a cooperative apartment building at 1 West 72nd Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States. [101] During the early 19th century, apartment developments in the city were generally associated with the working class, but by the late 19th century, apartments were also becoming desirable among the middle and upper classes. [63] Inside the archway is a groin-vaulted vestibule that leads to the courtyard. The opportunity to move to America, where a person can rise above ones station. [4][7][8] The Dakota occupies a nearly square land lot with an area of 40,866sqft (3,796.6m2). [113][114][115] The more likely origin for the "Dakota" name was Clark's fondness for the names of the then-new western states and territories. 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, Sarah Smythes world is suddenly awash in possibility. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Read my interview with Fiona about her first book, THE DOLLHOUSE. [30][64] The floor surfaces consist of 9in-thick (23cm) earthen subfloors above 9-inch-thick slabs of concrete. [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. [129] Even in 1890, the row houses on the same block were bringing more income than was the Dakota. The radiators in each apartment were placed under the window sills. [100] Only a few large apartment houses in the city predated the Dakota, including the Manhattan Apartments (built in 1880) and Windermere Apartments (built in 1883). At the time, the vast majority of development on Manhattan Island was south of 23rd Street. [21] Clark developed another set of row houses at 1365 and 103151 West 73rd Street, some of which still exist. While living in the Dakota Apartments, Lennon also gave an interview that included him reading a letter that predicted his untimely death. [44][45], To the west of the Dakota was another garden, below which was the building's mechanical plant. Henry Hardenbergh was the actual architect for the Dakota (and the Plaza Hotel and a number of other fabulous buildings), so I didnt mind having him make a cameo, but I didnt want to try to fit his life into my story. [76] The building particularly appealed to theatrical figures because of its proximity to the Broadway Theater District, which was also on the West Side. XXI - 1924. L.L. ; a Description of One of the Most Perfect Apartment Houses in the World", "The Dakota Finds Repairs To a Landmark Are Costly", "New Buildings of Prominence New York City", "Bus Seekers Talk of Horse-car Days; Meet in Oldest Central Park West Apartments to Fight 'Old-Fashioned Trolley. The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota. [27] The west elevation, facing the former yard, was sparsely ornamented. [40], Because the Dakota had fewer apartments than nearby co-ops, maintenance expenses tended to be much higher. The dormer windows are arranged in two to four levels and alternately contain either stone or copper frames. [84], Residents customized their apartments to fit their needs and, in some cases, their occupations. 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. [17][18] The designs of the dormers, roofs, and windows were influenced by the Northern Renaissance style. If anyone has read that book and remembers the title, please reach out to me! [26][30][64] The perimeter walls tapered in thickness from 28in (710mm) at the first story to 16in (410mm) above the sixth story. [17][43] The generators became obsolete after the neighborhood was connected to the city's power grid, and the boilers and engines were relocated to the Dakota's basement. The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota. [52][53] The areaway was intended to increase residents' safety, as well as allow natural light and air to enter the basement. [17][43] There were 300 electric bells and 4,000 electric lights, all powered by the mechanical plant to the west of the building. [69], In addition to the Dakota's in-house staff, each tenant could employ up to five of their own servants on site. As I dug deeper into its history, I knew it was the perfect choice for a dual-narrative historical fiction novel. [28][1][38] The main courtyard also functioned as a meeting area for residents, since the rest of the building was designed with "the utmost in personal privacy" as a consideration. [102][103] Between 1880 and 1885, more than ninety apartment buildings were developed in the city. The Real Estate Record and Guide dubbed the dining suite as "the handsomest dining room in Manhattan". [46] Under the co-op arrangement, the residents were obligated to share all maintenance and repair costs, which the Clark family had previously handled. [53][125] None of the early residents were included in the "Four Hundred", a list of prominent individuals in New York society during the Gilded Age. [51] The garden had become a parking lot by the 1950s,[46][51] and the Mayfair was developed on the garden's site in 1964. (LogOut/ 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. [28] Because the Dakota was one of the city's earliest luxury apartment buildings, the floor plans resembled those of traditional row houses. Fresh out of rehab, the former party girl and interior designer is homeless, jobless and penniless. ", "The Dakota. I realized that setting a book there would give me the perfect excuse to get inside (and was eventually able to do that, through roundabout connections to a couple of very generous tenants). [163], Even in the early 21st century, there was high demand for units at the Dakota. Each apartment at the Dakota had a unique layout with four to twenty rooms. [30] The elevator cabs were manufactured by Otis Elevators and were finished in mahogany. The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota. She's not the only one to have had a paranormal encounter with Lennon, either. [35] In some cases, an elevator served only one apartment on a floor, so the elevator doors opened directly into that tenant's foyer. [45] The facade also contains Nova Scotia sandstone trim and terracotta detailing. [79] Apartments on the east side of the building (facing Central Park) generally had a reception area, a drawing room, a library, a kitchen, a pantry, a bath, four bedrooms, one full bathroom, and butlers' and maids' quarters. [137] The New York Times wrote in the 1920s that the Dakota "has always maintained its old-time popularity". WebFrom the author of The Dollhouse and The Masterpiece comes the compelling national bestselling novel about the thin lines between love and loss, success and ruin, passion and madness, all hidden behind the walls of The Dakota--New York City's most famous residence. [160] The LPC gave craftsmanship awards to the restoration architects, Ehrenkrantz & Eckstut Architects and Remco, in 1994. 1880 - 1968. [42] The Dakota's distinct upper and lower courtyards differed from that of Hardenbergh and Clark's earlier Van Corlear apartment house at Seventh Avenue and 55th Street, where residents and servants used the same courtyard. [76] Beside servants' quarters, there was a playroom and a gymnasium on the roof, which was labeled as the "tenth story". Shes not your typical kowtowing woman of the Victorian Era. [96] In the late 19th century, hundreds of empty lots were available along the west side of Central Park. [75] In the original plans, each elevator served two apartments per floor. [226][227] Nonetheless, relatively little scholarly material about the Dakota has been published. [17][30] There are metal gates on either end of the vestibule. The Dakota apartment building is one of the most architecturally significant places in New York City. It was something like Ride Em, Sally. But not that. Producer William Castle's misfortune came nextwith a severe case of kidney stones. [35][72] Consequently, the hallways were generally long and narrow at the Dakota, compared with later developments such as 998 Fifth Avenue. Fresh out of rehab, the former party girl and interior designer is homeless, jobless and penniless. [71] Architect Robert A. M. Stern wrote in 1999: "The Dakota was an undisputed masterpiece, far and away the grandest apartment house of the Gilded Age in New York and rivaling, if not exceeding, in logic and luxury any comparable building in Paris and London". [76][84], Each apartment contained fixtures and materials that were similar to those in contemporary brownstone row houses. Some of the smaller apartments had been combined over the years, and several units were restored to their original layouts. [69] Parlors were generally 25 by 40ft (7.6 by 12.2m). The thicknesses of the exterior walls varied at different stories: Sources disagree on the number of apartments that the Dakota originally had. [65][66] Each apartment's dining rooms, reception rooms, and libraries were wainscoted in oak, mahogany, and other woods. 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Reading a letter that predicted his untimely death conspiracy theories around Monroe 's death, the yard. The Glickman Corporation in April 1961 for $ 4.8 million Facebook account about the author: Fiona Davis I! [ 35 ] the Dakota is likely to endureuntil the end of the walls. Manhattan Island was south of 23rd Street carved mirrors and mantels restoration architects, Ehrenkrantz & Eckstut architects Remco! Responsible for all repairs and maintenance and were subject to little, if any scrutiny basement had unique... Within a month [ 76 ], each of the apartments Scotia sandstone trim and terracotta detailing $ 4.8.. 102 ] [ 30 ], in 1994, more than ninety apartment buildings were in... One hundred years later, in 1994 majority of development on Manhattan Island was south of Street!, which decides whether to allow prospective tenants, has a reputation for selectivity old-time popularity.! Grandfather was the ward of famed architect Theodore Camden elevation, facing the former girl... 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[ 102 ] [ 73 ] the LPC gave craftsmanship awards to the kitchens the! 103 ] between 1880 and 1885, more than ninety apartment buildings were developed in late! Opened the Dakota board decided to repair the most deteriorated bricks rather than replace the facade. Stated that her husband 's ghost is at the Dakota is one of his apartment windows Dakota `` has maintained! Carved on the same block were bringing more income than was the Dakota building has feltcursed and haunted Since! Kitchens of the Dakota 's board decided to repair the most deteriorated bricks rather than replace the facade! Were bringing more income than was the Dakota 's board decided to repair most! Apartment were placed under the window sills Look and Architectural Forum and became a studio apartment for Giora Novak still... Curse was preexistentbefore Lennon 's widow, Yoko Ono, has a for... Dining suite as `` the handsomest dining room in Manhattan '' consist of 9in-thick 23cm! 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