Hazina ya Kifahari ya Kabla ya Vita Yenye Hisia za Nyumba

Ikiwa na ukubwa wa zaidi ya futi za mraba 1,500, nyumba hii ya kawaida yenye “vyumba sita vilivyopangwa mstari” inatoa upekee, mvuto na mpangilio wa kipekee wenye nafasi na hadhi. Ikiwa na ukuta mmoja tu wa pamoja na pande tatu zenye madirisha—mojawapo ikitazama ua wa jengo uliopambwa kwa mandhari nzuri—nyumba hii imejaa mwanga wa asili, upepo unaopita kutoka upande mmoja hadi mwingine, na kijani kibichi kwa wingi.

Sebule kubwa, iliyozungukwa na mahali pa moto pa matofali panapofanya kazi na rafu za vitabu zilizojengwa ndani zenye mwangaza kutoka juu, inavutia sana. Wakati wa majira ya baridi, ni mahali pazuri pa kukaa karibu na moto huku ukitazama filamu au kusoma kitabu kizuri. Katika miezi ya joto, fungua madirisha yaliyoboreshwa na uruhusu mwanga na upepo kuingia. Madirisha makubwa yanayoelekea kusini katika sebule na chumba rasmi cha chakula hufanya maeneo haya yawe na mwangaza na mvuto wa pekee.

Ikiwa hii inaonekana zaidi kama nyumba kuliko ghorofa, ndivyo inavyohisi hasa. Na si nyumba ya kawaida tu, bali yenye dari zenye urefu wa futi tisa, sakafu za mbao za mwaloni zilizopangwa kwa mtindo wa parquet, vifaa vya awali vya kabla ya vita, reli za viti na picha, pamoja na mapambo ya ukingo yaliyohifadhiwa.

Zaidi ya hayo, jiko kubwa lina sinki la porcelaini la mtindo wa mashambani, kichujio cha maji, na makabati yaliyobuniwa maalumu yenye mwangaza wa nyuma. Jiko hili linafunguka kuelekea stoo kubwa yenye rafu nyingi na lifti ndogo ya mizigo inayofanya kazi, inayotumiwa na wafanyakazi wa jengo kila siku kukusanya taka na vitu vya kuchakata tena. Pembeni mwa jiko kuna chumba cha awali cha wafanyakazi kilicho cha faragha, chenye bafu kamili lake, madirisha yanayoelekea mashariki kwenye ua, pamoja na mashine ya kufulia ya ukubwa kamili iliyofichika na mashine ya kukaushia yenye njia ya kutoa hewa—urahisi wa kipekee, bila shaka, katika ghorofa ya kabla ya vita.

Vyumba vingine viwili vya kulala viko upande wa mashariki wa nyumba, vikiwa vimetenganishwa vizuri na lango la kuingilia pamoja na maeneo ya kuishi. Chumba kikuu cha kulala kina kabati mbili zilizobuniwa na wataalamu, pamoja na madirisha yanayoelekea kusini na mashariki yanayokaribisha mwanga wa jua la asubuhi. Chumba kingine kikubwa cha kulala, chenye madirisha yanayoelekea uani na mashariki, kimewekewa makabati yaliyojengwa ndani, kabati la droo, rafu na dawati la watoto. Vyumba vyote viwili vya kulala vina nafasi kubwa na feni za dari za kiwango cha juu. Kwa ujumla, nyumba hii ina nafasi bora sana za kuhifadhia vitu, ikiwa na makabati matano makubwa.

Fieldston Gardens ni jengo la kupendeza la ghorofa nne lenye nyumba 70 za ushirika, lililobuniwa na kujengwa mwaka 1926 kwa mtindo wa Tudor. Kwa kuwa jengo hili lina ghorofa nne pekee na halina lifti, limeweza kudumisha ada za matengenezo zilizo nafuu kwa kiwango cha kipekee. Ada ya matengenezo inajumuisha joto, maji na gesi. Aidha, jengo hili hivi karibuni limefanyiwa ukarabati wa kina wa uso wa nje, huku kazi za mwisho zikikaribia kukamilika. Paa na madirisha pia yameboreshwa katika miaka ya hivi karibuni. Msimamizi anayeishi ndani ya jengo pamoja na mhudumu wa muda wote hutoa huduma makini ndani ya eneo la jengo.

Ua na maeneo ya nje ya Fieldston Gardens ni mazuri sana na yanatunzwa kitaalamu na Harlem Horticulture. Zaidi ya hayo, mojawapo ya hazina kuu za jengo hili ni bustani yake kubwa ya faragha yenye ufunguo, iliyo kando ya 238th Street. Ni eneo la pamoja lenye furaha kwa kuchoma nyama, kufanya pikniki, kupumzika na kuwaacha watoto kucheza. Eneo hili, pamoja na ufikiaji rahisi wa maduka na shughuli za Central Riverdale, huchangia katika hali ya ukarimu ya jengo. Kwa ada ndogo ya dola 25 kwa mwaka, jengo pia linatoa chumba cha baiskeli kilichopangwa vizuri na kinachofikika kwa urahisi.

Ikiwa na vyumba vyenye nafasi kubwa, mwanga mwingi, mapambo ya kuvutia ya kabla ya vita, eneo la nje, na hisia za kuwa nyumba halisi badala ya ghorofa tu, hii ni fursa ya kipekee sana katika Riverdale.

An Elegant Pre-War Gem with the Feel of a House
Spanning more than 1,500 square feet, this classic "straight six" offers character, charm, and an exceptionally gracious layout. With only one shared wall and three exposures-including one overlooking the building's beautifully landscaped courtyard-the apartment is flooded with natural light, cross breezes, and plenty of greenery.

Centered around a working brick fireplace flanked by handsome, top-lit built-in bookshelves, the large living room is particularly inviting. In the winter, it is an ideal place to settle in by the fire for a movie or a good book. In the warmer months, open the updated windows and let in the light and breeze. Large south-facing windows in both the living and formal dining rooms make these spaces especially bright and welcoming.

If this sounds more like a house than an apartment, that is precisely how it feels. And not just any house, but one with nine-foot ceilings, oak parquet floors, prewar fixtures, chair and picture rails, and preserved moldings.

Further, the large kitchen features a porcelain farmer's sink, water filter, and backlit, custom-designed cabinetry, while opening to an XL pantry with abundant shelving and a working dumbwaiter used for daily garbage and recycling pickup by the building staff. Just off the kitchen is a private original staff quarters with its own full bathroom, east-facing courtyard exposures, and a tucked-away, full-size washer and vented dryer-an extraordinary convenience, of course, in a prewar apartment.

The two other bedrooms occupy the eastern end of the apartment, well separated from the entrance and living spaces. The primary bedroom features two designer closets and southern and eastern exposures that welcome the rising morning sun. The other large bedroom, with courtyard and eastern exposures, is designed with built-in closets, a dresser, shelving, and a children's desk. Both bedrooms are generously sized and have high-end ceiling fans. In all, the apartment offers exceptional storage, with five large closets.

Fieldston Gardens is a charming four-story, 70-unit Tudor-style cooperative designed and built in 1926. Because the building has only four stories and no elevators, it has maintained notably reasonable maintenance charges. Maintenance includes heat, water, and gas. Moreover, the building has recently undergone a comprehensive facade renovation, with the final work nearing completion. The roof and windows have also been updated in recent years. A live-in superintendent and full-time porter provide attentive, on-site service.

The courtyard and grounds at Fieldston Gardens are exceptionally lovely and professionally cared for by Harlem Horticulture. Further, one of the building's greatest treasures is its large, keyed private garden along 238th Street. It is a joyous shared space for grilling, picnicking, relaxing, and letting children play. This space, along with easy access to Central Riverdale shops and activities, contributes to the building's welcoming atmosphere. For a small charge of $25 per year, the building also offers a well-organized and easily accessible bike room.

With its generous rooms, abundant light, gracious prewar details, outdoor space, and the feeling of a true home rather than simply an apartment, this is a particularly special Riverdale offering.