Gramercy Park
Manhattan
"Most New York City neighborhoods contain historic landmarks, in Gramercy Park the neighborhood is the landmark. Early New York developer Samuel Ruggles reclaimed part of a swamp (""Gramercy"" is the mashing up of Dutch words meaning ""little crooked swamp"") to create Manhattan's only private park in 1831. The urban oasis between East 20th and East 21st Streets and Park Avenue and Third Avenue was fenced in a few years later and the four wrought iron gates have been locked since 1844. Once a year, often on the first Sunday in May, the gates of New York's most exclusive private park swing open for everyone to enjoy. The 39 buildings surrounding the ornamental greenspace, mostly elegant Greek Revival, Italianate and Gothic Revival townhouses from the mid-19th century, have been occupied by a Hall of Fame from the Social Register that has included inventor Thomas Edison, architect Stanford White and author John Steinbeck in the past and celebrities Julia Roberts, Jimmy Fallon and Uma Thurman among many others today. Gramercy Park is wholly residential save for the luxury 1920s-era Gramercy Park Hotel, a few private clubs and the Gothic-flavored Calvary Church which dates to 1846. The neighborhood beyond the gate park spills south to 18th Street, retaining the fashionable sensibilities of the park proper, so much so that the stretch of townhouses on East 19th Street from Third Avenue to Irving Place has been dubbed ""Block Beautiful."" Irving Place is lined with cozy restaurants and bars catering to the neighborhood's upscale clientele. Pete's Tavern occupies a building that dates to 1829 and has been a favorite Gramercy watering hole since the Civil War. Short story contortionist O. Henry was said to write in a booth here and the tavern has taken many star turns in New York-based television shows. Gramercy Park is two blocks from the 23rd Street subway stop on the 6 Train and three blocks to the 23rd Street stop on the N and R Trains." By: Doug Gelbert
Neighborhood Tags:
Trendy, Quiet, Great Transit, Family-Friendly, Restaurants, Private, Brownstones, CelebritiesNeighborhood Highlights
Trains:
Buses:
Rental Prices:
$1,900 ― $3,500Sales Prices:
$455,000 ― $845,000Landmarks:
Gramercy Park, Gramercy Park Hotel, Irving Place, Players' ClubSchool Districts:
2Police Precincts:
13Review
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AnonymousNovember 8th 2013My experience with Gramercy has been amazing. After living in the area for four years, I think I've gotten a pretty firm grasp of what it's all about. Gramercy is the perfect location for newbies in that it isn't as in-your-face as many Manhattan neighborhoods can be. Its quiet, but that doesn't mean its boring. It's within walking distance of the East Village, Union Square and Murray Hill which means you have amazing restaurants and bars right at your fingertips. Off the top of my head I can say that my favorite sushi, Italian, pizza, Vietnamese, Belgian and Thai restaurants are no more than 10 minutes walk from my apartment. After all of this eating its nice to take a stroll along the East River, which is a very popular spot for runners and walkers alike. All in all, with Gramercy, you can't go wrong.
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