Though the celebrated American architect and first-ever Pritzker Prize winner Philip Johnson passed away in 2005, his design tenets endure through his multi-disciplinary firm of Philip Johnson/Alan Ritchie Architects (PJAR). Now led by Alan Ritchie who worked with Johnson for more than 25 years, the proactive continues to produce Post-modern and contemporary structures around the globe. While the Manhattan-based office has been quiet locally — with their last major commissions being the condos Renwick Modern (2017) in Hudson Square and Number 5 (2009) near Grand Central — it’s back on the scene with Gramercy Gates, a ground-up condominium that has just launched sales.
Some measure of luxury was always expected from Gramercy Gates — a $37.3 million offering plan was submitted in March 2019, and, as a demolition worker on the site observed, "The tubs alone cost $20,000." Two-bedroom floor-through homes start at $2,824,500, and three-bedroom maisonettes start at $4,859,000. At an average price of $2,199 per square foot, it is well above the Gramercy condo average of $1,798 per square foot (per CityRealty data). However, the generous square footage and private outdoor space may offer some justification for the higher prices.
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The 11 units comprise eight floor-through two-bedrooms with Juliet balconies, two three-bedroom maisonettes with private gardens and storage rooms, and a full-floor penthouse with three private terraces and a roof garden. Amenities include an elegant lobby, lounge, and bike room. It is located at 327 East 20th Street in a quiet section of Gramercy, but one with easy access to the area’s fine dining, green space, and public transportation. Union Square, NoMad, and the Flatiron District are a short walk away.
The area has come a long way from the site's earliest days as the home of the 21st Precinct police station, which was said to date back to "the Gangs of New York era." Prior to its demolition at the beginning of 2018, it served as a group home for LGBT youth. When developer Suzuki Capital purchased the lot for $11.5 million in April 2014, the sale included 7,000 square feet of air rights. This allowed the building to include several more units, but not enough to overshadow its low-rise neighbors.
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