The house was torn down in 1931 by an apartment developer, after a last-minute salvage attempt.

A few earlier apartment developers had the same idea but in a smaller way - they would acquire an adjoining small building to protect their building's light.

In 1979, as West Side property values increased dramatically, the school began negotiating to sell - it later reported a $2 million offer from an apartment developer.

Thus that height, translating to about 12 stories, became the default standard along West End, Park and other avenues where apartment developers were active.

Among the most active apartment developers in New York, they ultimately built more than 100 buildings, most of them 12- to 15-story apartment houses.

It lent heavily to apartment developers in Florida and the Atlanta region in recent years, just before those markets turned down.

Businesses that own their own land are in some cases deciding that it makes sense to become apartment developers.

None were real estate professionals, and indeed they were united in their desire to avoid the usual work of apartment developers.

Riley sold out to apartment developers in 1924 and moved his restaurant to Riverdale and then Yonkers.

The town is now being a target of the apartment developers and losing its old buildings.