Circa Central Park, 285 West 110th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 285 West 110th Street by Carter Horsley

This very attractive, 11-story building at 285 West 110^th Street is scheduled for occupancy in 2017 and has 38 market-rare condominium apartments and ten “affordable” units.  It is known as Circa Central Park and is at the intersection of 110^th Street and Frederick Douglass Boulevard.

It was designed by FXCollaborative and erected by Artimus Construction.

The building’s south façade has louvers above the windows to control shading.

The site was formerly occupied by a gas station and, according to a March 3, 2016 article by Josh Barbanel in The Wall Street Journal before 1934 “it was the home of a billiard parlor and dance hall.”

Bottom Line

This very handsome, curved, mid-rise building at the northeast side of the traffic circle at the northwest corner of Central Park offers sweeping views of the park and many amenities.

Description

The building has a horizontal fenestration pattern and a roof line that steps down to the east in five setbacks.

According to Mr. Barbanel’s article “the long curving lines of windows will face southwest, broken up by two-tone vertical fins to provide shade and reduce heat,” adding that “one side, facing the park, will be green” and “the other side, facing northward to the brick buildings of Harlem, will be painted reddish brown.”

The courtyard is landscaped and has a large pergola over the seating area.

Amenities

The building has a 24-hour doorman, a roof deck, a dog washing and grooming station, a fitness center, a children’s playroom, a residents’ lounge, storage, a garage with electric car charging, a live-in superintendent, a courtyard and a study room with computers and game stations.  The building offers a bike share, children’s scooters, and picnic baskets.

Apartments

Kitchens have Italian cabinetry, Sub-Zero refrigerators and freezer, Bosch gas range with vented hood, a Lagos blue stone countertop, and a vented washer/dryer.

Bathrooms have radiant heated floors, double vanity sinks and most have a Duravit bathtub with separate glass enclosed shower.

Penthouse 2A is a five-bedroom unit with 2,771 square feet and 550 square feet of exterior space.  It has a slightly curved, 30-foot-long, living/dining room with an open kitchen and a fireplace and a large corner terrace.

Apartments 3G, 4G and 5G and 6E and 7E are four-bedroom units with 2,114 square feet and 99 square feet of exterior space.  They have a slightly curved, 31-foot-foot-long, living/dining room with an open kitchen with an island and a small corner balcony.  The master bedroom also has a small balcony at the other end of the unit and there is a small entry foyer that leads to a very long gallery that opens into the living/dining room.

Apartment 8A is a three-bedroom unit with 1,969 square feet and 1,054 square feet of exterior space.  There is a small entry foyer that opens onto a large living/dining room with an open kitchen with an island and a very large wrap-around terrace.

Apartment 9B PH2B is a four-bedroom unit with 1,798 square feet and 120 square feet of exterior space.  It has an entry foyer that leads to a 22-foot-wide living/dining room with an open kitchen with an island and a balcony.

Apartment 3H, 4H and 5H and 6F and 7F is a three-bedroom unit with 1,488 square feet.  It has a large living/dining room with an open kitchen with an island.