The Miraval spa has reportedly withdrawn from operating a 40,000-square-foot facility in the luxury residential condominium project at 515 East 72nd Street, according to several reports.

Sara Polsky of ny.curbed.com today noted that when the conversion from rental to condominium apartments "was planned, the partnership between 515 East 72nd Street and the Arizona-based spa resort was the big selling point, according to now-disgruntled buyers and our memories." "But fewer than half of the building's apartments have sold, the spa was yet to open. The owners now hope to find a local spa operator who can make those dive-in movie nights a reality," the article said.

An article at nytimes.com by Sarah Kershaw said that "the concept was a model for future development: a nationally known spa paired with an urban luxury condominium that would give residents all the elements of a pampered vacation right in their own buildings."

"But," it continued, "since plans were unveiled in 2006 for Miraval Living, a residential tower and spa that would have been just such an urban sanctuary on the Upper East Side, the project has stumbled. Fewer than half of the 365 units have sold since the building went on the market in 2007. And now, the New York developer, River Terrace Apartments, has ended its partnership with Miraval, the resort and spa based in Tucson."

The article said that "James W. Sheehan, the project manager, said delays in the opening of the spa were so troubling that the developer decided to part ways with Miraval and is seeking another 'luxury operator' to manage the fitness and spa facilities," adding that "Miraval executives said that the developer had repeatedly missed payments and had not complied with the terms of its contract."

The article said that "in September, Miraval gave the developer one month to settle the account, and the developer chose not to continue the partnership. In a letter to apartment owners explaining Miraval's departure, the company's vice president, Michael Tompkins, said, 'We have encountered numerous challenges in trying to bring you the programs, services and amenities that you have expected.' The building is now going to be called 515 East 72nd Street condominiums....Mr. Sheehan said that he believed the project's troubles were merely the result of market conditions. Sales began just a year before the housing crisis hit. He said that once the spa opened and spaces like the children's playroom were fully furnished, more units would sell."

In addition to the common charge for apartments at the 72nd Street building, the article, which will appear in the October 17, 2010 edition of the newspaper, said that residents pay a "spa fee," which is calculated depending on the size of the apartment and "comparable to monthly memberships at high-end fitness clubs like Equinox," adding that "the average monthly rate is about $250 for a one-bedroom and about $400 for a two-bedroom."

In an article in today's edition of The New York Post, Steve Cuozzo wrote that "Om has turned to ugh at the celebrity-studded Upper East Side apartment tower that was touted as the city's first 'spa-dominium,' adding that "the ultra-luxury Miraval Living spa...has pulled - or been booted - out of 515 East 72nd Street before the long-delayed massage and meditation palace even opens."

"The 39-story high-rise - the setting for Bravo's reality show 'Double Exposure' - began converting its 365 rental apartments to condos a few years ago" when the owners changed its name from River Terrace to Miraval Living," the article said.

"This week," Mr. Cuozzo's article continued, "stunned residents received letters under their doors from Miraval saying, "We too have had a difficult time" with the building's owner and developer, Zamir Equities and C&K Properties."