Life at the Dakota: New York's Most Unusual Address

Everything you'd ever want to know about The Dakota - everything! Including the history, construction, people involved, even the financing. This is a truly fascinating, well-written account of a glorious building.

The Dakota, an apartment building constructed at high cost on the West Side of Central Park in New York City in the late 1880's. Most people are familiar with the outside of the Dakota since it served as the signature residence for the movie Rosemary's Baby. But it was far more.Widely entertaining for the most part as the author talks of the extravagant decorations, the wide variety in apartment sizes - rooms ranged from just a couple to over a dozen. One entire floor was set aside for the owner, Edward Clark, who never lived in the apartment, nor did his son. The two upper floors were set aside for the servants of residents. Some were found still living in their small apartments years after their employer had left the Dakota - usually through the Graveyard Door.The hallways are labyrinthian as the original residents were able to make demands of the architect to puzzle the apartments into the floors - if the residents didn't move the walls within their apratments themselves - which yielded some dead, hidden areas that are only to the most intrepid explorers - if they can get into the building. There was a gymnasium, dining room available for the residents to eat together, tennis courts, central heating, collected rain water that helped run the hydraulic elevators, rich wood and marble flooring and much, much more.Residents include several renowned entrepreneurs through the decades as well as noted actors from the early years of film and Broadway. Noted artists like Roberta Flack and John Lennon. In the years before the Dakota went co-op, there was no need for advertising when an apartment was open - other residents knew someone who would be perfect for the village within their walls and would drop a word in their ears.In the later years - the book was published in 1979 so it is quite out-of-date for any modern commentary on what has happened since it's writing - there were several temperamental clashes between cliques as to the future direction of the building. Unfortunately, the cost to update the century-old building would be in the millions as the roof, the facade, the elevators, air conditioning, and more need work. At the time of the book's publishing, one of the biggest repairs facing The Dakota was to clean and repair the pale yellow brick facade that was filthy with soot and pollution and according to updated information available on the web states that work was done. It would be fabulous to see the grand old dame back in her finery.An interesting look into quirky and unique history of a old building when so many of the old ones have been demolished to make way for more modern structures.

The Dakota Apartment in New York City has always fascinated me, so I selected Life at the Dakota: New York’s Most Unusual Address by Stephen Birmingham on Kindle to learn more about this iconic building. While there is a lot of very interesting history and information about the Dakota, this book is approximately 40 years old. I ended the book with many more questions than were answered.The Dakota Apartments were built by Edward Clark in 1884, a lawyer who made his millions in the Singer Sewing Machine Company. Clark decided that he wanted to build a luxury apartment building across from Central Park in an area that was mostly unpopulated. At this time, Central Park was populated mostly by grazing livestock and squatters living in shacks. But despite many skeptics, the apartments in the Dakota quickly filled when it opened. “The Dakota was designed to convey the impression that, though one might be living in an apartment house, one was really living in a mansion. The Dakota would be an imitation of the rich-rich New York life—not the real thing, but a mirror image, an illusion.” Originally, there were 65 apartments of up to 20 rooms, which no two being alike. The apartment also had stables, a garden, tennis courts, a croquet court, a playroom, a gymnasium, and a private dining room. The apartments were appointed with beautiful woodwork, mantles and floors.Life in the Dakota provides lots of history about the Dakota, the evolution of New York City, and New York society. As for the Dakota, Birmingham tells us about the building of the Dakota, the tenants over the years, the changing building, and the financial challenges with running the Dakota. He also recounts how the building was almost sold to be razed for newer construction, the conversion of the Dakota to a co-operative apartment in 1961, and its naming to the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmark. Birmingham also fills this book with anecdotes and stories about the people who live(d) in the building—everything from Christmas parties to ghost sitings to tenant feuds. But what was so disappointing is that I didn’t realize when I purchased this book that it was 40 years old. John Lennon was still alive in Life in the Dakota, and he was murdered outside the building in December 1980. Also, there is a very small selection of photographs and the pictures of the Dakota are all from the late 1800s. They certainly do not do the building justice and don’t help the reader at all in being able to visualize the uniqueness of the building. There are no interior photographs, at all. At least I purchased this Kindle version on sale. But I am tempted to buy another Dakota book that was published in 2015. There is still so much I’d like to learn about the Dakota.

It was seriously an honor to get to know the history behind the Dakota, told by mostly the people who lived there.The book was too long and had me questioning whether to finish it or not. It’s like a who’s Who of the rich and famous and the stingiest people are the richest. Such a diverse place to live and interesting to read about. There is a lot to be said for the author, whom I like very much.

I have always enjoyed books by this author. "Life at the Dakota" is no exception. The historical background of the building is very thoroughly presented, the authors interviews with various residents ( past and present) are extremely enlightening. My only "complaint" is that the book is old...the contents are only valid thru 1978 or so. I would love to see a book with the author picking up where Birmingham left off. Plus, I would very much like to see pictures of some of the apartments themselves, and/or diagrams of the apts interiors. I'm sure there is a lot more information left to be written about the grand Dakota and her residents!

Just a list of tenants but some of them were interesting. I stood outside this building and became of John Lennon had wondered what it was like. A lot of strange lifestyles.

Stephen Birmingham’s account of the history of the Dakota is a compelling read. It’s well researched and brings the whole development and merry go round story of occupancy to life.It’s a thrilling slice of social history; in the mid to late 1800s New York was a thriving bustling city, looking for identity and direction. I had no idea that the Singer of sewing machine fame was involved in the initial development of the building. It’s quirky and iconic, much like many of the residents. This is also their tale of life almost beyond imagination. Some eccentrics, film stars, latterly the Lennon’s and a host of support staff to ensure the smooth day to day running if these apartments.There were wrangles over ownership and development proposals over the years and this account brings everything to vivid life. Really enjoyed the story.

"Life at the Dakota" is a great book, I can't put it down...I am loving it so much! If you have ever wanted to know the history and a list of "who's who" lived there or how the building was actually built and who were its' initial clients...than this is a great book for you to read. I especially love reading this book from my KIndle...so I can it any where, where I have a mobile device. Just into the first four of five chapters...will finish this review, when I finish the book!

A engrossing and delightful history of on of NEW YORK's best addresses.I was a fan - so it captured me from the start but even if you are not orhad not come across this famous address before the book is an entertainingdiscussion of the moralities and foibles of people living together in chi chiapartment blocks. All of human nature is here.