NEW YORK CITY — In most towns, paying $1.45 million for a home is considered a princely sum. But in a city where penthouses sell for $100 million, that price is considered "mid-tier."
These three new-to-market listings — a Chelsea loft, a combined unit in a pre-war Lower East Side co-op and a bespoke Bed-Stuy townhouse — show what you can get for $1.45 million.
131 W. 28th St., Apt. 2D, Chelsea
1 Bedroom/2 Baths
Co-op
Approximately 1,300 square feet
$1.449 million
Maintenance: $1,478 per month
Open House: Sunday, May 3, 1-2:30 p.m.
Lowdown: The current owner changed the layout of this loft from a two-bedroom into a one-bedroom, creating "great flow" with its 25-foot-long living room, Douglas Elliman's Kelsey Martin said.
The unit is tucked into the rear of the building, so it doesn't have a view, but the space — which has 11-foot-high ceilings — has "great lighting," is quiet and feels private, Martin said.
"It's tranquil and relaxing," she said. "It's a little escape from the city."
If the loft didn't face the interior, the asking price would be at least $240,000 above what's listed, Martin believes.
The renovation, done in 2010, added stainless steel appliances to the kitchen, recessed lighting and matching Flos pendant fixtures over the island and in the dining area.
The window-less bedroom has translucent glass sliding doors and a large walk-in closet with custom shelving.
The second bathroom has a large soaking tub with a washer/dryer that doesn't take up precious closet space, Martin noted.
The 1908-industrial building, which converted into co-ops in 1982, has two units per floor, each accessed by a keyed elevator.
Location: This part of the Flower District is rapidly becoming more residential, with apartment buildings that flank the block currently under construction. The building is near the Ace Hotel's popular Stumptown Coffee Roasters. It's a few blocks to Eataly and Madison Square Park.
The 1 train at 28th Street and Seventh Avenue is up the block, the N and R at 28th and Broadway is close, as is the 1/2/3 at Penn Station.
Why put it on your open house calendar? "You're getting space and the renovation," Martin said of the turnkey loft. Many Manhattan apartments in this price point often need renovations, she added.
504 Grand St., Apt. G52
4 Bedroom/2 Baths
Co-op
Approximately 1,550 square feet
$1.45 million
Maintenance: $1,340 per month
Open House: Sunday, May 3, 1-3 p.m.
Lowdown: This massive, bright unit combined a two-bedroom and one-bedroom in the historic Amalgamated Dwellings.
As the building's first "breakthrough" apartment to hit the market, it's expected to set a record price for the co-op, which was built in 1931 as affordable housing for garment union workers, said Anthony Bellino, an independent real estate broker.
The 235-unit six-story building is considered an Art Deco gem. Its interior courtyard is often a stop on walking tours for architecture students, Bellino noted.
"You forget where you are," he said of the courtyard, which has no benches since apartment owners want to keep it quiet.
The apartment's kitchen overlooks the courtyard now abloom with tulips. Its original wood cabinetry has been restored along with a vintage double basin farm sink. There's also a five-burner Verona stainless steel range, a Miele dishwasher and Northstar retro-looking refrigerator.
"The couple that [are selling] this apartment are into the country vibe," Bellino said.
They left the kitchen cabinets from the smaller unit in place and restored them, using them for storage in what they converted to an office, Bellino said.
They also stripped the paint from window and door frames, restoring them back to their original wood grain.
The living room has a 24-foot living room with four big windows facing onto Hillman Park, he said of the green space in the neighboring co-op complex.
Younger families are moving into the area — which is considered more affordable than other parts of Manhattan — but many old timers are still around.
"Some of the elders in the building are so much fun," Bellino said. "They have so much energy still and lots of good stories about 40 or 50 years ago."
The building has central laundry, a gym, bike storage, storage lockers (with a wait list), 24-hour security and a porter staff.
Location: The Amalgamated Dwellings are near the Abrons Arts Center and the Paul Taylor Dance Company's new studios, both of which offer classes. The East River Park is a few blocks east and the bustling restaurants, bars and boutiques are a few blocks west — far enough that "you don't have to deal with the noise and chaos," Bellino said.
It's about a 10-minute walk to the J, M, Z and F trains at Delancey/Essex. The M14 bus stop is nearby.
Why put it on your open house calendar? "You walk in and it's really special," Bellino said of the unit, adding that it's hard to find apartments of this size in the area.
633 Macdonough St., Stuyvesant Heights
2.5 Bedrooms/3 Baths
Two-family Townhouse
Approximately 2,268 square feet
$1.45 million
Yearly Taxes: $2,275 (after a $915 solar energy credit in 2014)
Open House: Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, 12:30 – 2 p.m.
Lowdown: The current owner, an artist with an eco-minded bent, renovated this three-story townhouse in 2011 from top-to-bottom with an eye toward energy efficiency, restoring original details and a style worthy of a design magazine.
"The owner did a tremendous job renovating it," Corcoran's Katy Porte said. "Her style is what we all aspire to."
The aesthetics been the main draw, while the environmental upgrades have been viewed as a "bonus," Porte said.
Besides updating the home's plumbing and electrical systems, the current owner added custom windows, a new heating and cooling system, energy efficient appliances and rooftop solar panels that feed into the Con Edison meter, Porte said.
She also added soundproofing between the floors of the owner's garden duplex — which has beautiful beamed ceilings — and the sky-lit 1.5-bedroom rental unit.
The custom blue stone and solid oak kitchen in the owner's duplex has a breakfast nook overlooking a garden where herbs, berries and salad greens have just been planted in raised beds.
There's a bathroom with a heated stone floor and large Japanese solid wood soaking tub (which means you can only use certain soaps, Porte noted).
Location: The leafy street has a strong block association that is serious about flowers: the block recently won an honorable mention in the Brooklyn Botanic Garden's Greenest Block contest. New bars and restaurants are opening nearby by at a clip, Porte said, noting faves like Manny's and Bed-Stuy Fresh and Local.
It's around the corner from Saratoga Park. It's a short walk to the J at Halsey Street and C at Ralph Avenue. The Utica Avenue A/C station is a little more than half a mile away.
Why put it on your open house calendar? "It's like having all the benefits of a condo but in a gorgeous old stone townhouse," Porte said.
