The Inside Scoop on 30 5th Ave. in Greenwich Village
If you’ve spent any time on Lower Fifth Avenue, you know 30 Fifth Avenue. Sitting at the corner of Fifth Avenue and West 10th Street, it’s one of those classic Greenwich Village co-ops that has been part of the neighborhood for generations. Built in 1923, it recently passed its 100th birthday - and it has the pre-war character to prove it.
A couple of things you might not know:
The building is actually two towers. Walk through the long, surprisingly spacious lobby and you’ll find two separate elevator banks, each serving its own tower. It’s a clever bit of architecture that gives the building a more intimate feel than you might expect from its size.
There are 144 apartments, ranging from one-bedrooms to generous three-bedrooms and some custom combinations. The apartments have what I like about good pre-war buildings: high ceilings, comfortable room proportions and architectural character that you simply don’t get in most new construction.
And then there’s the roof:
The landscaped roof garden is one of the building’s best-kept secrets. It’s a peaceful spot above the Village with plenty of greenery - and some very New York views. Look out across Lower Fifth Avenue and you’ll see the neighborhood’s collection of water towers, many tucked into brick enclosures that look like tiny castles or minarets.
And, of course, there’s the location. You’re right at the intersection of Greenwich Village, Washington Square and Lower Fifth Avenue, with the Village’s restaurants, shops and streetscape essentially at your doorstep.
