Category Archives: Upperwestside

Upper west side building not approved by LPC

466-468 Columbus avenue is currently  a 3 story building with retail that once housed the vegan restaurant, Blossom and Flywheel. The owners had submitted designs to create a new 8 story mixed use building on the site. The design was critiqued by the LPC and did not receive approval. The design team of BKSK will tweak their proposal and return at a later date.

Landmarks Wants Refinements for BKSK’s New Mixed-Use Building at 466-468 Columbus Avenue, Upper West Side

Upper West side schools- Rezoning news

Late this week, Department of education spelled out two possible plans to rezone Manhattan’s upper west side schools.  One proposal has the popular PS 452 moving to PS 191’s current location and PS 191 moving to a new building part of Riverside Center complex. This proposal has been met with much opposition as could be predicted. Another proposal has changes being made to the entire district up to the West 100’s.

A vote would have to be passed by December to take place in time for the Fall 2017 school year.

WSJ coverage

 

Riverside Park-Upper West side oasis

If you are living or thinking of living on Manhattan’s Upper West side,  and can find an apartment close to Riverside Park, you will always be able to do find something to do even if it’s just a stroll on a hot summer day.

There’s a Cherry Walk from 100th to 125th street on the water as well as the red clay tennis courts at West 96th street in case you want to channel the spirit of The French Open. There’s soccer fields, long winding paths, the Boat Basin Cafe and this just takes you into the West 70’s.  Here are some photos to get you motivated to take a walk on the Hudson River and maybe catch a sunset, take a free yoga class or watch an outdoor movie.  Click on the below for a list of events. Calendar of events in Riverside Park

 

One of the best places to live is in one of the many full service buildings on Riverside boulevard. There are a range of apartments from studios to family size apartments. Many of the buildings have roof decks, and swimming pools among the amenities. One of the best buildings is the newest addition- One Riverside Park where a 3 bed/3.5 of around 2000 sqft (185m2) can be had for under $5 million  or rented for under $10k per month.  Around the corner at 1 West end avenue, you can find interesting offerings at around $2000 per sqft and this building comes with a 20 year tax abatement.

Beyond the glitzy new condos in this section of Lincoln Square, you can find the more affordable Lincoln Towers, a postwar co-op on West end avenue. A 3 bedroom is for sale for $2.295 million with a monthly maintenance under $2500 per month. Prices are around $1500 per sqft in this pet friendly development which has several buildings and while not as fancy as it’s neighbors to the west, it is more centrally located, a full two avenues closer to Broadway including Zabar’s and the express subway stop.

Riverside boulevard buildings
Riverside boulevard buildings

Whether you decide to purchase, rent near Riverside Park or just pass through, there’s always plenty to do…

 

Building profile 400 Central Park west

If you are thinking of buying on the Upper west one of the most desired building is within the postwar Park West Village. It is located at the corner of Central Park west and 100th street. The building features studios to 2 bedrooms (540 sqft(50m2) to 1140 sqft(105m2)). There are 1 bedrooms and 2 bedrooms with balconies. Apartments face either north or south due to the building being sideways on Central Park west and the 2 bedroom apartments have a second exposure either west or east.

Inside the building, there is a full time concierge, live-in-super, on site property manager, exercise room, children’s playroom, and laundry. Bike storage, storage and parking are also available on a wait list basis with parking in the outdoor parking lot going for only $204 per month! It takes about 1 year to get a space in the 400 Central Park west parking lot as of this time.

Best of all, 400 Central Park west has very low monthly charges. A 2 bedroom/2 bathroom which might sell for between $1.6-$1.9 million will have a common charge of about $900 and taxes around $400. For this reason, there are a limited number of apartments for sale in 414 unit building. Owners tend to purchase and stay or hold their properties long term.

The building also shares a playground with the neighboring buildings plus there is another playground inside Central Park at West 100th street. Many of the southern facing apartments have wonderful views of the Park and a Citi bike station is coming soon adjacent to the building.

Listings in 400 Central Park west

 

 

 

What is your favorite area of Central Park?

Central Park has so many places to enjoy and seek refuge from a hot summer day. One of my favorite nooks of the park is the pool at West 100 street. It’s an area where you can see owners walk their dogs, ducks swimming, and even the occasional stray turtle planting their eggs. One of the advantages of this section is while it does swell up with picnickers on the weekend, it is nowhere near as crowded as sections closer to Midtown. That’s right Strawberry Fields, I am talking to you.

 

Thinking of buying a family sized apartment on the Upper west side?

Are you looking for a good value on Manhattan’s upper west side under $5 million? As always the further you go downtown the pricer it gets. You can buy a 1000 sqft(93m2) 1 bedroom for just over $5mm in 15 Central Park west, the Zeckendorf Developed building that started the luxury boom. However, it might be hard to squeeze two children into a 1 bedroom so let’s look at where you can get the most size and value for your money. Several buildings come to mind. In this search let’s rule out any buildings where the monthlies run more than $3 per square foot. We will also take a look at only pet friendly buildings that have a concierge or Doorman. After all, you are not going to leave the family pooch behind and who will sign for all of the Amazon deliveries.  Let’s take a closer look.

11 Riverside drive aka The Schwab house(co-op) whic h  is between 73rd and 74th street has a total of 636 units spread over 19 floors. Yet, there are only 5 apartments for sale. It is usually a good indication when few units are for sale.  You can find a 3 bedroom/3bathroom  listed for sale for under $3 million. Monthlies are only about $2 per sqft total which is reasonable. Location is excellent of course as you are close to Riverside Park, express subway, Fairway(if it stays in business) as well as Lincoln Center. Positives-Roof deck and location.

Lincoln Towers co-op aka 140,150,160,165,170,180,185,205 West end avenue is spread over several buildings between 66th to 70th street from Amsterdam avenue to Riverside boulevard. One 5 bedroom/4.5 bathroom is available here for $3.75 million with the monthly charges being $6,011. A 4 bedroom is also being offered for sale in the pet friendly building with a full time doorman for $3.5 million. This development deserves a visit and since it’s large perhaps you can find some larger units that were put together and now being offered for sale. Positives- Location, greenery, proximity to all of the same amenities as neighboring Schwab house.

221 West 77th street(condo) is a ground up construction by the Naftali Group and is a follow up to their successful 210 W 77th street. 26 units on 18 floors and 10 are already in contract. For around $5 million, there are two apartments to choose from- one is a 3bd/3.5ba 2048 sqft(190m2) and the 2nd is a 2bd/2.5ba 1735 sqft(161m2) offering. They are asking $4.925 and $4.05 million respectively. Monthly charges average $2.30 per sqft. Obviously, this is a much higher price point at $2400 or so per square foot up to $3000 per sqft on the higher floors in the building. For the higher price, you get a more central location, and an impressive amenity package including a basketball court, a fitness center, a paneled library with pool table and a roof deck with gas fire pit.

1 West end avenue (condo) is a new construction building that offers 8 listings under $5 million with at least 2 bedrooms. Perhaps this is the building where you will find the most value. For just over $5 million one apartment which features West and and northern exposures offers 2748 sqft (255m2) with 3bedrooms and 3.5 baths. Monthly are only slightly more than $1 per square foot thanks to a tax abatement of 20 years! This gives an owner or investor a chance to purchase and sell well before the taxes go up. Appreciation has been very strong in the surrounding buildings in the last few years. Thanks to the tax abatement and finishes and development team this might be the best place to invest your capital or make your home.

Certainly, there are lots of other buildings where $5mm can go even further and even a lower price point as well. I believe this is where an experience real estate broker can help to give you guidance in assessing value, and understanding the dichotomy that is the Manhattan real estate market. Depending on your own personal situation, it may or may not be the right time to buy right now and a seasoned professional can help you to determine where you can find the best combination of value and amenities that you desire in your Manhattan apartment.

 

 

Amsterdam bike lane on Upper west side open

Manhattan’s upper west side has a new protected bike lane which starts from around the Beacon Theatre at the beginning of Amsterdam avenue and continues up through the upper west side. When I rode it the other day the lane was not entirely painted green yet but works fine just the same. This coincides with Citi Bike’s expansion to 110th street and the Upper east and Upper west side.

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BSA rejects plan to convert 361 CPW church into condos

On Manhattan’s upper west side, local residents and community groups are claiming victory.  The plan to convert the former church on the corner of 96th street and Central Park west on Manhattan’s upper west side, has hit a setback. A variance was needed to convert the former Creenshaw church to condos and the request for a variance has been rejected.The building was sold previously for $26 million and then flipped to another developer for $42 million.

 

 

 

Levain Bakery to open in a larger space on Upper West side

Levain Bakery is moving out of 400 sqft into a larger space around the corner on Amsterdam avenue. The new space will be 3000 sqft in total and is located at 351 Amsterdam avenue just two blocks away according to LINK. The asking rent on the new space which is close to West 77th street was $27,500.