299 West 12th Street
Encyclopedia
299 West 12th Street is a landmarked residential building facing south onto Abingdon Square Park
in the Greenwich Village Historic District on the west side of lower Manhattan
in New York City
.
It was built by the developer brothers Bing & Bing
and noted architect Emery Roth
whose other work includes The Beresford
and The Eldorado
.
The building was granted an occupancy license on July 30, 1931, opening initially as an "apartment hotel" with a kitchen on the ground floor.
It houses 183 condominium apartments.
Bing and Bing also used Roth to design 59 West 12th Street
They worked with the architectural firm of Boak and Paris on both 302 West 12th Street
and 45 Christopher Street
.
And they chose to work with architect Robert T. Lyons
on 2 Horatio Street
.
. And the lots would be combined to allow for a set of larger-scale, 17-story apartment buildings.
He said his goal was to "recreate the entire district as a modern counterpart of the high-class residential section it once was" saying it would "rival Central Park West and the fashionable east side within a few years." He cited the goal of neighborhood reinvention as the reason for the simultaneous building, saying his hope was that "complete transformation of the section may be achieved as quickly as possible.”
Also, in more practical terms, he mentioned the "imminent" IND Eighth Avenue Line
, and recent completion of the West Side Elevated Highway
and even the Holland Tunnel
as increasing accessibility to—and demand for—the area.
Despite the start of the Great Depression just months after Leo Bing's announcement, by September 1931 Bing & Bing reported that the "five new buildings on Christopher, Horatio and West Twelfth Streets are proving among the most popular of all the Bing & Bing apartment properties. Callers have been numerous…and a high percentage of the space has been leased.”
Abingdon Square Park
Abingdon Square Park is located in the New York City borough of Manhattan in Greenwich Village. The park is bordered by Eighth Avenue, Bank Street, Hudson Street and West 12th Street....
in the Greenwich Village Historic District on the west side of lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
It was built by the developer brothers Bing & Bing
Bing & Bing
Bing & Bing was one of the most important apartment real estate developers in New York City in the early 20th century.The firm was founded by Leo S. Bing and his brother, Alexander M. Bing...
and noted architect Emery Roth
Emery Roth
Emery Roth was an American architect who designed many of the definitive New York City hotels and apartment buildings of the 1920s and 30s, incorporating Beaux-Arts and Art Deco details...
whose other work includes The Beresford
The Beresford
The Beresford, at 211 Central Park West, between 81st and 82nd Streets, is an upscale, 23-floor apartment building in New York City. The architect, Emery Roth, was famous for building luxury apartments and hotels throughout the city...
and The Eldorado
The Eldorado
The Eldorado at 300 Central Park West, on the Upper West Side of New York City, is the northernmost of four twin-towered luxury housing cooperatives that face the west side of Central Park...
.
The building was granted an occupancy license on July 30, 1931, opening initially as an "apartment hotel" with a kitchen on the ground floor.
It houses 183 condominium apartments.
One of five buildings
It was part of a simultaneous development of five buildings in the area.Bing and Bing also used Roth to design 59 West 12th Street
59 West 12th Street
59 West 12th Street is a landmarked residential building located in the Greenwich Village Historic District in lower Manhattan in New York City....
They worked with the architectural firm of Boak and Paris on both 302 West 12th Street
302 West 12th Street
302 West 12th Street is a landmarked residential building facing west onto Abingdon Square Park in the Greenwich Village Historic District[1] on the west side of lower Manhattan in New York City....
and 45 Christopher Street
45 Christopher Street
45 Christopher Street is a landmarked residential building facing south onto Christopher Park in the Greenwich Village Historic District[1] on the west side of lower Manhattan in New York City....
.
And they chose to work with architect Robert T. Lyons
Robert T. Lyons
- Architect Robert T. Lyons :Robert Timothy Lyons was born in New York on February 23, 1873.Emporis, the global real estate data and photo publishing firm, identifies 29 of Mr. Lyons' buildings in New York City in some detail -- built largely between 1891 and 1931 . They are virtually all hotels...
on 2 Horatio Street
2 Horatio Street
2 Horatio Street is a landmarked residential building located in the Greenwich Village Historic District on the west side of lower Manhattan in New York City.It faces north onto Horatio Street and Jackson Square Park...
.
To rival Central Park West and "fashionable east side"
Leo Bing, announced on April 1, 1929 that his firm had quietly acquired 75 small lots and old buildings largely around Abingdon Square, Sheridan Square and Jackson Square ParkJackson Square Park
Jackson Square Park is a .227 acre New York City Park located in the Greenwich Village Historic District just below the intersection of Eighth Avenue and 14th Street...
. And the lots would be combined to allow for a set of larger-scale, 17-story apartment buildings.
He said his goal was to "recreate the entire district as a modern counterpart of the high-class residential section it once was" saying it would "rival Central Park West and the fashionable east side within a few years." He cited the goal of neighborhood reinvention as the reason for the simultaneous building, saying his hope was that "complete transformation of the section may be achieved as quickly as possible.”
Also, in more practical terms, he mentioned the "imminent" IND Eighth Avenue Line
IND Eighth Avenue Line
The Eighth Avenue Line is a rapid transit line in New York City, United States, and is part of the B Division of the New York City Subway...
, and recent completion of the West Side Elevated Highway
West Side Elevated Highway
The West Side Elevated Highway was an elevated section of Route NY-9A running along the Hudson River in the New York City borough of Manhattan to the tip of the island.It was an elevated highway, one of the first urban freeways in the world, and served as a...
and even the Holland Tunnel
Holland Tunnel
The Holland Tunnel is a highway tunnel under the Hudson River connecting the island of Manhattan in New York City with Jersey City, New Jersey at Interstate 78 on the mainland. Unusual for an American public works project, it is not named for a government official, politician, or local hero or...
as increasing accessibility to—and demand for—the area.
Despite the start of the Great Depression just months after Leo Bing's announcement, by September 1931 Bing & Bing reported that the "five new buildings on Christopher, Horatio and West Twelfth Streets are proving among the most popular of all the Bing & Bing apartment properties. Callers have been numerous…and a high percentage of the space has been leased.”