34 Leonard Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 34 Leonard Street by Carter Horsley

The attractive, 8-story residential building at 34 Leonard Street in TriBeCa sold in a foreclosure sale in June, 2010 for $34,014,920 and that buyer sold it recently to Queenswood 34 LLC for $40.8 million, according to an article September 22, 2010 at ny.curbed.com

The 16-unit apartment building was completed as a cooperative in 2008 on a site that was formerly used for a gas station from 1950 to 1985 and more recently it was occupied by a garage and Buster's Garage, a large sports bar. Today's curbed.com article said that the building is now a "nondo," noting that its website indicates it has a "leasing" office.

The building, which also has an address of 180 West Broadway, was designed by Beyer Blinder Belle for R Squared LLP of which Gregg and Mitchell Rechler are the principals. They were formerly executives of Reckson Associates Realty Corporation where in their 20-year tenure they directed the management, acquisition, development and disposition of more than 25 million square feet of commercial property.

It has a red masonry façade above a rusticated base with shed marquees and it is a block north of the imposing and impressive, red-brick Western Union skyscraper.

The building s design originally called 60 apartments in a larger building with a cantilever over an adjoining property. The design was revised and the building shortened and the cantilever eliminated.

The building has one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 1,541 to 2,792 square feet and a 3,086-square-foot penthouse that has a 2,215-square-foot wraparound terrace and two fireplaces.

The lobby has a very large and attractive video installation depicting trees by Jennifer Steinkamp. Translucent glass with embedded leaves, sculptured wood benches and artisan crafted limestone walls.

Apartments have 10-foot ceilings, large. pivotable windows and walnut wood flooring. Kitchens have Poggenpohl cabinets, Imperial Danby marble countertops, Viking and Subzero stainless steel kitchen appliances. Bathrooms have Oyster Beige limestone, a walnut-stained floating vanity, dual sinks and an oversized tub and glass-enclosed shower.

The building has a landscaped roof deck with grill and bar/prep as well as a sunbathing area with outdoor shower. The building also has a 24/7 doorman, a fitness center, private storage, wine cellars, a pet spa and an industrial laundry room for handling large comforters and pillows.

The building is centrally located in TriBeCa and is convenient to SoHo, the Far West Village and the Financial District.