Top Prewar Condos

The O'Neill Building, an architectural landmark at 655 Sixth Avenue between West 20th and 21st Streets, was originally constructed in 1887 as Hugh O'Neill's Dry Goods Building. Designed by Mortimer C. Merritt, it stands as the oldest and most distinguished of the major department stores that once lined Ladies' Mile, the historic retail district along Sixth Avenue. The building's distinctive cast-iron façade features Corinthian columns, ornate architectural details, and its signature beehive-style domes atop almost cylindrical towers at both corners.

The structure's history reflects the evolution of the neighborhood - from retail glory to manufacturing use by the 1920s. The original four-story building received a fifth-floor addition in 1895, and the iconic domes were removed in the early 20th century. In 2003, Elad Properties acquired the property for $37 million and undertook an ambitious conversion project.

Completed in 2007, the conversion by developer Miki Naftali and architects Cetra/Ruddy transformed the historic structure into 49 luxury condominiums while restoring the building's distinctive domes. The renovation included a two-story rooftop addition, made possible through an agreement with the Congregation of Shearith Israel, owners of the adjacent cemetery.

Today, the seven-story luxury condominium offers full-service amenities including 24-hour doorman service, concierge, and a 4,000-square-foot landscaped roof deck with outdoor kitchen and dining areas. The building's prewar character is preserved in its soaring ceiling heights, oversized windows, and architectural details, while residences feature modern luxury finishes.

The building's location in Chelsea places it at the intersection of several desirable neighborhoods including the Flatiron District and Greenwich Village. Residents enjoy proximity to numerous restaurants, shopping options including Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, and excellent public transportation access.

The O'Neill Building falls within the Ladies' Mile Historic District, designated in 1989, and stands across from the landmarked Church of the Holy Communion complex. Its historic façade was painted white to resemble stone, and the building's name remains emblazoned in relief on its pediment, serving as a reminder of its significant role in New York City's commercial history.

15 Union Square West is a boutique condominium located at the west side of Union Square at 15th Street.

Residences boast varied and open floor plans filled with natural light. They also have high ceilings and were custom designed by Vicente Wolf to mimic the feel of a townhome; apartments in the upper floors have fireplaces and offer views of the nearby park. Open kitchens are equipped with oversized islands, energy efficient LED lighting and stainless steel appliances; large master bathrooms have stone floors and walls and double sink vanities. Some units have touches like glass staircases and powder rooms with additional laundry rooms.

15 Union Square West has a 24-hour doorman on staff and concierge service from Luxury Attache, and amenities include a spa with a 50-foot-long lap pool and oversized Jacuzzi; a massage and spa treatment room; and a gym with a yoga/Pilates studio and boxing room. Many shops, restaurants, movie theaters and bars are nearby.

The J.W. Marriott Essex House at 160 Central Park South is a distinguished 43-story Art Deco tower designed by Frank Grad that opened in 1931. Originally called Park Tower and later Seville Towers, this iconic building is instantly recognizable by its six-story-high red neon rooftop sign that has crowned the structure since 1932. The beige brick tower features numerous setbacks and attractive Art Deco decorative elements at its base, along with an impressive lobby that extends through to 58th Street, complete with distinctive black marble columns and handsome Art Deco elevator cab doors.

The building operates as both a luxury hotel and residential condominium, housing approximately 247 residential units on floors 19-39 and 509 hotel rooms. Notably, it became the first condo hotel tower in NYC in 1974 during its initial conversion. The property has changed hands multiple times, with Strategic Hotels and Resorts currently owning it and contracting Marriott International to operate the hotel portion. Over the years, the Essex House has attracted notable residents including George Burns, Bing Crosby, David Bowie, Iman, and Liam Gallagher, with one legendary recording artist finding inspiration in the spectacular park views.

Residential apartments at the Essex House are known for their generous room sizes and unique layouts, with no two units being identical. Many feature expansive living spaces, with some boasting 28-foot-long dining rooms, 27-foot-long living rooms, and impressive terraces up to 48 feet long. Higher-floor units offer unobstructed Central Park views through floor-to-ceiling windows, while several apartments include distinctive features like solariums, bay windows, and private terraces. The building's apartments range from one-bedroom units to expansive three-bedroom homes spanning over 2,300 square feet, many with multiple bathrooms and sophisticated finishes including marble countertops, custom cabinetry, and high-end appliances.

Residents enjoy full access to five-star hotel services, including 24-hour room service, concierge service, housekeeping, a spa and fitness center, valet parking, and the award-winning Southgate restaurant. The building permits short-term rentals with a 30-day minimum, making it attractive to investors and pied-à-terre owners. Located in one of Manhattan's most prestigious blocks between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, the Essex House offers proximity to Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Fifth Avenue shopping, and the Time Warner Center, with utilities typically included in common charges.

The Loft at 30 Crosby Street in NoLIta has attracted many notable celebrities since it first opened in 2000 and its apartments quickly became some of the most highly sought after in the city.

Landmark Development oversaw the conversion of 30 Crosby Street, which was formerly a manufacturing facility. Featuring high ceilings, custom cabinets, topnotch appliances and original architectural details throughout, the Loft’s 13 apartments also have open kitchens and spacious master bathrooms.

Amenities include a concierge, a garden, an aromatherapy system in the lobby and a full-time doorman. It is also situated in a convenient location that is close to countless restaurants and retail shops in the surrounding neighborhoods of TriBeCa, SoHo and NoHo.

The Apthorp, built in 1908 by William Waldorf Astor, is one of New York City's most prestigious landmark buildings, occupying an entire block between 78th and 79th Streets on the Upper West Side. This Italian Renaissance Revival masterpiece, designed by architects Clinton & Russell, is distinguished by its limestone façade, iconic wrought-iron gates, and magnificent central courtyard with fountains and landscaped gardens.

The 12-story building contains 163 residences, accessed through four separate attended lobbies. Apartments feature soaring 11-foot ceilings, many with original architectural details including mosaic-tiled entry galleries, glass-paneled French doors, decorative fireplaces, and intricate crown moldings. Units range from one to six bedrooms, with many offering formal dining rooms and grand entertaining spaces.

The building was converted to condominiums in 2008 and now offers extensive amenities including a 6,500-square-foot suite with spa, fitness center, yoga studio, entertainment space with catering kitchen, children's playroom, and private storage. The building provides white-glove service with 24-hour doormen, hand-delivered mail, and on-site parking. Located between Central Park and Riverside Park, The Apthorp offers convenient access to the Upper West Side's cultural institutions, dining, shopping, and transportation.

737 Park Avenue is a distinguished 20 story prewar condominium built in 1940 and designed by Sylvan Bien for Samuel Minskoff. Positioned on the prestigious northeast corner of Park Avenue and 71st Street, the building sits directly across from the legendary 740 Park Avenue in the heart of Manhattan's most coveted residential district. The red brick structure features a sophisticated four story stone base and elegant architectural details, including attractive pediments on the top floor and a distinctive circular rooftop water tank enclosure. Harry Macklowe converted the building to condominium ownership in 2014, reducing the original 100+ apartments to 60 larger, more luxurious residences.

The building offers white glove service with a 24 hour doorman, elevator attendants, and a resident manager. Amenities include a skylit fitness center, children's playroom, and a unique garden room with catering kitchen adjacent to a landscaped courtyard. The attractive lobby features burled wood paneling and white terrazzo floors, setting an elegant tone for residents and guests. Additional conveniences include private storage, bicycle storage, and various entertaining spaces.

Apartments throughout the building showcase consistent high end finishes, including Varenna kitchens with marble floors, countertops, and backsplash, complemented by Miele stainless steel appliances and glass and aluminum cabinetry. Bathrooms feature heated floors, statuary Italian marble, custom Varenna vanities, and Dornbracht polished chrome fixtures. Most units include rift and quartered solid oak flooring, custom casement windows, and central air conditioning systems.

The residences range dramatically in size, from approximately 1,552 square feet to the spectacular penthouse with 6,003 square feet of interior space plus 2,271 square feet of wraparound terraces. Many of the larger apartments feature wood burning fireplaces, and corner units boast extensive Park Avenue frontage with multiple exposures. Several units offer particularly impressive layouts, such as Residence 12A with its 51 foot long living room and 22 foot long kitchen, demonstrating the grand scale typical of prewar Park Avenue living.

The Century is located on Central Park West near Columbus Circle.

The apartments at 25 Central Park West feature step-down living rooms, formal dining rooms, windowed eat-in kitchens and gracious entry galleries.  Newly installed windows – many of which are bay windows – capture intimate views of Central Park and its own private garden. 

The Century is a white-glove building staffed with a 24-hour doorman, live-in superintendent, concierge, and handyman. Laundry service and in-building storage are also available. Pets are permitted, as are subletting, investors, and pied-a-terres.

In addition to The Century’s compelling Art Deco architecture, it is distinctive for its prime Central Park location. The shops, restaurants, Whole Foods, and transportation of Columbus Circle are a few blocks away, as is the culture and entertainment found in Lincoln Center and the surrounding area. Local schools, playgrounds and opportunities for family activities and outings are also some of the best in the city.

The Textile Building at 66 Leonard Street stands as one of TriBeCa's most distinguished residential conversions, originally designed in 1901 by Henry J. Hardenbergh, the renowned architect behind The Dakota and Plaza Hotel. This Beaux Arts landmark was thoughtfully converted from a commercial textile building to 46 luxury condominiums in 1999 by Chessed LLC, with Karl Fischer designing the conversion that added a penthouse floor. The building's façade features six Caduceus symbols and eight large cartouches, while the interior pays homage to its textile heritage with antique American textile displays and elevator doors embossed with weaving machine motifs.

Located in the TriBeCa East Historic District, this full-service boutique building offers an impressive array of amenities including a 24 hour doorman and concierge, a fitness center with steam room, and a residents' lounge with fireplace and full catering kitchen. The landscaped rooftop terrace features grilling areas and a children's play area with spectacular city views, complemented by a garden courtyard, bicycle room, and an on-site 50 car attended parking garage. The building maintains a pet friendly policy and provides private storage and package services with cold storage.

Apartments range from approximately 1,300 square feet to over 2,800 square feet, with some penthouses exceeding 7,000 square feet. Many units feature dramatic ceiling heights up to 22 feet in duplex layouts, original steel columns with exposed rivets, and wide-plank hardwood floors in Brazilian cherry, mahogany, or oak. Many apartments feature gas fireplaces, chef's kitchens with high end appliances from Sub-Zero, Thermador, and Miele, spa-like bathrooms with soaking tubs, walk-in closets, and individual climate control systems.

The building has attracted notable residents including celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, who sold his apartment in 2004 for $3.25 million to Japanese pop star Hiromi Go, and Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison. The prime TriBeCa location places residents steps from upscale dining destinations like The Odeon and Two Hands, Whole Foods, and multiple subway lines, making it one of downtown Manhattan's most coveted addresses.

The Sugar Warehouse at 79 Laight Street was built in 1853 by the Grocers Steam Sugar Refining Company and later sold to the United States Sugar Refining Company. At 10 stories, it was one of the tallest buildings in New York City when constructed. In 2000, the landmarked structure was acquired by Alex Forkosh of Forkosh Construction and converted into a 34 unit condominium by architect Joseph Pell Lombardi, who described it as "one of the more complex" conversions he had undertaken due to the building's varying heights—10 stories in the core but only five or six stories in other sections. The 2002 restoration preserved the building's distinctive red brick façade, black metal window shutters on the lower floors, and the painted white signage displaying the building's name and address.

The building's conversion required installing an entirely new structural system behind the historic façade to accommodate modern split level and duplex layouts. Two interior courtyards were created to bring natural light into the building. The slightly arched windows and charming exterior details, carefully restored to meet Landmarks Preservation Commission requirements, give the building significant street presence along its lengthy façade extending to West Street. The building sits on cobblestone Laight Street at the corner of West Street in prime North TriBeCa.

All 34 residences are configured as two or three bedroom apartments, with most featuring split level or duplex layouts. Units range from approximately 2,000 to 4,000 square feet, with ceiling heights reaching 14 to 16 feet in many apartments. Several penthouses include skylights and private roof deck access. Common features across units include spacious great rooms, open kitchens with high end appliances from brands like Miele, Sub Zero, Viking, and Gaggenau, marble bathrooms, custom millwork and closets, and vented washer/dryers. Many apartments offer Hudson River views through the building's signature arched windows, and select units feature wood burning fireplaces and private keyed elevator access.

The Sugar Warehouse offers full service amenities including a 24 hour doorman, live-in superintendent, fitness center, two common rooftop decks, children's playroom, bicycle storage, conference room, and private storage units for each residence. The building is pet friendly and zoned for PS 234. There is no parking garage on site. The building has undergone major capital improvements including waterproofing, fireproofing, lobby renovation, and playroom updates.

The location directly across from Hudson River Park and Piers 25 and 26 provides immediate access to waterfront recreation. The building sits in one of TriBeCa's most desirable blocks, with close proximity to the dining and shopping of TriBeCa, SoHo, and the West Village. The cobblestone streets and historic warehouse architecture define the neighborhood's character, which transformed from the former Washington Market produce district into one of Manhattan's most sought after residential areas.

The Sugar Warehouse stands as one of only three historic condominium buildings on the entire TriBeCa waterfront and represents one of the neighborhood's most significant conversion projects from the early 2000s. The building's industrial heritage, combined with its landmarked status and full service amenities, has made it a cornerstone property in the area. The conversion preserved an important piece of New York's 19th century commercial architecture while creating distinctive loft style residences that blend prewar character with modern luxury.

The Spears Building at 525 West 22nd Street was constructed in 1880 as a factory and converted to a boutique condominium in 1996. Building staff and amenities include a part-time doorman, furnished roof deck offering river views, and storage units available for rent. It is in a prime West Chelsea location near the High Line, top restaurants, and world-famous galleries.