Pomander Walk

Pomander Walk is a charming Tudor-style residential enclave on Manhattan's Upper West Side, stretching between Broadway and West End Avenue. The complex of 27 buildings was built in 1921 by nightclub entrepreneur Thomas J. Healy, who originally planned a hotel but, lacking financing, built these small-scale houses instead. Architecturally, the complex recalls the English storybook houses of the 1920s and stands in striking contrast to the high-rises around it. At the center of the block is a narrow courtyard flanked by two rows of eight buildings each and secured by a gate. The complex is not open to the public and can only be visited by invitation. After a period of decline in the 1970s, Pomander Walk was saved in 1982 through various landmark designations. A comprehensive façade renovation, completed in 2009, restored the historically significant architectural details. Well-known former residents include Rosalind Russell and Nancy Carroll, which has also helped cement the place in pop culture.