Location: 80 Metropolitan (Kent Avenue and Wythe Avenue)
Size: 123 units
Prices: $425K to $1.6M
Expected Occupancy: immediate
Developer: Steiner New York
Architect: GreenbergFarrow
Sales and Marketing: Halstead Property

Overview: Williamsburg Grows Up

For years, the joke has been that the best thing about Williamsburg is that it’s the East Village, while the worst thing about it is… that it’s the new East Village. 10 years ago, this meant that Williamsburg was filled with hipsters flocking to art openings, loft parties, or shows at dive bars. While this facet of Williamsburg life is still there (and there to stay), Williamsburg has come to resemble the East Village in other aspects well. These include the presences of sushi restaurants, upscale lounges, designer furniture stores and, now, luxury condominiums.

80 Metropolitan is a completely new condo development, built on the site of the Old Dutch Mustard Company building. GreenbergFarrow’s design is tastefully reminiscent of the site’s- and neighborhood’s- industrial character. This does not mean that life inside 80 Metropolitan in any way resembles life inside a warehouse loft. The units’ luxurious kitchens include Liebherr refrigerators, Miele ovens and cook tops, Bosch dishwashers, marble finishes, polished Caesarstone countertops, lacquer and glass cabinetry with Wenge details, and garbage disposals. Baths include glass showers with marble benches, double sinks, Grohe Rainwater Showerheads, and custom Wenge Vanities. In apartment washers and dryers ensure the best of both worlds: living in Williamsburg, but never having to schlep down to the twenty-four hour laundromat on Bedford and Metropolitan.

Raves & Faves
80 Metropolitan is in one of the choicest locations New York has to offer. Situated on the waterfront, the building offers fantastic views of the Williamsburg Bridge and the Manhattan skyline. This proximity offers convenience as well; the city is one stop away on the L train, or a short cab ride over the bridge. Just as precious is the separation from the city; the calm Williamsburg waterfront is a welcome change from the rat race of Manhattan.

The most enticing part of the location, though, is the chance to be right in the thick of Williamsburg. The neighborhood’s central avenue, Bedford, is three blocks away. Hundreds of the city’s hippest destinations- from bars, to venues, to up and coming art galleries- can be found within a few blocks of 80 Metropolitan.

Not So Hot
The Williamsburg waterfront is still a largely industrial area, though this is changing as more developments are built. The area is populated with old warehouses (many of which have been converted to lofts or art spaces) and covered with vibrant graffiti. Some condo buyers may prefer to buy in more conventional condo locales, and leave the Williamsburg waterfront to more adventurous souls.

Come See For Yourself
Interested in buying at 80 Metropolitan? Give us a call at 212-220-4633 or 917-603-6224, or email us. As a buyer broker, our services are free to you, and we represent your interests. We’ll be delighted to show you apartments at 80 Metropolitan and other comparable properties. Be sure to ask about our rebate program.

Units: Layout and Pricing
The six-story project features 114 condo units. These consist of studios, one bedrooms, and two bedrooms, and go for between $450 thousand and $1.4 million. One of the more unique options offered by 80 Metropolitan is its nine three-story townhouses. Much of residential Williamsburg (like much of Brooklyn in general) is made of three and four story walkups. 80 Metropolitan’s townhouses- which go for between $1.1 and $1.6 million- provide an opportunity to enjoy condo amenities, while still living in a more traditional Brooklyn home.

Location & Neighborhood
Williamsburg is recognized as one of the hippest neighborhoods in the world. On any given night, amazing art and music can be found here. Coffee shops, bars, and book and record stores abound. In the eyes of many people, Williamsburg has surpassed every neighborhood in Manhattan, and become New York City’s premier nightlife destination.

At the same time, Williamsburg is very livable Brooklyn neighborhood. As the young artists of the 80s and 90s have grown older and started families, Williamsburg has become quite family friendly. Rock bands and mothers with strollers can routinely be found chatting with each other as they share fresh bagels on Bedford Avenue.

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Location: 2628 Broadway and 245 W. 99th Street (Broadway and W. 99th Street)
Size: 137 units total
Prices: $1.6 through $14.5 million
Expected Occupancy: immediate
Developer: Extell Development Company
Architect: Cetra/ Ruddy
Sales and Marketing: Corcoran group

Overview: Ariel East and West- Family Friendly Luxury, Rising Over The West Side

Ariel East and Ariel West- a pair of striking glass towers on W. 99th Street and Broadway, respectively- can be seen from both New Jersey and the East Side. The two towers are architecturally very different from each other, but they stand together high above their Upper West Side neighborhood.

While striking, The Ariel Condominiums are also surprisingly livable. This is especially true for families. The buildings offer lush parkland views, child friendly common areas such as playrooms and gardens, and are comprised solely of multiple bedroom units. They offer an ideal option for who want a nice place to raise their family, but still want to live give up luxury high-rise life.

Raves & Faves
The height and placement of Ariel East and West allow for some truly majestic views. Floor to ceiling glass windows help maximize this experience.

The Ariel condominiums also offer less contemplative pleasures. In addition to all the standard amenities, such as full time doorman, concierge, and fitness center, Ariel East and Ariel West offer many other unique and family friendly extras such as private theater, billiards parlor and even a pet grooming salon.

Not So Hot
The Ariel Towers caused quite a stir when they were built, and are not universally popular in the neighborhood. Everyone agreed that the buildings radically changed the neighborhood’s look, but not everyone welcomed the change. The controversy was documented in depth by Jim Rasenberger in the New York Times this past June. While many people relish living in such a notable building, others may find themselves more at home in a less notable- and less controversial- building.

Come See For Yourself
Interested in buying at either Ariel East or Ariel West? Give us a call at 212-220-4633 or 917-603-6224, or email us. As a buyer broker, our services are free to you, and we represent your interests. We’ll be delighted to show you apartments at the Ariel Condominiums and other comparable properties. Be sure to ask about our rebate program.

Units: Layout and Pricing
The towers contain a total of 137 condos-—64 in Ariel East and 73 in Ariel West. These units include two to five bedroom residences. Two bedrooms list for between $1.6 and $2.5 million, three bedrooms list for between $2.3 and $3.6 million, four bedrooms list for $2.3 through 3 million, five bedrooms list for between $4.9 and $7 million, and penthouses go for $14.5 million.

Location & Neighborhood
Ariel East and Ariel West are in a classic, family friendly Upper West Side neighborhood. The area is pleasantly nestled between Central and Riverside Parks. The best the Upper West Side has to offer- from shopping to dining to cultural institutions- is steps away.

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Location: 1200 Fifth Avenue (E. 101st and E. 102nd Streets)
Size: 59 units
Prices: $1.5 to $14.5 million
Expected Occupancy: 2008
Developer: Joseph Nakash, Joseph Chetrit, Lloyd Goldman and Mann Realty
Architect: Emery Roth
Sales and Marketing: Corcoran Sunshine

Overview: 1200 Fifth Avenue- Old World Charm and New World Luxury

Condo buyers are often forced to choose between the charm of a pre-war building and the luxury of a new development. The conversion of 1200 Fifth Avenue means that you can have both at the same time. Modern luxury amenities have been seamlessly worked into 1200 Fifth Avenue, without disturbing the elegance that has graced the building since it was first built in 1928. High-beamed ceilings co-exist with central air and tilt-and-turn picture windows; old world craftsmanship co-exists with electric fireplaces, state of the art kitchen appliances, and a fitness room.

1200 Fifth Avenue’s northerly location on E. 101st Street means that it is slightly removed from the competitiveness and bustle of Carnegie Hill (some might say mercifully so), without sacrificing any value. Furthermore, the fact that 1200 Fifth Avenue is a condo building means that you can buy Fifth Avenue real estate directly, without having to go through the involved condo board approval process.


Raves & Faves
Emery Roth is a legendary architect, best known for Central Park West buildings such as The San Remo, The Eldarado, and The Beresford. 1200 Fifth is a less imposing- but equally impressive- East Side cousin to those buildings. From the first step through the three-story limestone entranceway, it is clear that 1200 Fifth Avenue comes from a different time. New condo developments do not possess the same combination of spaciousness, craftsmanship, and elegance.


Not So Hot
1200 Fifth Avenue is located in Lower East Harlem. The neighborhood is definitely changing, and this makes 1200 Fifth Avenue a good investment opportunity. The very presence of the 1200 Fifth Avenue condos will help to accelerate this process. In the short term, though, some might feel that the surrounding neighborhood does not provide a befitting setting for such an elegant building.

Units: Layout and Pricing
Two bedrooms list for between $1.5 and $2.2 million dollars, five bedrooms list for between $4.9 and $7 million, and penthouses go for $14.5 million. The common charges in this building are on the high side (due to the costs of renovating and maintaining an older building) at roughly $1.25/ foot.

The units were originally designed for wealthy families in the 1920s, many of who were moving up from townhouses. These original layouts have been preserved, providing unusually spacious units,

Come See For Yourself
Interested in buying at 1200 Fifth Avenue? Give us a call at 212-220-4633 or 917-603-6224, or email us. As a buyer broker, our services are free to you, and we represent your interests. We’ll be delighted to show you apartments at 1200 Fifth Avenue and other comparable properties. Be sure to ask about our rebate program.

Location & Neighborhood
Lower Harlem is an area in transition. What was once a low-income neighborhood is currently undergoing a rapid process of gentrification, and coming to resemble Carnegie Hill as much as it does the old Spanish Harlem.

1200 Fifth Avenue is at the upper end of Museum Mile, and is quite tied in to the Fifth Avenue culture that extends down along Central Park. Indeed, its position on the park is one of 1200 Fifth Avenue’s greatest attributes. The park stretches out in front of the building, acting as a lush, 800 acre front yard. 1200 Fifth Avenue is slightly removed from the excitement of the Upper East Side, but it offers a peaceful elegance that most other properties cannot.

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Location: 1 River Terrace (Murray and Vesey Streets)
Size: 264 units
Prices: $1.7 to $6.2 million
Expected Occupancy: Spring 2008
Developer: Site 16/17 Development LLC.
Architect: The Polshek Partnership/ Ismael Levya/ David Rockwell
Sales and Marketing: Corcoran Sunshine

Overview: Combining Luxury and Green Development

The Riverhouse is ahead of its time. In an age where many other buildings still ignore environmental sustainability altogether, The Riverhouse is an entirely green building. This means that priority is placed not only on quality, but on energy efficiency, occupant health, environmental health, and overall environmental friendliness as well. The Riverhouse achieves these goals through many innovations, such as using only non-pollutant materials and finishes, heating and cooling the building with a geothermal system, placing solar panels on the roof, filtering its own waste, re-filtering air, and employing an energy efficient triple pane window system. These efforts have earned The Riverhouse a Gold rating from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the national rating standard for green buildings.

No need to worry, though; this focus on eco-friendliness does not come at the expense of comfort. In addition to green technologies, The Riverhouse includes all the luxuries and amenities of contemporary New York City condo living, such as health club, valet parking and laundry. Eco-friendliness also does not mean skimping on technology either. Units come equipped with high speed internet, wall mounted TV’s, and a sound system with speakers in every room.


Raves & Faves
The Riverhouse not only gives owners a chance to help preserve the environment, it gives them a chance to enjoy it as well. With views of Rockefeller Park, Teardrop Park and the Hudson River, the Riverhouse offers a more pleasant and calming atmosphere than can usually be found in Lower Manhattan.

Not So Hot
Battery Park City is consciously isolated from the surrounding area. While some find this distance quite pleasant, others find it isolating. The Riverhouse does offer ground floor stores and restaurants, as well underground parking. For some people, though, this is no substitute for a neighborhood deli or a nearby subway stop.

Units: Layout and Pricing
The Riverhouse consists of 264 units, which range from one to five bedrooms. An 865 square foot one bedroom starts at $930 thousand. Two bedrooms are in the $1.6 to $2.6 million dollar range, while three bedrooms range in price from $1.6 to 3.4 million. Four bedrooms list from $3.4 through $3.9 million, and a five bedroom lists at $6.3 million.

The units feature large windows, with fantastic views. They are also quite comfortable and livable, featuring dens with oversized pocket doors, and ample kitchen storage.

Come See for Yourself
Interested in buying at The Riverhouse? Give us a call at 212-220-4633 or 917-603-6224, or email us. As a buyer broker, our services are free to you, and we represent your interests. We’ll be delighted to show you apartments at The Riverhouse and other comparable properties. Be sure to ask about our rebate program.

Location & Neighborhood
Battery Park City is a planned community located on Manhattan’s southwestern tip. The area stretches along the Hudson riverfront- offering a postcard worthy view of the statue of Liberty- and features ample parkland, such as Rockefeller park and the innovatively landscaped Teardrop Park. The Riverhouse is only a few blocks away from the shopping, dining, and culture of Tribeca, but the unique nature of Battery Park City makes it seem as if that world is miles away. For this reason, Battery Park City is the perfect option for those want to experience a more relaxed lifestyle, without sacrificing the convenience of city living.

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Location: 25 East 77th Street (between Madison and Fifth Avenues)
Size: 160 units (118 hotel/ 42 condo)
Prices: $1.9 million to $60 million
Expected Occupancy: Summer 2008
Developer: Alexico Group
Architect: Shwartz & Gross (new interior by Jacques Grange)
Sales and Marketing: Corcoran Group Inc.

Overview: A Perfect Blend of Past and Present

Across the street from the Cafe Carlyle- where the legendary Bobby Short once held court- lies The Mark Hotel.

This copper-topped building has been a premier New York hotel since being built by the architecture team of Shwartz & Gross in 1927. It is now undergoing a full renovation and will reopen Summer 2008, featuring 118 hotel rooms and 42 cooperative suites.

The Mark will still be very much a working hotel and- unlike with a typical condo conversion- buyers will have a chance to reap the benefits. Those who wish to purchase a furnished condo in the Mark, but plan to only live there part of the year or only during the week, will have the option of allowing management to use it as one of their hotel rooms and receive 70% of the room rate in return.

Raves & Faves
The new design of the Mark is being done by legendary interior designer Jacques Grange. In both the interior and the furnishings, Grange combines a modern sensibility with the hotel’s traditional style. Modern luxury amenities such as state of the art climate control, high-speed internet, and a health club will be constructed at modern standards, but the hotel’s rich character will be carefully maintained. The building’s public spaces will be graced with The Mark Collection, an original series of works by know artists.

Not So Hot
Though the condo-as-hotel-room innovation is quite unique, and provides a way to minimize investment risk, it may not be for everybody. If you are paying millions for an Upper East Side condo, you don’t necessarily want to have to put with weekend hotel guests staying next door.

Units: Layout and Pricing
Condos are only available are only on the top floors of the Mark. Furnished units include studios (in the 500 square feet range), one bedrooms (in the 1,000 square foot range), and two bedrooms (in the 1,600 square foot range). Additionally there is a three bedroom on each floor that comes unfurnished, and a 2,400 square foot penthouse with a terrace.

Units were initially listed as starting at $1 million and going through over $10 million, though the least expensive unit currently listed is a studio for $1.975 million. Other furnished rooms are listed in the $2 through $7 million range. The last remaining three bedroom is listed at $14 million, and the penthouse is listed at $60 million.

Come See for Yourself
Interested in buying at The Mark? Give us a call at 212-220-4633 or 917-603-6224, or email us. As a buyer broker, our services are free to you, and we represent your interests. We’ll be delighted to show you apartments at the The Mark Condo and other comparable properties. Be sure to ask about our rebate program.

Location & Neighborhood
The surrounding, parkside area of the Upper East Side is one of the world’s premier neighborhoods. Madison Avenue shopping is a half block away from the Mark in one direction; a pleasant stroll through Central Park is a half block in the other. Whether you fancy a visit to the latest exhibit at one of the nearby museums— the Whitney, Met, or Guggenheim— or want to dine at Café Boulud, the best of the Upper Eastside is a stone’s throw from The Mark.

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Overview: Small-Town Utopia in NYC
Even though it has a 212 area code and is only one subway stop or a tram ride away from Manhattan, Roosevelt Island is still nearly invisible to New Yorkers who do not live there or have no friends there. Strange, given that it is such a spectacular waterfront site.

With a moving landscape of boats in the river, this island may be the best of both worlds – the cosmopolitan lifestyle combined with a truly serene and relaxing environment, removed from Manhattan yet a mere 20 minutes away. The ambience here is modernly utopian: within yards of the city, a waterfront paradise with abundant open space and high degree of community-mindedness.

Owned by the city, Roosevelt Island was leased to the State of New York’s Urban Development Corporation for 99 years in 1969 and became the site of a utopian housing experiment in the 1970s. With the corporation’s approval of the Riverwalk, the first luxury condo, Roosevelt Island has been transformed from a subsidized housing collective into an upscale residential neighborhood with small-town ambience.

Compared with Manhattan’s luxury condos, this one has more open space and more recreational opportunities. Thirty percent of Riverwalk’s buyers were already island residents before Riverwalk was born, so they understand the value of what they’re getting: an ideal residential lifestyle in a striking waterfront park setting with unmatched Manhattan skyline and river views, priced 30% below comparable offerings in Manhattan. In addition to individual buyers, Cornell has bought four floors in Riverwalk Court for faculty residences.

Amenities include:

• Floor-to-ceiling windows with wonderful views
• Kitchens with granite countertops and stainless-steel appliances
• Kitchen garbage disposals
• Marble baths
• Hardwood plank flooring
• Washers and dryers in units
• 24/7 attended lobby
• Fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment
• Children’s play room
• Rooftop entertaining lounge
• Landscaped sundeck
• Bicycle room
• Storage lockers

Raves & Faves
These apartments are prewired for high-speed Internet. Talk about smart building!

Not So Hot
The drawbacks of living on Roosevelt Island are the lack of nightlife and the very limited retail outlets – but let’s hope the addition of new luxury condominiums on the island will change all that. Also, if you’re looking for one of those palatial apartments featured in some new condos, you’re not going to find it here – these apartments are ordinary in terms of layout, and the largest is about 1,400 square feet. And no terraces!

Units: Layout, Pricing and Availability
Condominium apartments at Riverwalk Court range from 1-bedroom to 3-bedroom units. As of this writing, there are 17 apartments on the market:

1-bedroom condo apartments (682-885 square feet) – $595,000 to $680,000
2-bedroom condo apartments (1019-1153 square feet) – $790,000 to $935,000
3-bedroom condo apartments (1433 square feet) – $1,225,000 to $1,305,000

Come See for Yourself
Interested in buying at the Riverwalk? Give us a call at 212-220-4633 or 917-603-6224, or email us. As a buyer broker, our services are free to you, and we represent your interests. We’ll be delighted to show you apartments at Riverwalk Court and other comparable properties. Be sure to ask about our rebate program.

Location & Neighborhood
Riverwalk Court is steps away from the F-line subway station and the Tramway. It’s only one stop to 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue on the F train, and five minutes by tram to 59th Street and 2nd Avenue. Riverwalk Place is also accessible by car on the Queensboro Bridge Upper Level to the Roosevelt Island Bridge.

In addition to being convenient to Manhattan, Riverwalk Park has all the advantages of Roosevelt Island’s vital community, which boasts its own newspaper, post office, library and two schools serving grades K-8. Two thirds of the island’s 147 acres are devoted to parks, promenades and open spaces. The Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, outdoor soccer and baseball fields, and plentiful jogging and biking trails provide plenty of opportunities for sports enthusiasts.

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Location: 750 Fifth Avenue (at 59th Street)
Size: 181 condominium units and 152 hotel-condo units
Prices: Starting at $1.5 million – the sky’s the limit
Occupancy: Late 2007
Developer: Elad Group
Architect: Originally Henry J. Hardenbergh; renovations by Costas Kondylis
Interior Design: Gal Nauer
Sales & Marketing: Stribling & Associates
Website: www.theplazaresidences.com

Overview: Buying a Slice of History
F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote here. Frank Lloyd Wright visited here. The Beatles were headquartered here in 1964; the Plaza Accord was signed here in 1985; kings and queens have enjoyed royal visits here and every U.S. president since Theodore Roosevelt has spent time here. Occupying the corner of Fifth Avenue at Central Park South, the Plaza Hotel, a French Renaissance château-style building, is steeped in history.

Fans of New York City history have heard a lot about the Plaza’s décor, its beauty and its famous landmarks like the Palm Court, the Edwardian Room, the Oak Room, and the Pulitzer Fountain. Many movies have been filmed at the hotel, beginning with Hitchcock’s masterpiece, “North By Northwest.”

For almost one hundred years, flying the flags of the countries of visiting dignitaries over its Fifth Avenue canopy, The Plaza mirrored the social history of Manhattan: its tastes in design, entertainment, restaurants and accommodations, as well as the Great Depression, two World Wars, the Cold War, women’s rights and British rock-and-roll.

This city’s best chateau defined grandeur for a century and, like a fine wine, it has aged well. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1986. In 1998, it was also designated as a literary landmark and eight of its public rooms were declared interior landmarks in 2004.

In 2004 the Plaza Hotel was sold to the Elad development group, and in April 2005 the developers began renovating the hotel with the aim of converting it into 181 condominium units, 134 hotel rooms and 152 hotel condos. The hotel’s historic rooms will be restored to their original 1907 appearance. Even the Palm Court’s glass ceiling, which was removed during the 1940s, will be recreated.

Anybody buying a condo at the Plaza is truly getting a slice of history. There are two separate groups of condominiums. The 152 ‘hotel condominium suites,’ which are being marketed as pied-a-terres, are something like former hotel rooms at the Plaza – only in mint condition. The Palm Suites are about 550 feet and start at $1.6 million; the Plaza and Terrace suites start at $5 million and are considerably larger.

The private residences are a separate ballpark altogether. Starting at $2.5 million per unit, these will be the newest and most unique spaces at the Plaza. The apartment sizes vary widely from 1 bedroom (about 800 square feet) to 5-bedroom, duplex penthouses. The new residents here include Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, who bought an 11th-floor condo for $14 million, and real estate baron Harry Macklowe, who bought several contiguous apartments for close to $60 million, a record-breaking number for New York City – and, quite frankly, the world. Tommy Hilfinger and Flavio Briatore, James Cayne and Jocelyn Wildenstein are also on the the purchasers list.

The “Private Residences” at The Plaza Hotel have their own entrance on Central Park South and a large garden court with cascading fountain at the bottom of the building’s large rectangular lightwell. Entry to the hotel rooms is on the south side along 58th Street.

The bathroom fixtures have been designed exclusively for the Plaza residences. The kitchen will have Nero Marquina stone kitchen countertops (gorgeous) and Callacata Marble tiled backsplashes.

The massive public spaces such as the Terrace Room, Edwardian Room, Grand Ballroom, and Oak Bar are still in place. In addition, because the Plaza is a hotel in addition to a condominium, it offers every possible service, from room service to maid service, to a private butler, to valet parking, to pet care. Everything.

Raves & Faves
Inside the units, a Crestron-style handheld flat-panel screen controls the “interior ambience” – lighting, music, video, telephone, etc. – and also connects residents directly with concierge and security services from the Plaza as well as with restaurants, cultural venues and retail stores.

Units: Layout, Pricing and Availability
The prices of $3,000 to $5000 per square foot are at the top of the market, but condominium residences like the Plaza don’t really count as “the market” because they’re such unusual and important developments, there’s nothing to compare them to. Many of the condo units sold out very quickly. The investment potential of these condo units is considerable – prices will probably just keep going up.

Price ranges for currently listed apartments are:
Studio apartments (510 – 967 sq. ft.) – $1.6 – $2.1 million
One-bedroom apartments (856 – 1160 sq. ft.) – $2.4 million – $3.6 million
Two-bedroom apartments (1384 – 1476 sq. ft.) – $5.2 – $5.8 million

Much larger apartments exist (some are over 4,000 square feet, with private elevators) and, as I mentioned, some buyers are purchasing multiple apartments and combining them.

Come See for Yourself
Interested in buying at The Plaza? Give us a call at 212-220-4633 or 917-603-6224, or email us. As a buyer broker, our services are free to you, and we represent your interests. We’ll be delighted to show you condominium apartments hotel condo suites at The Plaza and other properties. Be sure to ask about our rebate program.

Location & Neighborhood
As one of New York City’s great landmarks, The Plaza Hotel virtually defines its own neighborhood. Centrally located in Manhattan, it has access to top-of-the-line shopping (think Tiffany’s flagship store), elegant restaurants, cultural venues like Carnegie Hall, and, of course, Central Park. The area is well supplied with public transportation – but who needs to go anywhere else?

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Location: 219 W. 81st St. (at Broadway)
Size: 111 units, 12 floors – not all are condominium units
Prices: From $.7 million – $3 million
Occupancy: Late 2007
Developer: Group of real estate professionals/institutional investors
Architect: Originally designed by Gaetano Ajello; renovation by Gruzen Samton
Interior Designer: Allen + Killcoyne
Sales & Marketing: The Marketing Directors, Inc.

Overview: Old-World Charm Meets New-World Comfort
With a variety of influences and people, a jumble of parks, theaters, historic buildings, museums and prestigious universities, the Upper West Side boasts its own unique character and charm. Co-ops with high ceilings, crown molding, and hardwood floors make up most of the pre-war inventory here. You say you want a condo apartment in a pre-war building that has new finishes? Wow, is that a rare jewel!

Yes, Avonova is that rare jewel. This pre-war condo conversion combines old-world charm with new-world comfort. A mid-rise with 12 floors and 111 apartments, the building was originally designed in 1911 by the eminent architect Gaetano Ajello, who is responsible for much of the characteristic “look” of the Upper West Side. It has been lovingly restored by Gruzen Samton, an architectural firm specializing in period restorations.

The renovations include a façade restoration with new windows; a roof and parapet wall replacement; new plumbing and electrical highways; and new elevator cabs and mechanical systems.

Some rent-stabilized and rent-controlled tenants remain. Market rate tenants are being offered the option to buy, so as their leases come up, more apartments may become available.

Amenities include doorman; fitness center; residents’ lounge with catering kitchen; children’s playroom; courtyard; roof terrace; owner storage and bike storage.

Raves & Faves
The windows in this building are larger than in many other pre-war buildings.

The layouts and finishes in the kitchens are just great, with plenty of cabinet space, and Viking appliances are included. Kitchen sinks are nice and deep, kitchen cabinets have been double stacked for extra storage room and top cabinets have spot lights under cabinets. This kichen will entice you into cooking at home.

Not So Hot
Unnecessary metal trim on bathroom fixtures and tub

It’s notoriously difficult to park on the street in the Upper West Side, and there isn’t a lot of off-street parking available.

The Avonova is starting out with a low owner occupancy rate, which could present a problem in terms of financing.

Units: Layout, Pricing and Availability
These condo apartments have the usual pre-war details: high ceilings (9 ½ to 10 feet), crown mouldings, hardwood floors. A number of floor plans are available, with sizes ranging from tiny (544 square feet) to enormous (2,117 square feet). The larger apartments have walk-in closets, and some have pantries.

Every unit has a washer/dryer, as well as window air conditioning units.

Pricing:
One-bedroom condo apartments (544 – 849 square feet) – $735,000 to $1,165,000
Two-bedroom condo apartments (1,006 – 1,518 square feet) – $1,465,000 – $2,045,000
Three-bedroom condo apartments (1,763 – 2,117 square feet) – $2,175,000 – $2,995,000

Come See for Yourself
Interested in buying at Avonova? Give us a call at 212-220-4633 or 917-603-6224, or email us. As a buyer broker, our services are free to you, and we represent your interests. We’ll be delighted to show you apartments at Avonova and other comparable properties. Be sure to ask about our rebate program.

Location & Neighborhood
The Upper West Side is one of the most family-oriented residential neighborhoods in New York. The area has long been a welcome haven for young professionals and those with an artistic bent. Apartments in this neighborhood have ample access to plenty of stores and markets (including the renowned Zabar’s on Broadway between 80th and 81st Streets), public transportation, great public and private schools, and two major parks.
There have always been a number of shops and restaurants in this region, and the strong economy in recent years has only contributed to their proliferation. Both Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues are probably the best examples of this trend. Each thoroughfare does brisk business on weekends, especially during the summer months.
The Avonova condominium is within easy walking distance of Lincoln Center, one of the most important cultural centers in Manhattan, housing five major performing groups and the Juillard School; the world-famous Museum of Natural History with the Rose Planetarium; and both Central Park and the slightly less well-known but just as beautiful Riverside Park.

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Did you know that New York City has its own Gothic ruin – an equivalent of the great Gothic, romantic ruins of medieval Europe?

If you drive along the FDR Drive near East 52nd Street, you can see it from your car –a Gothic Revival ruined castle-like structure, the Renwick Ruin, at the southernmost tip of Roosevelt Island.

After dark, because the Ruin is well lit at night, you can see its ghostly outline clearly from Manhattan. You might feel like you are in a different continent, or even a different space-time continuum. You barely recognize that it is part of New York City’s 2007 skyscape.

The central part of this Gothic Revival structure, designed by James Renwick, was built in the 1850s by prison labor to treat, house and quarantine the victims of smallpox. Two wings of a similar design were added to the original block between 1903 and 1905. Thousands of patients who entered the Gothic-style structure would never live to see the outside of its thick stone walls again.

After a century of use, the hospital was abandoned in the 1950s. The magnificent building fell into disrepair and has been consumed by ivy and dense overgrowth.

All that remains are its turreted stone exterior walls, and a crumbling brick interior with no roof, no inner walls, and barely any floors. The hallways are consumed by large rock piles, and big trees occupy the rooms once filled with sick and dying patients. In winter, as water freezes and melts, cornice stones fall from the facade. But the building’s grandeur shows through the flaws.

The building was granted landmark status In 1975 by the Landmarks Preservation Commission. The Commission suggested in its designation report that its ruined state was picturesque and attractive. The plan is to preserve what remains, keeping it as a romantic ruin. In 1994, the composer Meredith Monk wrote a choral piece to be performed at the site, called “American Archeology” and featuring a cast of dozens, including actual hospital patients and doctors. The music she wrote is as mysterious as the ruin itself.

Much has changed in the 150 years since the Renwick hospital was built. With its views of Manhattan just across the river, Roosevelt Island now is more than ever a prime real estate location.

Roosevelt Island is owned by the city, but was leased to the State of New York’s Urban Development Corporation for 99 years in 1969. Today, developers and urban planners are building modern glassy buildings on this island.

With the historic Renwick Ruin inspiring the Gothic imagination and an eerie romantic mood, and the cable car flying cross the sky, Roosevelt Island’s magnificent modern real estate has a distinct personality and allure that no other place can match.

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Overview: Romantic Spell, Otherworldly “Pods”
On a recent snowy afternoon I took a tour of the Jade Building, located at 16 W. 19th St. in Chelsea, to get myself in sync with Jade Jagger’s idea for “pod” designs in loft living. I was immediately spirited into Jagger’s romantic spell when I walked into the reception room and saw soft seating, a Moroccan carpet and Moroccan lanterns.

Jagger’s “pod” was conceived for efficiency of space, and to give each condo apartment a loftlike feel. It is a cubelike structure incorporating a mosaic-tiled bathroom, a sleek kitchen (with Miele and Sub-Zero appliances), a closet and a washer-dryer.
When it’s closed, the pod looks like an architectural cube set down in the middle of the living space. It comes in color variations from gold to black and red.

Even though big chef’s kitchens have become important to marketing New York loft condominiums these days, the truth is that most of us eat out seven nights a week, and the kitchen is used only for very simple cooking. For efficiency of space, the Pod kitchen really makes sense.

The “pod” makes the condos in this building function more like glorified hotel suites. That may not work for everyone, but it is very suitable for the young professionals who live in New York like global nomads.

Raves & Faves
This condo building has some incredible amenities. The thirteenth and fourteenth floors have two-tiered landscaped Mediterranean terraces with a reflecting pool. There is also a sundeck, fitness center, and spa. The soaking tubs and the lounge are pretty awesome!

Not So Hot
If you’re a serious cook, you won’t be satisfied with the minimal pod kitchen.

Units: Layout, Pricing and Availability
The building has condo apartments ranging from 400-square-foot studios to three-bedroom terraced duplex penthouses, with nearly every size gradation in between. The studio apartments do not have “pods,” but the other apartments do – including the lofts, which are open-plan spaces somewhat larger than the studios. Some of the one-bedrooms also feature home offices. There are two- and three-bedroom units as well as some beautiful penthouses.

The common charges are reasonable and comparable to other buildings, but the taxes are fairly high, coming in close to the common charges. No tax abatements in this neighborhood!

Available condos include:

Studios and loft condo apartments: $.7 – $1.25 million
One-bedroom condo apartments: $1.0 – $3.7 million
Two-bedroom condo apartments: $1.6 – $3.1 million
Three-bedroom condo apartments: $3+ million

Come See for Yourself
Interested in buying at the Jade Building? Give us a call at 212-220-4633 or 917-603-6224, or email us. As a buyer broker, our services are free to you, and we represent your interests. We’ll be delighted to show you apartments at the Jade condominium and other comparable properties. Be sure to ask about our rebate program.

Location & Neighborhood
Jade is located at the eastern edge of Chelsea. Chelsea has undergone a tremendous upswing since the early 90s, due to the influx of the gay community, the migration of art galleries to the neighborhood, and the opening of the Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex on renovated piers between 17th and 23rd Streets. The neighborhood is well supplied with shopping, restaurants, clubs, and off-Broadway theaters.

Since it is just off Fifth Avenue, Jade is also accessible to the Flatiron District (lots more restaurants) and to amenities like the Union Square Farmers Market. The F, V, N, R, W, 4, 5, and 6 trains are all within an easy walk, as is the PATH train.

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