111 Central Park North Sets the Date
We just got an email invite to the "World Premiere Party" for 111 Central Park North, the luxury condo going up on what you know better as 110th Street. It's on Nov. 15, by invite only, and hosted by developer the Athena Group.
In an era of condo-as-neigbhorhood-changer, 111 Central Park North represents the pinnacle, though it may be a while before we know for sure. Not only does it have to change in New Yorkers' collective mind the name of 110th to Central Park North, it has to convince people to pay luxury rates to live in an area that's, as they say (for better or worse), still emerging. Along 110th above the park, the condo juts out like a very sore thumb.
It's a gutsy gamble and, if it works, no area of the city may again be off-limits to luxury development. Every market-rate home developer hence will be able to toss off the line, "Well, Athena made it work with 111 Central Park North."
The Observer donned a hardhat in June and took some snapshots of the views from the still-under-construction condo.
North Haven
Envision a land encompassing 55 acres offering both sunrises and sunsets... . More details |
|
I think that's pretty strange reasoning. Most likely the rates for this building will be lower than the rates for places along other sides of the park, but still high because of the views and because the property is new.
The following involves even stranger reasoning still.
"It's a gutsy gamble and, if it works, no area of the city may again be off-limits to luxury development. Every market-rate home developer hence will be able to toss off the line, "Well, Athena made it work with 111 Central Park North."
No area of the city? How about no area of the city with views of Central Park? The key difference is the amenity of Central Park views. Those are obviously in extremely short supply. I don't see how the construction of a condo on one of the world's most celebrated parks would say nearly anything about developers ability to build luxury properties in other parts of the city that overlook neither park nor bodies of water.
The size of this building, incidentally, is absurdly small. It should be at least double the size. Zoning schmoning.
i dont think its gonna work. the building is directly across the street from a womens correctional facility for christ sake. there is nothing to attract people to that site with the exception of a low market rate. native new yorkers know what BS this is, and will not consider even thinking about living in harlem. let alone near (insert sarcasm) black people!!! the amenities are really not that serious compared to what people have already been getting. folks moving into harlem, are either tourists who dont know any better, or young caucasion kids who have no problem with money, and dont know the neighborhood.
the size of the building is huge for what it is. anything bigger would've looked like a monstrosity. thank god for zoning laws. what should've been put there instead, is a lower sized condo that blended in with the area. this gentrification thing is really not gonna pan out the way the city hopes.
I happen to live a couple buildings over from 111 CPN (no, we don't really call it "CPN," just easy to type). I moved in when this area was bombed out a decade ago, and have seen nearly every single decrepit building on 110 and 111 streets get either rebuilt or renovated to some extent.
The first poster is right: proximity to the park (and views) are critical. You can't conclude anything from the success of 111 CPN for places built in the middle of Harlem.
The second poster is also right that there is a correctional facility half a block to the east. I would bet that starting from the avenue variously known as 6th/Lenox/Malcolm X and going west you will get nearly complete gentrification on 110th and 11th streets and further north when you get to the bottom of Morningside Park. Going east from 6th Ave is a lot tougher, and I think will stay more like it is, even on Central Park.
Aside from all the ridiculous red carpet events 111 CPN has already hosted, I'm happy it's here. It will add a relatively clean, upscale grocery store to the neighborhood, which this place sorely needs. That grocery store (I've heard rumors it will be Whole Foods?) will probably be more important for gentrification than the expensive condos themselves.
Note to Curbed: they've been hosting what look like grand openings every week for a month. Don't get too excited.