53 West 53, #65 | Exterior credit: Ivane Katamashvili | Interior image credit: Credit Evan Joseph | via Douglas Elliman | https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/midtown-west/53-west-53-53-west-53rd-street/39661/65/buRaiivUwXakV
As September 2025 gave way to October, several uber-luxury contracts caused the aggregate dollar amount of Manhattan residential deals to spike week over week. New development condos accounted for a whopping 14 of the 20 highest-priced contracts of the week.
Additionally, CityRealty data shows that prices in buildings by celebrity architects are well below previous highs. However, some of the week's highest-priced contracts were in buildings by Pritzker Prize laureates and other acclaimed architects.
Additionally, CityRealty data shows that prices in buildings by celebrity architects are well below previous highs. However, some of the week's highest-priced contracts were in buildings by Pritzker Prize laureates and other acclaimed architects.
In this article:
The Jean Nouvel-designed 53 West 53 ranked among New York's top contracts for the first time since August 2025, and came back in a blaze of glory. Residence #65 was asking $46.68 million. While this is below the $51.2 million ask from when the building started marketing off floor plans, it was nevertheless the week's top contract by a strong margin.
The full-floor four-bedroom directly above the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is reached via direct elevator access. The building's diagrid reduces the need for interior columns, thus enhancing views in all directions, and interiors by Thierry Despont feature museum-quality finishes. A Great Room with triple exposures flows seamlessly into an eat-in kitchen designed by Mr. Despont for Molteni with an oversized island, statuary marble countertops, and Miele and Sub-Zero appliances. An ultra-private primary suite boasts triple exposures, a windowed dressing room, multiple closets, and a luxurious en suite bath.
The full-floor four-bedroom directly above the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) is reached via direct elevator access. The building's diagrid reduces the need for interior columns, thus enhancing views in all directions, and interiors by Thierry Despont feature museum-quality finishes. A Great Room with triple exposures flows seamlessly into an eat-in kitchen designed by Mr. Despont for Molteni with an oversized island, statuary marble countertops, and Miele and Sub-Zero appliances. An ultra-private primary suite boasts triple exposures, a windowed dressing room, multiple closets, and a luxurious en suite bath.
520 West 28th Street, #PH37, top Downtown contract (Compass) | https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/chelsea/520-west-28th-street/58232/PH37/AJsNTjdmpfJ
It was trailed by Penthouse #37 at the Zaha Hadid-designed 520 West 28th Street, which was asking $35 million in the week's top Downtown contract and second-highest overall. Public records show that the seller paid $20.2 million for it in September 2020, and the listing notes that they embarked on a meticulous renovation in 2022. This yielded features like a new gas fireplace in the Great Room, a reconfigured full-floor primary suite, and a private roof terrace "rebuilt from the studs" to include a sauna, hot tub, cold plunge, outdoor kitchen, and indoor wet bar. The New York Post identified the seller as business executive/Milwaukee Bucks co-owner Wes Edens.
Coincidentally, the week's top Brooklyn contract was also topped with a private roof deck with hot tub. The penthouse at boutique condominium 524 Manhattan Avenue was asking nearly $6 million. A renovation nods to Williamsburg's industrial past with exposed beams and oversized windows; in addition to the rooftop hot tub, modern bells and whistles include a triple-height Great Room, equally well-appointed indoor and outdoor kitchens, and automatic blinds and smart home technology throughout.
1030 Fifth Avenue, #3W, top co-op contract (Compass) | https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/carnegie-hill/1030-fifth-avenue/458/3W/GuhSsPdmItweN
Some of Manhattan's luxury buyers gravitate to the towers of Billionaires' Row, while others appreciate the city's most prestigious prewar cooperatives. That divide played out across the week's third-highest ask: Both the floor-through Tower Residence #37 at 111 West 57th Street, New York's second-highest residential building, and Residence #3W at the J.E.R. Carpenter-designed 1030 Fifth Avenue were asking $19 million.
The Fifth Avenue co-op was listed for $22 million in early 2012, but went off the market about a year and a half later. Years before relisting it for the asking price in September 2025, the sellers embarked on a renovation that was featured in Galerie magazine. Public records show that they paid $8.9 million for it in January 2010.
The Fifth Avenue co-op was listed for $22 million in early 2012, but went off the market about a year and a half later. Years before relisting it for the asking price in September 2025, the sellers embarked on a renovation that was featured in Galerie magazine. Public records show that they paid $8.9 million for it in January 2010.
48 East 81st Street, top townhouse contract (Douglas Elliman) | https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/carnegie-hill/48-east-81st-street/20804/NA/fppRsGlFP
A short distance from 1030 Fifth Avenue, 48 East 81st Street had the week's top townhouse contract with a $17.95 million asking price. This represents a reduction from the $22 million the seller previously sought (h/t Robb Report), but was still good enough for the week's fourth-highest asking price overall. The house is being offered fully furnished with designer pieces, but no word on whether some of the more unusual decor will be included. It is not known how much the seller, real estate developer Shahab Karmely, paid for it.
255 East 77th Street (CityRealty)
Elsewhere on the Upper East Side, a total of $15.45 million was signed across two contracts at 255 East 77th Street. These included Residence #23A, a five-bedroom asking $10.15 million in the week's fifth-highest contract, and bring the Robert A.M. Stern Architects-designed tower to over 75% sold. Many of the two- and three-bedroom units are spoken for, and the smallest public availability is a four-bedroom, 2,403-square-foot apartment asking $5.7 million.
A short distance away, a total of $9.65 million across two contracts was signed at The 74, another new development condominium. Neither buyer has been identified, nor is it known whether it was two separate buyers or one buyer looking to create a duplex: The contracts were for Residence #9A and Residence #10A, a pair of half-floor three-bedrooms that could conceivably be combined into one magnificent home.
238 East 72nd Street, #TH (Vandenberg Inc.) | https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/lenox-hill/238-east-72nd-street/128834/NA/brMSttCvKmdBa
Also of note, 238 East 72nd Street entered contract with an asking price of $4.85 million. It was the longtime residence and studio of designer George Tscherny, whose obituary in The New York Times noted that "his graphic designs defined an era." His portfolio included Colgate Palmolive, Pan Am, Herman Miller, and the School of Visual Arts (which still uses his logo today). In the 1960s, the early 20th century house was renovated by Joseph Merz, whose work includes a rare Mid-Century Modern townhouse in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District.
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Top NYC Contracts: September 29 - October 5, 2025
#10. 1289 Lexington Avenue, #12A
Last Ask: $7,500,000
Carnegie Hill | Condominium | 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths | 3,706 ft2
1289 Lexington Avenue, #12A (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
Fifteen Hudson Yards, #72B (Corcoran Group)
From the Listing: Located on the prized southwest corner of Fifteen Hudson Yards, this remarkable home enjoys grand proportions and mesmerizing views of the Hudson River, New York Harbor, Statue of Liberty, Freedom Tower and Downtown skyline from morning to night! The gracious 6-foot wide foyer leads to the giant great room with ceilings up to 10'10" and stunning views in every direction. The oversized open kitchen features a grand marble island, Bulthaup cabinetry with large pantry and Miele appliances including double ovens and wine storage. The primary suite is very private, enjoying river views, an oversized bathroom with soaking tub and large shower and two massive walk-in closets. See full details here.
Fifteen Hudson Yards has 16 public availabilities from $2.5 million.
#7. One Hundred Barclay Tribeca, #20B
Last Ask: $8,695,000
Tribeca | Condominium | 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths | 3,665 ft2
One Hundred Barclay Tribeca, #20B (Corcoran Group)
#6. 20 Bank Street, #TH
Last Ask: $9,500,000 (-36.7%)
West Village | Townhouse | 4 Bedrooms, 4 Baths | 3,600 ft2
20 Bank Street, #TH (Compass)
#5. 255 East 77th Street, #23A
Last Ask: $10,150,000
Lenox Hill | Condominium | 5 Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths | 3,272 ft2
255 East 77th Street, #23A (Compass)
#4. 48 East 81st Street, #NA
Last Ask: $17,950,000 (-18.4%)
Carnegie Hill | Townhouse | 6+ Bedrooms, 6+ Baths | 7,400 ft2
48 East 81st Street, #NA (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
#3 (tie). 111 West 57th Street, #37
Last Ask: $19,000,000
Midtown West | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths | 4,492 ft2
111 West 57th Street, #37 (Sothebys International Realty)
#3 (tie). 1030 Fifth Avenue, #3W
Last Ask: $19,000,000
Carnegie Hill | Cooperative | 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths
1030 Fifth Avenue, #3W (Compass)
#2. 520 West 28th Street, #PH37
Last Ask: $35,000,000
Chelsea | Condominium | 5 Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths | 6,618 ft2
520 West 28th Street, #PH37 (Compass)
#1. 53 West 53, #65
Last Ask: $46,680,000
Midtown West | Condominium | 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths | 6,448 ft2
53 West 53, #65 (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
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