Ladies’ Mile draws on history for sales

The Ladies’ Mile Historic District, one of a few landmarked neighborhoods in Manhattan that is mostly commercial, is beginning to see an uptick in residential activity, according to the New York Times. The district, which extends roughly from Union Square to Madison Square Park and from Broadway to Sixth Avenue, is noted for its rich history as a high-end retail center in the late 1800s and early 1900s — something that plays in its favor among homebuyers, experts say. One condo conversion, the Cammeyer at 650 Sixth Avenue on the corner of 20th Street, sold 20 of its 67 units in roughly one year, before the recession hampered sales. With sales ramping up again, brokerage CORE is using the building’s history as a selling point, according to agent John Gomes. “We said, why only focus on the interiors? We decided our focus would be from the outside inward,” Gomes said. “We really celebrate the history of the building.” [NYT]