This month, I had the pleasure of seeing a few of the scads of new development sites hitting the market.
I saw:
- 400 Park Avenue South
- 215 Sullivan Street
- 505 West 19th Street
- not to mention 306 West 116th (in previews in West Harlem)
400 Park Avenue South, already sheathed in its curtain wall
Toll Brothers’ 400 PAS is in previews right now, much like a Broadway show, in that they cannot even sell units yet.
505 West 19th is another lovely addition to the Highline area, and 215 Sullivan took me totally by surprise, as new development in the heart of Greenwich Village often will
do.
400 Park Avenue South is among the new crop of Toll Brothers’ condominiums –
a Christian de Portzamparc design which stands out among older office buildings along Park Avenue South, creating drama and impact sorely lacking in this corridor.
In many ways, this building is the coming-out party for
its neighborhood.
Condominiums such as Huys, literally across the street, have had great success over the last 1-2 years,
as did
developments of
the last cycle, such as Park South Lofts, 41 East 28th, Parkwood Lofts, 76 Madison, and the like.
The new condominiums, such as 10 Madison Square West, complementing the views of 225 Fifth, 15 East 26th street, One Madison, etc., all give this 23rd-32nd Street Park Avenue South corridor a very strong base to continue expansion.
Further, aging office buildings will be replaced wherever they can be, or redeveloped
as residential, and will connect Flatiron to historic Murray Hill.
Ease of subway access, great restaurants, walking distance to parks (Madison Square Park and Gramercy Park), shopping, and
clubs, all make this, now, an obvious
pattern.
I have been touting the area for over two years, but this level and quality of product only recently is
being delivered.
The views from the 42-story building’s offerings generally are only in one direction or another – not the 360-degree views
from One Madison.
However, at $2000+ per square foot, pricing seems to reflect the comparison to the $3500-4500 per square foot average pricing of its neighbor. With only 4 one-bedrooms in the building, the focus continues to be on larger properties.
Starting on the higher floors (23rd floor or so), with a rental component at the base, each unit enjoys incredible sunlight, at the very least.
A full Miele appliance package
enhances open kitchens with glass-paneled backsplashes, most with islands, in variations of white – a contemporary look.
Wide-plank oak floors, rich stone baths. A grown-up property to complement the 160 East 22nd Street site with which they’ve had incredible success.
The result of the project is a splash much like what this architect did with One57, along another corridor far less established for residential.
Yet.
Worth a visit.
I expect the July news, once sales officially open, to be very brisk.
215 Sullivan has created perhaps more controversy, as the development is replacing a century-old Children’s Aid Society site.
Yet this site, which debuted, appears to be more than 80% sold, and is well underway in its construction, blends into the Village the way that NYU’s new construction seems to morph old and new.
Today’s buyer will enjoy the super-high ceilings, the perfectly proportioned bedroom sizes and living rooms by Ed Rawlings, a planted garden in the rear mature from day one, and the full-service building in a low-density environment.
I can’t think of too many examples of
a developer building
half as tall as was allowed, yet here we are with Sullivan Street.
The finishes are luscious, showing high level of workmanship, and the overall impression is that of real quality.
Wood grains in the kitchen finishes, a light/dark contrast that seems to permeate other properties of late – everywhere, really. I’d urge you to take a look at the website.
Stunning.
505 West 19th Street
Lastly, 505 West 19th Street is one of the latest creations of talented Thomas Juul-Hansen, who did the interiors of de Portzamparc’s One57.
This building straddles the HighLine, with its entrance directly underneath, and two “towers,” one on either side!
Ingenious in its design, this particular development is about location and a sense of light and air, not about views.
In fact, the parking lots to the North and South actually are
about to be sold.
What’s interesting here is
a new focus on brass- and champagne-colored fixtures.
This focus connects to
the building’s
nearby neighbor at 551 West 21st Street, where this color scheme permeates even the window designs.
I’m intrigued by how these color changes migrate from project to project, whether simply from boredom, a need for variety, or some other ideas.
In any case, it’s a welcome change from the chrome and white.
These interiors float between the timeless, the mid-century inspired, and the contemporary bridge between the two.
Floor-to-ceiling windows expand the interiors to the Highline’s elevated park outside, and pricing starts at roughly $2500 per square foot.
Bravo.
As usual, the Spring brings flowers and new debuts.
More to come next month!