The Inside Scoop on 40 5th Ave. in Greenwich Village

The Inside Scoop on 40 Fifth Avenue

If you're looking for a classic pre-war co-op on Lower Fifth Avenue, 40 Fifth Avenue is one of the addresses that deserves special attention.

Built in 1929, this elegant Neo-Georgian building sits at the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and East 11th Street, right in the heart of Greenwich Village's Gold Coast. With only about 75 apartments, it feels considerably more intimate than many of the larger full-service buildings nearby.

The lobby sets the tone

One of the things that immediately distinguishes 40 Fifth is the arrival experience.

The lobby has a wonderfully old New York feel, with black-and-white checked marble floors, murals, French doors and views into a beautifully landscaped private courtyard. It's the kind of entrance that feels more like stepping into a gracious private residence than a typical apartment building.

It has the pre-war details buyers are looking for

The apartments themselves tend to offer the kind of character that is increasingly difficult to find downtown.

Wood-burning fireplaces are a signature feature of the building, and many apartments have generously proportioned rooms, hardwood floors and classic pre-war layouts. Because the building is relatively low-density and surrounded by the largely low-rise Village, upper-floor apartments can also enjoy unusually open views.

And here is one of my favorite details: depending on the apartment, you may look directly toward the beautiful Gothic architecture of the First Presbyterian Church across W. 10th St.. It's a distinctly Greenwich Village view—and one that gives certain apartments a tremendous amount of character.

The floor plans can be particularly interesting

This is not a building where every apartment feels interchangeable.

There are classic six-room layouts, larger combinations and even spectacular high-floor duplexes. That means the experience of buying at 40 Fifth can vary dramatically depending on the line and floor.

As always, I would pay close attention to exposure, views and the particular layout. In a building like this, those details can make a significant difference in both the experience of living there and long-term value.

Full-service living, without losing the intimacy

40 Fifth combines its pre-war character with the service buyers expect at this level: a full-time doorman, live-in superintendent, attended elevators, storage, bike storage and a private garden.

For me, that's a big part of the appeal. Some pre-war buildings give you beautiful architecture but require you to sacrifice convenience. Here, you get both.

The bottom line

What makes 40 Fifth Avenue special is its combination of intimacy, architecture and location.

It isn't a massive building with an endless list of amenities—and that's not the point. This is a building for someone who appreciates the feeling of old New York: a beautiful lobby, wood-burning fireplaces, gracious rooms, attentive service and some genuinely distinctive Village views.

For a buyer looking for a sophisticated, full-service pre-war home on Lower Fifth Avenue, 40 Fifth Avenue is one of the buildings I would absolutely put on the short list.

That's the inside scoop on 40 Fifth Avenue.