To look at these striking twin terra-cotta buildings—now a focal point of the 18-block Grafton Hill Historic District in downtown Dayton, Ohio—one would never suspect that they were once nearly in ruins.
Imagine all the people...” John Lennon's immortal lyric was written in 1971, just a few short years prior to his late-1970s residency in The Dakota (along with wife Yoko Ono and son Sean). The site is also most famously—and somewhat ignominiously—known as the location of the former Beatle's gunning down outside its imposing front entrance in 1980. Strawberry Fields Memorial—just across Central Park West—honors the musical icon.
It has inspired countless books, movies, and adventures. Now, the pull of the railroad has become the inspiration for a hip, urban loft project.
At first glance, the Chambord Apartments resemble a tiered wedding cake, with its lacy architecture and curving balconies. And who wouldn't be inclined to think of love and romance in this captivating city? After all, as the saying goes, “I left my heart in San Francisco.”