322 Central Park West (The Cherbourg)

Daytonian's Tom Miller (May 13, 2025) writes that the Blums "would eventually design at least 120 apartment houses" — and for 322 CPW "they turned to historic styles — Italian Renaissance and Gothic." The defining gesture is the entrance, which sits within "a double-height Gothic arch with elaborate carvings." The nine-story midsection, faced in beige brick, is introduced by an arcade of windows on an intermediate cornice "enhanced by a bold, non-continuous terra cotta band of stylized palmettes and vines." The three-story top section features "triple-height terra cotta arches sat upon faux Renaissance-inspired balconies," capped by a parapet given movement by "a wave-like terra cotta eyebrow that followed the arched openings of the top floor."

The building opened on August 1, 1926, advertising six- and eight-room apartments with three or four baths (one "bungalow apartment" of ten rooms and four baths). Each apartment had wood-burning fireplaces — many original fireplaces survive today. Semi-private elevator landings serve only one or two apartments per floor.

Miller notes the architectural caveat: residents over the years installed unmatched picture windows facing the park, creating "a Mondrian-like mish-mash" that disfigures Blum & Blum's original regimented fenestration. CityRealty's broker comments call The Cherbourg a "gracious" prewar gem with a "beautiful" lobby that "exudes old-world charm." The inconsistent CPW-facing fenestration is the most-frequently-cited architectural complaint.

The Cherbourg operates as a full-service Upper West Side cooperative:

• 24-hour doorman and concierge
• Live-in superintendent
• Fitness room
• Bike room
• Laundry room
• Private storage bins that convey with each apartment at no additional cost
• Recently renovated elevator cabs (doorman-controlled for enhanced security)
• Canopied side-street entrance
• No garage
• No roof deck
• Step-down lobby

The storage bins that convey at no additional cost are a real amenity at the 48-unit scale.

Active 2026 inventory:

• Unit 3C — listed $2.999 million (3 BR, Brown Harris Stevens)
• Unit 1A — listed $1.5 million (3 BR, CityRealty)
• Unit 2A — listed $3.0 million (3 BR)
• Historical 9A and 10B closings recorded on CityRealty

Apartment-level closing detail should be sourced from NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers.

The no-flip-tax policy is structurally distinguishing. A real competitive advantage versus most prewar CPW cooperatives.

The Blum & Blum architectural pedigree is real institutional context. The firm's broader body of work — Art Nouveau and Art Deco apartment buildings across Manhattan — connects 322 CPW to a substantial early-20th-century architectural lineage.

The double-height Gothic-arched entrance is structurally unique on CPW. No peer building carries the same stylistic gesture.

The semi-private elevator landings serving only one or two apartments per floor are operationally distinctive. Verify line-specific configuration during walkthrough.

The case-by-case pied-à-terre policy expands the buyer pool. Plan board diligence accordingly.

The conveying storage bins, the recently renovated doorman-controlled elevators, and the canopied side-street entrance anchor the amenity layer.

The cultural resident overlay — Erich Fromm, Linda Lavin, Tovah Feldshuh, the broader literary and music industry roster — supports the building's institutional CPW identity.

Closing timelines are cooperative-standard. Plan for 6 to 10 weeks from contract through board approval to closing.

Marketing should emphasize the no-flip-tax policy as the largest single buyer-side competitive advantage. Position prominently.

The Blum & Blum architectural pedigree and the Daytonian / Miller architectural-history account support premium positioning. Reference where appropriate.

The Linda Lavin 2005 $4.3 million closing and the broader cultural resident overlay anchor cultural-history positioning.

The Reservoir view corridor and the case-by-case pied-à-terre policy are real structural advantages. Position accordingly.

Pricing should reference recent 2026 active listings ($1.5M-$3M for 3-bed inventory). Apartment-line-specific comparables should anchor positioning.

Closing timelines are cooperative-standard.

If you're considering The Cherbourg, also evaluate:

• 336 Central Park West — nearby CPW peer
• 320 Central Park West (The Ardsley) — Emery Roth 1931 Art Deco; nearby CPW peer
• 285 Central Park West (The St. Urban) — nearby CPW peer
• 300 Central Park West (The Eldorado) — Roth / Margon & Holder 1931 Art Deco twin-tower trophy peer
• 333 Central Park West (The Turin) — nearby CPW peer

The Roebling Team at Compass specializes in Central Park West, the Upper East Side, and the broader Park-facing Manhattan market. We publish this building profile because Central Park West cooperative buyers and sellers deserve building-specific intelligence — architectural attribution, board posture, transactional mechanics, and pricing at the apartment level — not generic market commentary.

If you're considering a purchase or sale at The Cherbourg, a 30-minute consultation is the right starting point.

Schedule a consultation →

Corey Cohen · The Roebling Team at Compass 646.939.7375 · c.cohen@compass.com

Sources: Tom Miller, "Blum & Blum's 1926 322 Central Park West," Daytonian in Manhattan, May 13, 2025; CityRealty building page; Compass building page; Brown Harris Stevens active listings; NewYorkitecture building profile; Landmark West! profile; NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission Central Park West Historic District Designation Report (LP-1647, 1990); NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers.