301 East 50th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 301 East 50th Street by Carter Horsley

At a time when most of the city is gaga over “super-talls,” this relatively modest 29-story apartment building in Midtown East is a very pleasant reminder that quality is in the details, not the bulk.

Designed by COOKFOX Architects, this limestone-clad tower at 301 East 50^th Street is notable for its brise de soleils and its attempt to garner a LEED Gold certification.

The developer is CBSK Ironstate, a partnership comprising SK Development, Ironstate Development and Charles Blaichman that was involved with Reade Chambers, a new condo tower at 17 Reade Street in Tribeca, and 10 Bond Street in Noho.

The building, which is scheduled to open in 2015, has 57 condominium apartments.

Bottom Line

A handsome apartment tower in Midtown East near Beekman Place that is limestone-clad and has sun shades and many amenities.

Description

The building has a rusticated limestone façade and most of its windows have brise de soleils (sun shades) beneath the transom and they give the building a richer than usual texture, somewhat like eye lashes on a beautiful woman.

COOKFOX is also using brise de soleils in a new residential building adjacent to the High Line Elevated Park at 510 West 22^nd Street.

There are corner windows and sections of the façades have rustication that is quite narrow vertically.

The building has sidewalk landscaping and its side-street entrance has a modest stainless-steel entrance marquee that leads into a glass-enclosed vestibule that leads to the lobby that has a large curved wall behind the concierge station. 

Amenities

The building has a 24-hour doorman and concierge, a fitness center with a double-height ceiling, a tea lounge, a landscaped terrace, a laundry room, pet grooming, cold storage, bicycle storage, and personal storage.

Apartments

Apartment A on the 19^th through the 25^th floors is a three-bedroom unit with a 9-foot-long entry foyer that leads to a 23-foot-long living/dining room on the building’s southeast corner next to a 15-foot-long enclosed kitchen.

Apartment B on the 12^th through the 18^th floor is a three-bedroom unit with a 6-foot-wide entry foyer that leads pas a 12-foot-long enclosed kitchen to a 22-foot-long living/dining room and a breakfast alcove.  Two of the bedrooms each have two walk-in closets.

Apartment A on the 6^th through the 11^th floors is a two-bedroom unit that faces 50^th Street and has a 7-foot-wide entry foyer that leads to an 18-foot-wide living/dining room with an open 12-foot-long kitchen with an island.

Apartment C on the 6^th through the 11^th floors is a two-bedroom unit on the north side of the building that has a seven-foot-wide entry foyer that leads to a 22-foot-wide living/dining room with a 21-foot-long, open kitchen with an island.