Manhattan’s Upper West Side has long been associated with a number of character-laden pre-war co-op properties coveted by household name celebrities. Think John Lennon’s last home, The Dakota. Another example might be the San Remo, favored residential setting for Steven Spielberg, Demi Moore and Bruce Willis. These buildings may be sought by the rich and famous, but they just as certainly suffer from a dearth of the creature comforts associated with this era’s ultra-modern luxury condominiums.
Filling that void comes a rising crop of ground-up, brand new condominium buildings across the Upper West Side, each offering an element of modern luxury lacking in the celebrated historic buildings. It might be sustainable design, private outdoor space, in-unit elevator entry or an innovative amenity selection. These newcomers, including 200 Amsterdam, ERA, 212 West 93rd Street, 212 West 72nd Street, Charlotte of the Upper West Side and Waterline Square, are reshaping the storied enclave’s skyline.
For evidence of their popularity, one need look no further than the fact the Upper West Side – particularly ZIP Code 10069 — saw the sharpest growth rates during the pandemic. The median sale price in that ZIP code witnessed a 42 percent surge, largely fueled by the modern luxury condominium Waterline Square.
Here’s a quick sampling of the luxuriant new kids on the block.
212 West 93rd Street
This 14-story architectural gem, situated on a tree-lined stretch between Broadway and Amsterdam, delivers an arresting layered and textured façade with stepped terraces that ensure no fewer than 70 percent of its residences offer outdoor space.
Some terraces in the ODA-designed building are larger than the average Manhattan studio apartment, which typically comes in at about 450 to 500 square feet in size.
Developed by Landsea Homes and Leyton Properties, 212 West 93rd Street provides a new perspective on Upper West Side living. According to Jed Lowry, corporate vice president of the New York City Metro Division of Landsea Homes, it does so “by blending modern and traditional architecture without sacrificing the indoor-outdoor living experience . . . ODA envisioned a building that checks all of the boxes on the modern buyer’s wish list: Large, spacious residences, most of which feature private outdoor space, and increased privacy via direct elevator entry.”
212 West 72nd Street
The standout curvilinear glass apartment development called ”The Corner” was added to the Upper West Side skyline in 2010, and immediately became a 72nd and Broadway landmark. Now it’s been reborn as a luxury condominium fetching prices that start at $1.25 million. “Gone are the days when owning a large Upper West Side apartment meant you had to compromise and accept dark bedroom windows facing a brick wall, antiquated electrical and plumbing and small, outdated kitchens and bathrooms,” says John Tashjian, managing partner at Centurion Property Investors.
“Buildings such as 212 West 72nd Street have ushered in a new era for the Upper West Side, providing elegant spaces with light-filled interiors and modern lifestyle amenities.”
Charlotte of the Upper West Side
Thought to be New York City’s most sustainable condominium building ever, this development at 470 Columbus and West 83rd Street is among the first new residential buildings to rise in the Central Park Historic District in the past three decades.
“In our age of increased invisible airborne health risks, Charlotte of the Upper West Side will be one of the first residential condominium buildings in New York to introduce Ultraviolet C (UVC) energy throughout its air supply to irradiate germs and viruses,” says Todd Poisson, partner at New York City’s BKSK Architects LLP.
Waterline Square
Rising on one of the increasingly rare Upper West Side Hudson River development sites, this three-building luxury residential project from GID Development Group features a selection of amenities including a verdant 2.6-acre central park and dynamic hospitality program. “We’ve continued to outperform the market on both the condo and rental sides as people recognize the value of living in a development that offers this kind of well-rounded lifestyle with everything you need right outside your door,” says James Linsley, GID Development Group president.