Utilitarian Buildings on Central Park West

Once again, it's amusing to see examples of the utter utilitarianism of New York City. Last week, we were admiring many of the beautiful buildings on Central Park West on a walk from Columbus Circle north up to 75th Street. Ironically, most of these supposedly "fancy" buildings only bother to dress themselves up on the first couple of floors. Most of them change into plain, old, unremarkable brick--once you get up above eye level!