The Hit Factory, 421 West 54th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 421 West 54th Street by Carter Horsley

In 2006, this building, which was The Hit Factory, one of the world's most famous recording studios, was converted to 27 residential condominiums.

The 7-story, mid-block building at 421 West 54th Street, has six penthouse duplex units with terraces, a 2,000-square-foot roof deck, a fitness center and keyed-entry elevators.

Such musicians as John Lennon, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, the Rolling Stones, Madonna, U2 and others recording many of their most famous and popular albums in this red-brick building between Ninth and Tenth Avenues.

The building has a 2,000-square-foot roof deck, a fitness center and keyed-entry elevators.

Arpad Baksa was the architect for the conversion, which kept the building's original signage. Joanna Frank s design of the lobby features a wall display of many of the gold and platinum records made in the building.

Apartments have 11-foot-high ceilings, expansive windows, Bosch washers and dryers and Siedle color video intercom and security systems. Valcucine kitchens have have Sub-Zero and Viking stainless steel refrigerators, Miele cooktops, Bosch wall ovens and Sub-Zero wine refrigerators. Master baths have include frameless glass enclosed showers, Waterworks chrome fixtures, and Kohler "Tea for Two" cast-iron soaking tubs.

The Hit Factory was started in 1968 by Jerry Ragavoy and was purchased in 1975 by Eddie Germano, who moved it to this location in 1991.

The conversion was undertaken by Sagamore Capital LLC of Carefree, Arizona.

The building has a garage and private basement storage.

One-bedroom apartments with a home office range in size from 1,021 to 1,210 square feet and ranged in price initially from $1,025,000 to $1,325,000. Two bed-room apartments with two-baths range in size from 1,237 to 2,378 square feet and ranged in price initially from 1,250,000 to $2,425,000.