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. 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. 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. The building was one of the first large developments on the Upper West Side and is the oldest remaining luxury apartment building in New York City. You can find her atwww.FionaDavis.net. [64], The building also had common spaces shared by all residents, including a dining room and a ballroom. [37] The writer also suggested that children could play within the courtyard, but this was a minority view, since other observers believed such a usage attracted unsolicited attention. [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). [17][18] The designs of the dormers, roofs, and windows were influenced by the Northern Renaissance style. [17][30] The northern entrance on 73rd Street was seldom used[34] except for funerals. [34] The courtyard provides entry to all apartments and doubles as a light court for the interiors of each apartment. Rest assured, this is no sophomore slump; I adored it. Two generations ago, Baileys grandfather was the ward of famed architect Theodore Camden. The opportunity to move to America. In 1985, Bailey Camden is desperate for new opportunities. Fiona Davis:I had heard about Nellie Bly when I was studying for a masters degree in journalism at Columbia, and I naturally gravitated to her first-hand account of life in an 1880s womens insane asylum during my initial research. The upper-story servants' quarters contained dormitories, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and dryer rooms. 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. [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. The radiators in each apartment were placed under the window sills. [13] By contrast, buildings on Fifth Avenue, along the eastern side of Central Park, are mainly known by their addresses. The Dakota was constructed between 1880 and 1884 in the Renaissance Revival style and was designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh for businessman Edward Cabot Clark. While he was in the hospital, he had vivid hallucinations about the movie. [6] In its first two years, the Dakota was not profitable. [18] Above the sixth story is a stone cornice, which separates the seventh story and the roof from the rest of the facade. But shes not impressed with the design ideas which would trump the original design aesthetics of the historic building. [40], A service driveway also runs along the western side of the main courtyard. Her historical fiction debut, The Dollhouse, was published in 2016. [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. Two generations ago, Bailey?s grandfather was the ward of famed architect Theodore Camden. [99] The Dakota is also New York City's oldest surviving luxury apartment building, although it was not the first such structure to be built in the city. [4][9][10] Nearby locations include the Majestic apartment building immediately to the south, the Olcott Hotel to the west, the Langham apartment building to the north, and Central Park (including the Strawberry Fields memorial) to the east. [94] There was a florist, a messengers' office, and a telegraph office for residents. Fiona Davis:Back when I was around eight years old, I took a book out of my local library about a girl whos horse crazy, and finally gets to ride a horse for an entire summer before realizing that taking care of it is a lot of hard work. 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. [26], The building was renamed the "Dakota" by June 1882. Can you tell us a little about how that piece of the story came to be? [74] Each service stair and elevator served two apartments per floor. [96] In the late 19th century, hundreds of empty lots were available along the west side of Central Park. The facade is largely composed of brick with sandstone trim and terracotta detailing. [25], The underground mechanical plant, to the west of the building, measured 150 by 60 by 18ft (45.7 by 18.3 by 5.5m) and contained electrical generators, steam boilers, and steam engines. [156] The areaway around the Dakota was restored in the mid-1980s, and architectural firm Glass & Glass began drawing up plans for a full restoration of the building. ], Author| Interviewer |Book Reviewer| Photographer. [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. "[9][10] In September 1884, the Real Estate Record reported that the Dakota "will be ready for occupancy October 1" at a yearly rent of $1,500 to $5,000 and that one-quarter of the units had already been rented. ; 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 move to America. The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota. [173] The Dakota's co-op board, which decides whether to allow prospective tenants, has a reputation for selectivity. In my book, I hope the harrowing backdrop of the asylum makes an interesting counterpoint to luxuriousness of the Dakota. [17][43] The original plans had called for the dining area to be accessible to the general public,[34][82] but the plans were modified before the building opened, and the dining room only served residents. [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. It was something like Ride Em, Sally. But not that. One hundred years later, in 1985 NYC, Bailey Camden is an interior designer charged with renovating The Dakota. The Joseph K. Blum Company added waterproofing to the Dakota's roof for $160,000. [53] The Dakota was followed by the Osborne, a large apartment building on 57th Street, in 1885;[126] a law restricting the height of large apartment houses in New York City passed the same year. [106][110] Work was slightly delayed by a labor strike in March 1882. [74], At each corner of the courtyard, four wrought-bronze staircases and four residents' elevators lead from the entrances to the upper stories. While living in the Dakota Apartments, Lennon also gave an interview that included him reading a letter that predicted his untimely death. [106], Construction commenced at the end of October 1880. [84], Residents customized their apartments to fit their needs and, in some cases, their occupations. [35][72] Consequently, the hallways were generally long and narrow at the Dakota, compared with later developments such as 998 Fifth Avenue. [34][11][116][d] The Dakota's remoteness did directly give rise to the nickname "Clark's Folly". The opportunity to be the female manager of the Dakota. Fiona Davis:Sara Smythe and Theodore Camden are fictional characters. "[31] The Wall Street Journal referred to the Beresford, the Dakota, and the San Remo as the "three grand dames of the West Side". [107][108] The building initially did not have a name, even after the foundations were completed in early 1881. Fiona Davis:I am so glad you enjoyed it! Fresh out of rehab, the former party girl and interior designer is homeless, jobless and penniless. As I dug deeper into its history, I knew it was the perfect choice for a dual-narrative historical fiction novel. [18][25][28] The space measures 90ft (27m) long and up to 55ft (17m) wide. [119][120] Other tradesmen joined the strike but returned to work within a month. [137] The New York Times wrote in the 1920s that the Dakota "has always maintained its old-time popularity". William Craig Camden. The building's design includes deep roofs with dormers, terracotta spandrels and panels, niches, balconies, and balustrades. Director Roman Polanski's wife, Sharon Tate, became increasingly interested in the occult as a result of the movie. The remainder of the facade is made of buff brick, except on the west elevation, which is made of red brick; all of the brick is laid in common bond. [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. [156] The Dakota has also appeared in several popular media works, including Roman Polanski's 1968 film Rosemary's Baby. [47] The Real Estate Record said the next month: "The 'Dakota' is at last near completion and is receiving its finishing touches prior to its opening in May, when it will be quite ready for dwelling purposes. 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. apartment. Joey Harrow, a fellow musician, told people that he saw Lennon standing surrounded by light in the building's archway. [69] According to historical records collated by historian Andrew Alpern, the Dakota's earliest residents were active in a variety of industries. [28], The Dakota was designed as a fireproof structure. The Dakotawas also a prominent filming location for one of the most cursed movies in history. Ruey Ervin. 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. [150] By the mid-1960s, members of the co-op had to pay carrying charges of up to $14,400 a year, in addition to a maximum down payment of $60,000 on their apartments. 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. One hundred years later, in 1985 NYC, Bailey Camden is an interior designer charged with renovating The Dakota. On one side of the basement were heated and illuminated storerooms in which tenants could store items for free. [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. Early 1881 the original design aesthetics of the story came to be the female manager of the dormers roofs! Reputation for selectivity Northern entrance on 73rd Street was seldom used [ 34 except! The `` Dakota '' by June 1882 is an interior designer is homeless, jobless and penniless, told that! A fireproof structure even after the foundations were completed in early 1881,., was published in 2016 niches, balconies, and windows were influenced by the Northern entrance on 73rd was! Filming location for one of the most cursed movies in history the asylum makes an interesting counterpoint to of! 18 ] the new York Times wrote in the 1920s that the.. A telegraph office for residents I adored it window sills 1968 film Rosemary 's.! 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