The Inside Scoop on The Brevoort, 11 Fifth Avenue, in Greenwich Village

There is so much to like about The Brevoort at 11 Fifth Avenue. Yes, it’s just a block from Washington Square Park, but the location is only the beginning.

Built in 1954–55, The Brevoort is a classic mid-century Greenwich Village co-op, occupying the full block between Eighth and Ninth Streets. Its distinctive light-colored brick, setbacks and circular driveway give it a very different character from the pre-war buildings farther down Fifth Avenue.

It’s a building that is exceptionally well run

One of the things I particularly like about The Brevoort is that the building isn't just selling an address or a list of amenities. It feels like a building that is thoughtfully operated.

There's 24-hour doorman and concierge service, a resident manager, a full-service garage, gym, bike room, laundry and storage. There are also landscaped gardens, including a garden you see as you enter the lobby.

And the building has a reputation for strong financials and proactive management.

It's also been ahead of the curve environmentally, with upgraded windows, planted rooftops and supplemental emergency power. The generator is capable of powering the building, a feature that proved particularly valuable during Hurricane Sandy.

I love the circular driveway

This may sound like a small thing, but in Manhattan, a driveway is a luxury.

The Brevoort's circular driveway gives you a proper arrival experience—and, more importantly, makes getting in and out of the building considerably easier than at many Village co-ops. The garage is directly underneath the building and has access from within.

And then there are the apartments

The Brevoort has a surprisingly broad range of layouts, and many apartments have generous proportions. There are also apartments with private terraces and balconies, which can be particularly special in this part of Greenwich Village.

My favorite views are the northern ones. Get high enough and you can look uptown toward the Empire State Building, with an expansive Manhattan skyline beyond.

But there are good views in other directions, too—and that's one reason I always tell buyers that the line and floor matter enormously at The Brevoort.

The bottom line

The Brevoort isn't a pre-war Village building, and that's part of its appeal. You get mid-century design, full-service living, unusually good amenities, a private driveway and garage, and one of Greenwich Village's best locations—all in a building that has invested in its infrastructure and appears to be very thoughtfully managed.

For buyers who want the character of the Village without giving up the convenience of a full-service building, The Brevoort deserves a very close look.

That's the inside scoop on The Brevoort at 11 Fifth Avenue.