Top Prewar Condos

Chelsea Atelier is a boutique condominium measuring 12 stories and 33 residences, and dating back to 1911. Staff and amenities include a full-time doorman, on-site superintendent, elevator, bike room, and resident storage. Pets are permitted.

Chelsea Atelier is located at 245 Seventh Avenue, between West 24th and 25th Streets. Whole Foods is across the street, and the building is close to the High Line, Madison Square Park, popular restaurants, and public transportation.

260 Park Avenue South stands as a distinguished example of adaptive reuse in Manhattan's coveted Flatiron District. Originally constructed in 1917 as an 8-story neo-Classical building, it served as the headquarters for the United Federation of Teachers for 30 years before being sold in 2003 and expertly converted into an 86-unit luxury condominium by Karl Fischer Architects in 2004. The developers added four floors to the original structure and ingeniously combined it with an adjoining 12-story building at 48 West 21st Street, creating a unique residential complex with a carved-out niche and rock garden that provides enhanced light and air to rear apartments.

The building's 86 residences showcase impressive architectural details, with many units featuring soaring ceilings ranging from 10 to 15 feet, and some boasting dramatic double-height spaces up to 22 feet. Apartments are outfitted with luxury finishes including Calacatta marble countertops, top-tier appliances from Sub-Zero, Viking, and Bosch, and spa-like bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and rain showers. Notable units include duplex lofts with mezzanine levels and corner apartments with expansive living spaces up to 37 feet wide. Many residences offer private terraces, custom built-ins, and the building's signature beamed ceilings that reflect its pre-war heritage.

Residents enjoy white-glove service with a 24-hour doorman and concierge, live-in superintendent, and an impressive array of amenities including multiple landscaped roof decks, a state-of-the-art fitness center, bicycle storage, and parking for approximately 100 cars. The building's prime location at the intersection of Park Avenue South and 21st Street places residents at the heart of one of Manhattan's most dynamic neighborhoods, with immediate access to Union Square's Greenmarket, Madison Square Park, and the area's renowned dining scene, while multiple subway lines provide seamless connectivity throughout the city.

521 Park Avenue was designed by William Boring, an American-born architect who studied architecture at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts before returning to New York and joining the firm of McKim, Mead and White. The limestone building has been honored with numerous international design awards, including a gold medal for architecture from the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900.

521 Park Avenue was constructed as a cooperative in 1911, converted to a condominium in 1987, and currently has 24 units. The building has a full-time doorman, a live-in superintendent, a fitness center, and private storage that transfers with each unit. It also benefits from a location near Central Park, world-renowned restaurants, and top shopping. Pets, pied-a-terres, and flexible financing are allowed.

The Clocktower Building at 1 Main Street stands as one of Brooklyn's most iconic residential conversions, commanding a prime DUMBO waterfront location with sweeping views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline. Originally constructed in 1914 as an industrial facility for packaging magnate Robert Gair, this 12 story landmark was once the tallest reinforced concrete building in the world. The building's distinctive four story clock tower, featuring massive working clocks on each face, has become a defining feature of the Brooklyn waterfront and houses what was once Brooklyn's most expensive apartment listing at $25 million.

Developer David Walentas transformed the historic structure into 124 luxury condominiums in 1998, preserving the building's Industrial Neo-Classical character while creating modern loft living spaces. The conversion has attracted notable residents including Anne Hathaway, Rebecca Minkoff, and German film producer Katharina Trebitsch. Units throughout the building feature the classic DUMBO loft aesthetic with 11 foot plus concrete beamed ceilings, oversized windows, and hardwood floors, while many apartments boast chef's kitchens equipped with high end appliances including Sub-Zero refrigerators and premium European fixtures.

The building offers full service amenities including 24 hour concierge service, a fitness center, and a planted roof deck. Located on a charming cobblestone street directly across from Brooklyn Bridge Park, residents enjoy immediate access to waterfront recreation, the Empire Stores shopping complex, and St. Ann's Warehouse theater. The ground floor houses the popular Bubby's restaurant, while the building's proximity to A/C/F subway lines and NYC Ferry service provides convenient Manhattan access, making it a cornerstone of DUMBO's transformation from industrial district to one of Brooklyn's most desirable neighborhoods.

The Heywood at 263 Ninth Avenue is a 10-story Beaux Arts building constructed in 1913 as a printing house and converted to residential use in 2005-2006 by H.J. Development Corporation. The building's robust construction features four feet of concrete between floors, and its exterior is distinguished by large multipane windows and a prominent cornice.

The conversion created 50 residential units, including four ground-floor duplexes and four duplex penthouses. Residences feature 12-13 foot ceilings, four-inch white oak flooring, and large windows. Kitchens include Sub-Zero refrigerators and limestone countertops, while bathrooms feature marble finishes and soaking tubs. Unit sizes range from 1,200 to 3,150 square feet.

The full-service building offers 24-hour doorman service, a common roof deck, and basement storage. Located at the corner of 26th Street in Chelsea, The Heywood provides convenient access to the High Line, Chelsea's art galleries, Hudson Yards, and various dining and shopping destinations.

Tower 270, also known as 80 Chambers Street, is a 28 story building erected in 1930 at the southwest corner of Broadway and Chambers Street. Originally serving as the Arthur Levitt State Office Building for various New York State departments, it was sold by the state in 2000 for $33.6 million, the highest valued property sale ever consummated by New York State at that time. In 2003, developer RAL Companies converted the top 13 floors into 39 condominium apartments ranging from 1,998 to 8,117 square feet, with Studio Petrarca designing 17 different floor plans. The building retains approximately 100,000 square feet of offices on floors 2 through 7 and 48 rental apartments on floors 8 through 15. A notable piece of history: in 1942, the 18th floor housed the Army Corps of Engineers division that oversaw the Manhattan Project.

The condominium residences feature dramatic loft proportions with 10 to 10.5 foot beamed ceilings and oversized windows providing multiple exposures and panoramic views spanning from the Hudson River to the Brooklyn Bridge. Common finishes include open chef's kitchens with islands, Sub-Zero refrigerators, Miele and Wolf appliances, and Bulthaup cabinetry. Bathrooms typically feature Philippe Starck soaking tubs, Dornbracht fixtures, and honed limestone or marble. Floor plans range from one bedroom units around 1,000 square feet to a triplex penthouse with an 800 square foot private terrace. Many apartments include in-unit washer/dryers and private storage units on the same floor.

Tower 270 operates as a full service condominium with a 24 hour doorman, concierge, and live-in resident manager. Amenities include three fitness centers, laundry facilities on every floor, a children's playroom, teen media lounge, conference room, bike storage, and a landscaped rooftop terrace with 360 degree views of the city skyline and Hudson River. The building recently completed lobby renovations and Local Law 11 façade work. The property is pet friendly and features an Art Deco lobby that reflects its prewar heritage.

The location directly across from City Hall Park offers residents proximity to TriBeCa's dining and shopping scene, Whole Foods, Target, Brookfield Place, and the World Trade Center complex. Transportation options are exceptional, with R/W, A/C/E, 1/2/3, 4/5/6, J/Z and PATH trains all within two blocks. The building provides views of the Municipal Building, Brooklyn Bridge, and City Hall, positioning residents at the convergence of the Financial District, TriBeCa, and Lower Manhattan's civic center.

The Sweeney Building at 30 Main Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn, is a historic 12-story Neo-Classical Industrial style building constructed in 1916 by the W.H. Sweeney Manufacturing Company, makers of metal kitchenware. Originally designed by Moyer Engineering and Construction Company, the building features an austere concrete façade with distinctive architectural elements including large window openings, rusticated piers, and a projecting cornice. The structure was converted to an 87-unit luxury condominium in 2003 by architect John Fifeld of Fifeld Piaker Elman Architects.

The building's industrial heritage is preserved in its 11-foot ceilings, oversized windows, and robust concrete construction. Notable features include segmental-arch and round-arch windows, and some penthouses feature private rooftop cabanas. The conversion maintained the building's architectural integrity while introducing modern amenities including a 24-hour doorman, live-in superintendent, gym, bike room, storage facilities, and a roof deck.

Situated in a prime DUMBO location, the building offers spectacular views of the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, East River, and Manhattan skyline. Its position provides easy access to Brooklyn Bridge Park, Jane's Carousel, Empire Stores, and St. Ann's Warehouse. Transportation options are abundant, with multiple subway lines (A/C, F, 2/3, R, and 4/5) and the DUMBO/Brooklyn Bridge Park ferry stop nearby.

Located in the heart of Chelsea, the conversion of the landmarked Cammeyer at 650 Sixth Avenue, which was once the world's largest shoe store, was completed in 2008. It contains 67 apartments.

There are approximately thirteen units on each floor, with three terraced penthouses on the seventh floor. Studios, one-, two- or three-bedroom units emphasize open space. Residences have ceilings that are 10 feet and higher, oversized, energy efficient windows and generous layouts. White is the prominent color in these units, from white fixtures in bathrooms to white wood flooring and white, modern appliances in kitchens.

650 Sixth Avenue amenities include a 24-hour concierge and doorman, an on-site wine cellar and a private gym with state-of-the-art equipment. Apartments also have additional storage space on the same floor. The seventh floor has a common 3,600-square-foot roof deck with stunning open city views and all services are provided by “Quintessentially Concierge Service,” a worldwide company that specializes in providing luxury amenities.

Located on the southwest corner of 20^th Street and Sixth Avenue, 650 Sixth Avenue is in the heart of the Ladies Mile Historic District. It is also a short distance from Madison Square Park, popular retail and dining in the Flatiron District and NoMad, Chelsea nightlife, and the Union Square transportation hub.

The Machinery Exchange was originally constructed as a horse stable for the nearby Police Building in 1915, and was converted to a seven-story, 11-unit condominium in 2007. Located at 136 Baxter Street, it is at the crossroads of Soho, Nolita and Chinatown. The building has a virtual doorman, a full-time resident manager, and deeded storage cages.