At first glance, Modern 23 doesn’t seem to be a luxury development worth moving into. Its standard black brick and glass façade does nothing to entice the locals to check it out, and it doesn’t have a luxury spa or warmed pool. But then again, anyone who sets foot in the building or picks up a real estate listing won’t care about the lack of a couple extra amenities. Modern 23 offers two things that other condo developments don’t: privacy and plenty of space to enjoy that privacy. And residents don’t have to pay a fortune to live there.

Modern 23 is located at 350 West 23^rd Street, in the heart of Chelsea. This area is known to be one of the more stylishly artistic parts of Manhattan, and one of the more reasonably priced, with one-bedroom apartments averaging $1,012/square foot. In this light, Modern 23 is slightly more expensive then the average Chelsea spot, at $1,250/square foot, but only if you go strictly by the numbers. Since the one bedroom unit here is as big as the typical two bedroom elsewhere, residents actually end up paying less.

Modern 23 is eight floors high, but its size can be deceptive. Where other developments may have up to six residences per floor, this building only has two. The difference is immediately noticeable, as families enter a “suburban” paradise in the middle of what is usually a crowded metropolis. For those who like their privacy, this small community affords more than they could wish for, especially with the elevator key-lock system restricting access to the floors (and keeping telemarketers out)! For residents who need or enjoy human contact, the rooftop terrace is a great community hangout.

The homes of Modern 23 are spacious, yet homey. The designers invested a lot of creative energy into making the homes reflect a cozy, suburban-style existence. The color tones throughout the units are clean tans, and the solid rift oak flooring sets that off nicely. Nine-foot ceilings and open floor plans expand the perception of size, which also gets an assist from the floor-to-ceiling glass façade that brings Chelsea within view, including the gallery district and Chelsea Piers, both a short walk from the building. For those who don’t like to look at the world from behind a glass wall, a sliding glass door opens onto a Juliet balcony.

Prices for Modern 23 units are low for the times. Ranging in size from 1,661-2,581 feet, the units in this building start at $1.95 million for a large one-bedroom unit, and stretch up to $2.44 million for a three bedroom, 2.5 bath condo. Most units offer one or more convertible rooms. These rooms can be utilized as an extra bedroom, a study or office. And the duplex comes with a recreation room. Many units also have private outdoor space, in addition to extra storage in the way of larger walk-in-closets and individual storage space.

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There are other condo developments in Manhattan which have attempted to put permanent residences in a hotel setting, but so far, none has struck a balance between providing all of the service amenities hotels provide with the cozy permanence that people expect when they own their own homes. Jumeirah Essex House Hotel, with 35 luxury condos among the 515 traditional hotel rooms available, is attempting to surpass other offerings with a unique blend of location and amenities. These new, one thru three bedroom residences offer the to-be-expected concierge service, along with a health club for condo owners. But they also offer much more than that. Essex house is among an elite few that brings ALL of its hotel services to its condo owners.

Residents arrive at Essex house greeted by valet parking, a bellman and a doorman. The service continues into the home, with housekeeping and room service included as part of Jumeirah’s standards of service. And if that was all, it would still be a pretty nice place to be. But this development takes the servitude role one step further, offering residents everything from dry cleaning and laundry service to catering, to masseuse services. They also include on-call services as extras, whether residents might need auto or limo rentals, transportation to the airport, a babysitter, a florist, or even family health care.

Some may worry that with all of the hotel-like services, the homes here may lose some of their charm and take on the appearance of a hotel, with the indoor/outdoor carpet and just-passing-through décor. But Jumeirah Essex doesn’t do anything on an insignificant scale, and they treat their residents as family. The units range in size from a respectable 700 square feet to a vast 3,500 square feet. Kondylis Designs made sure that there was plenty of living space, including nine foot ceilings to make the units seem even larger. Open kitchens and French doors expand the apparent size of the homes.

One of the major draws of Jumeirah Essex House is its centralized location. Not too many places can claim Central Park itself as a front yard, but many of the units here have French doors opening right on to the park. Jogging trails, horse-drawn carriage rides, and countless picnic spots await those in love with the outdoors, while the spectators of life will never tire of watching others play from their front windows.

Developers of Essex House, HBA/Hirsch Bedner Associates, have spent 100 million dollars to renovate the public spaces of this building, going as far as to add an upscale bar and restaurant. Prices at Jumeirah Essex House vary widely. Even one-bedroom units vary by one million dollars, from $1.5 million to $2.5 million, or between $1,800-$3,000/foot. Two and three-bedroom units, which vary from 1,699 square feet to over 3,000 square feet, run anywhere from $5.85 million to a whopping $9.5 million for the two-bedroom penthouse. According to the sales office at Jumeirah Essex House, they’ve sold all of their three bedroom units, but still have some open one and two-bedroom condos.

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Hudson Hill Condo is smack in the middle of all that Manhattan has to offer: the Lincoln Center, Central Park, the Time Warner Center and amenities that fit in the Upper West Side where they fit no other community in New York. Designed by the architectural firm FX Fowle, this building gets away with a unique Trespa wood facade, a sure sign of the building’s “ultra-luxury” audience. Hudson Hill is offering one, two and three bedroom condos, as well as some units that include an extra room to serve as an office or den, or even a really big, walk-in closet.

The developers of Hudson Hill offer 67 residences in this 10-story building, ranging in size from 1,000 to 3,253 square feet. With a 24-hour attendant and a live-in super, management is never very far off. A video intercom system adds a few extra eyes, and makes the whole place that much cozier. Of course, it is the units themselves that contribute most to that sense of “home, sweet home.” Hardwood floors, high ceilings and oversized windows give everything residents might want–elegance, room to breathe, and plenty of light. Most units also have a private terrace or balcony, adding a more private outdoor setting than the community-offered outdoor patio.

Designers of Hudson Hill spent a lot of time making sure each room had the amenities to go along with the overall beauty of the units. In the kitchen, Poggenpohl custom cabinets showcase top-quality brand named appliances, including a wine-cooler. The Master bath, following suit, offers residents a large Kohler soaking tub, steam showers, and radiant heated flooring. Each unit is also decked out with a Frigidaire washer and dryer. Some upper-floor units have a great view of the Hudson River.

Hudson Hill condos are located at 462 West 58th Street, in the heart of New York’s Far West Side, and just a stone’s throw from the Time Warner Center. This massive development of restaurants, boutiques, cafes and health club facilities is THE neighborhood hangout, and represents the cultural diversity and sense of community that is so prevalent in Manhattan.

For a development that began as an old, six-story tenement, Hudson Hill has bounced back quite well. Prices for this development are expected to range between just under $1 million to $2.98 million, with sizes also widely varying. Smaller units will start out at 760 square feet, while more extravagant units might extend up to 3,253 square feet. 

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31 West 11th is nestled between Union Square Park and Washington Village, a restored 1910, pre-war building with a number of modern additions, including new finishes. The development has two and three-bedroom condos for sale, ranging in size from the 1,573 square-foot two-bedrooms to a nearly 3,000 square-foot three-bedroom garden unit. The homes have kept portions of their original structure, including the meticulous details of the original designer. And 31 West 11th exudes the warmth and strength of brick, instead of the glass façade of many newer buildings. Bay windows add depth while maintaining a classical appearance, and wrought-iron railings simply demand a second look.

Greenwich Village is a hub of social and cultural activity, with boutiques, shops and small cafes sprinkled around, teasing the senses. Because of this, solitude and privacy is fleeting, at best. Not at 31 West 11th. This building is arranged so that there are only two units per floor, for a grand total of seventeen for the development. While it may not be the same as living in a Midwest suburb with a big backyard, 31 West 11th offers the overwhelmed city dweller plenty of change from the constant stimulation. Most newer developments choose wood flooring because it lasts longer and adds elegance, and 31 West 11th is no different.

Its solid rosewood floor complements the large wood-framed windows, adding a brightness that extends throughout the unit. A powder room accompanies the custom-bath with marble décor, providing residents a place to soak up the quiet after a long day. The kitchen is also custom-designed, with Calacatta Marble countertops and walnut décor. Finally, private storage for bicycles and personal items means that residents don’t have to cram their belongings into closets or crawl spaces.

One week after sales started in October 2007, most of the units were in contract. The two-bedroom units average 1,573 square feet and are going for between $2.6-$3.2 million, or $1,846/foot. For the typical three bed/3.5 bath unit, $4.5 million is the average price listing, and includes 1,954 square feet of living space. The penthouses, which have an additional room and a roof terrace of some 650 square feet, start at $5.65 million.

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