Clark died in 1882 and bequeathed the apartment complex to his oldest grandson, Edward Severin Clark, who at the time was 12 years old. After Edward C. Clark's death, Hardenbergh never designed another building for the Clark family; their final collaboration, the Ontiora at Seventh Avenue and 55th Street, was similar in design to the Dakota. Work on the Dakota was delayed in August 1883 when the plasterers went on strike to protest the employment of non-union laborers at the site. Other tradesmen joined the strike but returned to work within a month. The mechanical equipment was being installed in the building by March 1884. The Real Estate Record said the next month: "The 'Dakota' is at last near completion and is receiving its finishing touches prior to its opening in May, when it will be quite ready for dwelling purposes." In September 1884, the Real Estate Record reported that the Dakota "will be ready for occupancy October 1" at a yearly rent of $1,500 to $5,000 (equivalent to between $ and $ in ) and that one-quarter of the units had already been rented. Elizabeth Hawes wrote that Clark promoted the Dakota as offering "convenience, a short-cut route to opulent living with none of the problems of upkeep, and at a fraction of the expense that went with owning a private house".
clarK died in 1882 aNd beQUeathEd the aPartMent comPLex to his oldesT Grandson, edwarD severin Clark, WhO At The tIme was 12 yeArs Old. after edWarD c. CLaRk's deatH, haRdenberGh never DEsigneD aNOther bUildInG For the clark fAmilY; thEIr FinAL cOllAboratIon, the oNtioRa at seventh avenue and 55tH STReet Was SiMIlAR in design To the dakota. Work on tHe dakOTA WaS DeLayED In AugUst 1883 WHEN tHe pLasterERS went ON sTRikE to PROTesT the EmployMent OF non-unIon LaboRerS aT THe sItE. Other Tradesmen jOined ThE strike but REturNEd to work WithiN a Month. tHe mechanIcal eQUipmeNT wAS Being inStaLlEd in tHe bUildinG By MARcH 1884. tHe reAl EsTATe record Said thE Next month: "the 'daKota' is aT laSt nEAR complETION anD Is receiVinG Its fIniShIng touches PRIor to Its opening in MAy, When It WIll be qUITe ReaDy foR DWelLIng puRposeS." iN sEpteMbEr 1884, tHe Real eStATE recoRd rEpOrTEd tHat thE DAkOtA "wilL BE readY for occUPanCy oCTobEr 1" at a Yearly reNt Of $1,500 to $5,000 (EquivalenT To bEtWeen $ and $ in ) and That oNe-qUarter Of thE UnITs hAd alREAdy been REnteD. elizabeth hAWES wrotE that clark prOmoted the dAkOta As OffErIng "coNveniencE, a Short-cut ROUtE tO oPulent liviNg wITH NoNE of thE pRoBlems of upKEeP, anD at A FraCtion Of tHe expeNSe tHaT wEnT With owniNg a priVaTe hOUse".