The Bolivar (230 Central Park West)

Apartments at the Bolivar range across one-bedrooms (typically 700–1,000 sf), substantial two- and three-bedroom configurations (1,200–2,200 sf), and larger combined and four-bedroom layouts. The Neo-Georgian facade detailing — quoins, decorative window surrounds, terra-cotta trim — is most pronounced on the lower three and upper two floors, producing visual interest at street-level approach and at the building's roofline.

Pre-war signatures throughout: high ceilings, formal entry galleries, library-living combinations, period kitchens (typically renovated multiple times). Original architectural detail is preserved to varying degrees apartment-to-apartment.

Park-facing apartments occupy the eastern flank with direct Central Park views; corner Park-facing units (Park + cross-street exposure) command meaningful view premium.

The Bolivar operates as a full-service pre-war cooperative with 24-hour doorman, concierge, attended lobby, on-site superintendent, and the standard CPW co-op service signature. The building's mid-sized scale (156 units) produces more institutional anonymity than smaller CPW peers like the Brentmore or Langham, but less than the largest CPW landmarks like the Century or the Alden.

The building converted to cooperative ownership in 1984 — a relatively late conversion compared to peer CPW pre-wars. Four decades as a self-governed co-op have produced an established institutional culture.

The building participates in the NYC Cooperative & Condominium Property Tax Abatement Program for qualifying primary-residence shareholders. Specific policy details (flip tax structure, financing cap, sublet fee) are not publicly published; buyers should review the current proprietary lease and house rules during due diligence.

Recent sales

Recent transfers at this building, curated by The Roebling Team research desk. Apartment-level facts are independently verified before publishing; sale prices reflect the recorded transfer amount at the NYC Department of Finance.

Market read. Most recent trades (2026) cleared a median $1,548/sf across 1 sale. Median listing discount 5.3% from the last ask — a recurring negotiation gap worth pricing into any offer or listing strategy.

Sales sourced from NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers (BBL 1-01197-0029) and verified listing data. Apartment-level facts (line, condition, asking-price context) curated and cross-verified by The Roebling Team research desk. Not all transactions cross-verify with ACRIS records — sponsor and LLC purchases sometimes record at stipulated values rather than market price; square footage on co-ops is not officially recorded, figures shown are approximate.

Board approval is rigorous, with mainstream CPW pre-war culture. Strong financial profiles and primary-residence intent are advantageous. The board reviews carefully but operates with somewhat less institutional formality than the most stringent tier-one CPW boards.

Neo-Georgian architecture is distinctive on CPW. Buyers who specifically want this architectural style (as opposed to CPW's dominant Beaux-Arts or Art Deco) have limited alternatives — the Bolivar is one of the only Neo-Georgian buildings on the avenue.

Mid-CPW positioning produces strong daily-life conveniences. The building's location between 83rd and 84th puts buyers within walking distance of the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park's reservoir, and the Columbus Avenue retail corridor.

Renovation is constrained by historic district status and the building's age. Renovation respecting Neo-Georgian period elements is the expected path.

View permanence is excellent. Central Park at the eastern flank; West 83rd and 84th are residential streets with stable building heights.

Pricing is competitive within mid-CPW pre-war inventory. Apartments compete primarily with peer mid-CPW co-ops; the Bolivar's Neo-Georgian architectural distinction is a niche selling point for buyers who specifically want this style.

Buyer pool spans domestic primary-residence buyers who value pre-war architecture, mid-CPW location, and the building's specific architectural character.

Mansion tax effects matter. Apartments commonly transact above $1.5M and not infrequently above $5M for Park-facing and larger configurations.

Closing timelines are co-op standard. 4–8 weeks from contract signing to closing.

If you're considering The Bolivar, also evaluate:

• The Alden (225 CPW) — Roth pre-war apartment-hotel-turned-coop, immediately south
• The Beresford (211 CPW) — Roth three-tower landmark, nearby
• The Eldorado (300 CPW) — Art Deco twin-tower, north
• The Ardsley (320 CPW) — Roth Art Deco, far north
• The Apthorp (390 West End at 79th) — pre-war landmark, mixed condo-co-op

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

If you're considering a purchase or sale at The Bolivar, a 30-minute consultation is the right starting point. We'll bring the full context this page provides plus the transactional specifics your situation requires — financial structuring, board approvability, comparable analysis at the apartment level, and the pacing strategy that fits your timeline.