As the only child of zillionaire John Jacob Astor III, William Waldorf Astor became the richest man in America following his father’s death in 1890. The Midas-rich younger Astor grew up to be a major developer of New York real estate; in 1900, his management office commissioned the architectural firm of Clinton & Russell to design an upscale apartment building in Manhattan, at West 75th Street and Broadway. The eight-story Renaissance Revival-style building was designed in a U-shape, to provide light and ventilation to the interior rooms. Twin towers adorned with carved limestone ornaments capped the handsome apartment house.
More than 100 years later, in 2015, the building was reborn as The Astor, restored and upgraded for upscale modern living with amenities such as a gym, children’s playroom, and a private park. The building was converted to condominiums by HFZ Capital…
...needle scratch!
Now notorious in the real estate world, HFZ began to implode in 2020, obliterated by foreclosures and investor lawsuits. CIM Group then stepped in to complete construction and sell the remaining condos. The Astor is now being restored and upgraded, while retaining the pre-war character and charm for which Manhattan’s Upper West Side is known. Thirteen residences are now officially listed for sale for the first time since CIM took over. Two model residences have been designed by ASH Staging, the renowned design firm known for chic hotels throughout the country, such as The Siren in Detroit and Hôtel Peter & Paul in New Orleans. These new touches complement the original redesign by Pembrooke & Ives.
The condos include many impossible- and difficult-to-replicate pre-war features like wood-burning fireplaces (with minimalist marble mantels), custom molding, herringbone-patterned floors, bay windows, classic entry foyers and incredible city views. More modern features such as enormous soaking tubs in windowed master bathrooms are highlighted by an array of interesting textures, premium finishes and contemporary furnishings.
The property’s careful renovation retains its prewar footprint with one- to five-bedroom flats featuring rich architectural detailing, high ceilings, and large closets. Of course, buyers will need Astor-like wallets to afford to reside at The Astor, where a 3,253-square foot, four-bedroom, four-and-a-half bathroom apartment (the floor plan is pictured below) is asking $7.135 million. Common charges and taxes run about $9,500 a month.
Location is great: the Upper West Side is home to beloved cultural institutions such as Lincoln Center and the American Museum of Natural History, and the New-York Historical Society. Central Park is just a stroll away. Interested? Get ahold of Michael Kafka, Kyle Egen, and Randall Dollard at Douglas Elliman Development Marketing.
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Image Credit: Christian Harder for ASH Staging -
Image Credit: Christian Harder for ASH Staging -
Image Credit: Christian Harder for ASH Staging -
Image Credit: Christian Harder for ASH Staging -
Image Credit: Christian Harder for ASH Staging -
Image Credit: Christian Harder for ASH Staging -
Image Credit: Christian Harder for ASH Staging -
Image Credit: Christian Harder for ASH Staging -
Image Credit: Christian Harder for ASH Staging -
Image Credit: Christian Harder for ASH Staging -
Image Credit: Douglas Elliman Development Marketing