For this month’s eye candy, I am excited to have a development in the area where I focus a lot of my business – the Upper West Side.
So here we go – enjoy!
360 Central Park West
The Upper West Side, Manhattan Valley, and Morningside Heights, from 96th Street to 116th Street, have been areas that have seen their borders merge and shift over time.
Even long-term Upper West Siders have neglected to explore many of the nooks and crannies outside their immediate apartments/homes.
Given that I work with buyers and sellers across the Upper West Side, I was excited to see a new rental-to-condo conversion at 360 Central Park West, right at 96th and Central Park West.
If we think about 96th Street as the anchor of Manhattan Valley, looking at this new development, along with a lot of what else is taking place, the case can be made easily for Manhattan Valley to be an excellent place to invest in real estate:
- Jewish Home Lifecare at 120 West 106th is moving to a new building at 97th between Amsterdam and Columbus (not without controversy, of course, and not without a very long history– so we’ll see).
- A larger tower eventually will be built in its place – surely accompanied with a lot of residents taking issue.
This link will show you what could happen there in terms of rezoning and height.
Just scroll down through the images.
- Whole Foods and the entire Columbus Square rental development from 97th-100th Streets on Amsterdam and Columbus has been a runaway success.
People may decry big box retail, but their actions speak otherwise.
- One Morningside Park at Manhattan Avenue and 110th Streets was another success, reaching over $2000 per square foot for the units with lovely Central Park Views.
- Along Central Park West from 100th-110th, there are already a series of condominiums and lovely pre-war cooperatives that look and feel similar to buildings anywhere along Central Park.
- Central Park has redeveloped playgrounds on 100th Street and at the top of the park near 110th Street, as well.
- Proposals have been in process to redevelop parking lots through the NYCHA buildings from 100-104th Streets.
With all of this as backdrop, Argo is converting a rental building at 360 Central Park West to condominium.
Taking it from more than 100 units to slightly more than 60, it’s clear that they are going for larger, more luxurious apartments, featuring extraordinary Central Park Views, along with Pre-war grandeur.
Rosario Candela designed the building, which gives it a nice provenance.
Along with a subway stop in the base, crosstown bus on 96th Street, and access to schools to the South and Whole Foods to the North, this is a bet on Manhattan Valley taking off.
is fully underway, with the first four Cetra Ruddy-designed units listed at $1834 to $2474/square foot.
banner across its corner of CPW and 96th Street. The building incorporates the Second Scotch
Presbyterian Church chapel, on its lower level, and compared to many of the maintains a relatively small number of rent-stabilized and
rent-controlled apartments.
anticipating closings in a year or so.
The design details are lovely – conservative without being prissy. The kitchens – with Calacatta marble counters and backsplash, good storage, oak millwork, dimpled glass cabinets, and featuring a notable burnished copper range hood – are well-organized and a little more French country than some of the very crisp, all-white marble versions in comparable developments.
Landmarks has approved the addition of a number of new windows along Central Park, a great perk.
The developer is banking on the stellar views, beautiful, from the Park-facing rooms, which will be a solid counterweight to this one negative.
We’ll see how it serves the demands of today’s demanding buyers.
I’m excited to see Jean Nouvel’s much awaited project at the Museum of Modern Art, 53 w 53rd Street, later in the week.
53 West 53rd Street couldn’t be further from the audience and design of 360 Central Park West.
Excited to see that one!
Have a great month! – Scott