Anatomy of a Photo: THE MIDDLE PARK

Once again it's time to examine a photograph in detail. Today's subject is a study of the Middle Park, that isthmus of a park sandwiched between two larger versions. This shot was made in 1929, before the addition of Hotel Tudor.  

A zoom-in on the South Park, which at that time had a trellis (like the North Park) along its back wall. There is also an awful lot of fencing going on. 

The water tower of Hatfield House

The entrance to The Woodstock, along with a Bishops Crook light pole for night time illumination.

This large edifice is the about-to-open Daily News building.

Finally, an atmospheric view of people waiting on the platform for the 2nd Avenue El to arrive. Ah, long ago!

REAL ESTATE REPORT: What's Your Apartment Worth?

  Recent Tudor City sale prices via Streeteasy.

Sign in No. 5 Lobby

The Cloister 

$795,000, Apt 812, two bedroom

$710,000, Apt 310, two bedroom

Essex House

$962,500, Apt 701, two bedroom

$962,000, Apt 601, two bedroom

Haddon Hall
$785,000, Apt 1101C, one bedroom
$781,000, Apt 703C, two bedroom

Hardwicke Hall
$740,000, Apt 702B, two bedroom
$325,000, Apt 303B, studio 

Hatfield House   
$335,000, Apt 408A, studio
$338,120, Apt 1103A, studio

The Hermitage 
The Hermitage is a rental-only building. Recent monthly rentals:
$6,395, Apt 805, three bedroom

$4,998, Apt 1004, two bedroom

The Manor  

$475,000, Apt 206, one bedroom

$450,000, Apt 315, one bedroom

Prospect Tower, No. 45
$550,000, Apt 707, one bedroom
$487,500, Apt 1807, one bedroom

Tudor Gardens, No. 2
$1,225,000, Apt 9HS, two bedroom

$950,o00, Apt 15ES, one bedroom

Tudor Tower, No. 25
$435,000, Apt 1205, one bedroom
$425,000, Apt 1519, one bedroom

Windsor Tower, No. 5
$475,000, Apt 1125, one bedroom
$450,000, Apt 1920, one bedroom

Woodstock Tower

$745,000, Apt PH-3206, one bedroom

$465,000, Apt 2310, one bedroom

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The entrants for a million-dollar listing include a two bedroom unit at $1,199,000 or a three bedroom spread with a terrace at $1,900,000, both of which are in No. 2. There is also a three bedroom in the Essex House for a cool $1,580,000.

And then there is this one bedroom at $1,950,000 in No. 5. Yes, it's a penthouse. And one of the least expensive ones because of its smaller size ‒ around 1,000 square feet. But it's arranged over three floors, one of which is a swell little terrace. 

PH5: Entry level main room with 18-foot-high ceiling.

PH5: Top level garden terrace.

We wrote about this same penthouse back in 2017, when it was off the market; more about it here. And its up-to-the-minute listing here from Compass.

Even More MISCELLANY

Herewith, another serving of various items, none of them worthy of a long piece, but just fine if you prefer snacking to reading. 

The title page of a 1939 booklet, featuring one artist's take on a bird's-eye view of the enclave. This was, of course, made before the tennis courts became 2 Tudor City Place in 1956.

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PARTICIPATING IN TABLEAUX 

Children of Tudor City, New York City, participated in a tableaux, "The Queen of Stratford", held under the direction of Miss Travers in the North Park of Tudor City. Little Ruth Pryor is the daughter of Arthur Pryor, son of the famous bandmaster. She took the part of the Queen while William Walker shown with her took the part of William Shakespeare.    

This publicity shot for Tudor City ‒ and Miss Travers School ‒ made by Acme in 1930, has an alternative shot on this very blog; read about it here.

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The rarely seen east side of the Fred F. French Building, a monument to Mesopotamian art deco that opened the same year ‒ 1927 ‒ as Tudor City. The figure depicts Mercury, the god of commerce.

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A mid-1930s view of Nos. 25, 45 and The Woodstock. Lining the river are United Dressed Beef Co. and Wilson & Co., part of Slaughter House Row. 

Artifact: PROMO BOOKLET, circa 1987

We have spent a considerable amount of time of late examining Tudor City's early days, so today we'd like to look at another occurrence that happened more recently, thirty-five years ago. This was the announcement that the complex was to be turned into cooperative apartments. 

There was a lot of hubbub, and a promotional booklet was produced as a free give-away. Here it is, without comment for a change.

 

H. DOUGLAS IVES in the ARCHITECTURAL FORUM

 

Today, we examine a 1930 copy of The Architectural Forum, containing an article written about Tudor City by H. Douglas Ives. Ives was the company's architect, and the highlight of his career was the Fred F. French Building of 1927 (in conjunction with architects John Sloan and T. Markoe Robertson).

What follows are four pages with illustrations from No. 5 and The Woodstock.

A sampling of Ives:

The general arrangement of one-room apartments has become more or less standardized, in that door beds, kitchenettes and interior bathrooms are common to all. . .

Exterior bathrooms are of course a little more desirable, but it is not always possible to provide them without utilizing space which might better be used for increasing the sizes of the rooms. . .

The setbacks on the upper floors [of The Woodstock], which are required under zoning laws, can be utilized as terraces and are a renting feature which appeals to many. . .

As the apartment hotel is essentially a residential building occupied by permanent tenants, some effort should be made to introduce a domestic note into the furnishings. . . where this has been done, it has been appreciated by the tenants, who are tempted to linger.

MORE WPA/NYC Tax Dept SHOTS

This week, more photos from the WPA/NYC Tax Department's quest to photograph every building in the five boroughs for reasons unknown. Today's series is places inherent to Tudor City history.

The Church of the Covenant

We begin with this 1870 church, which has been through countless renovations over the century. The most significant change ‒ dropping the entrance a story to accommodate the widening of 42nd Street ‒ was a decade away. 

Hospital for the Ruptured and Crippled

In place prior to Tudor City's arrival, the hospital would endure until it was razed and reborn as the Ford Foundation in 1968. 

Rowhouses, north side of 42nd Street

The view of the rowhouses is accompanied by a work in progress: something is being done by the Consolidated Edison Company of New York.   

Rowhouses, south side of 42nd Street

Soaring above this street view, No. 25 in all its glory.  

Prospect Hill Apartments and 337 E. 41st Street

Two properties that preceded Tudor City, they were declared landmarks given their placement in the heart of the community.

The end of 42nd Street

Finally, 42nd Street comes to an abrupt end in this picture. Still, the Bishops Crook lamppost suggests better times ahead.

SIGNS

Some 1940 photos recently came our way, a collaboration of the Works Progress Administration and the New York City Tax Department to compile a photographic record of all the buildings of the five boroughs. 

Looking at the neighborhood around Tudor City, we spotted TUDOR LUNCH. It brought to mind a past post about businesses that trade off the name ‒ like TUDOR HAIRDRESSING ‒ yet have no official affiliation with the complex. Here are the latest examples:

The first occurs near the corner of 43rd and 2nd. TUDOR LUNCH, it reads, plain and simple. 

In fact, there were two of them, the other one on 44th and 1st, TUDOR LUNCH BAR. This one also offered cocktails.

One also couldn't exclude traveling vehicles, as seen below: TUDOR CITY PAINT SUPPLY CO had an office on Second Avenue. 

Then there was the case of Haddon Hall Cigars, sitting on a corner of 44th and 2nd, while Haddon Hall, the Tudor City apartment house, lies three blocks away. Coincidence? Who knows? 

Finally, a sign of the French Company's design, HOTEL TUDOR with an arrow, below. This corner of 42nd and 1st was also home to the MURRAY HILL DINER, which "never closes."