Ever since it opened in 1927, The Mark Hotel has been one of the world’s premiere upscale destinations. And while the hotel has been closed to the public for redesign, the developers at Alexico Group are planning something big and bold for this landmark, which is to be re-opened Fall 2008. Along with continuing to offer world-class service to folks around the world, Alexico is adding a new set of clients to the list with the opening of a luxury condominium development within the hotel. The development will have 118 rooms, along with 42 cooperative suites.

As you’ll find with other luxury hotels, residents at The Mark will have every need met, a terrific incentive for families who can use a few extra hands with housekeeping and concierge services. But residents will find that they also get more than just the simple pleasures. The Mark Hotel offers everything from newspaper delivery to childcare. They also offer fresh flower service, limo use, dog-walking service and access to their exclusive DVD library. The in-house Frederic Fekkai Salon also provides residents all of the expected high class salon services, such as waxing, pedicures and hair styling/coloring. Of course, The Mark will also have a state-of-the-art fitness center, which has come to be an expected amenity for luxury condominium developments.

Residents of The Mark will probably not find a need to venture out too much; after all, an in-house restaurant beckons on the first floor, and a lounge area and bar provides all of the nightcaps a person could need (without the usual worries that go along with enjoying a few drinks). But there’s much around the neighborhood to lure them out of the building. Located at 24 E. 77th Street, residents are only one block from Central Park and a few blocks from both the Metropolitan and Whitney Museums.

Most people wouldn’t choose a home based simply on the amenities or location, which is why Jacques Grange, the man responsible for the furnishings and the overall design here at The Mark, has invested so much into making sure each home—and the Mark in general—is the most luxurious that it can be. Each furnished home has solid white oak flooring, customized wool carpeting, and custom-designed furniture. Some bedrooms come complete with an entertainment center boasting full cable access and a wide-screen plasma TV. Touch screen Creston panels control the temperature in the home as well as the motorized blackout shades, so residents are guaranteed the privacy they deserve. And the central hub of the home—the custom-designed Boffi kitchen—contrasts the warmth of the other rooms with its polished black granite and aluminum/white lacquer cabinets. Piero Lissoni’s kitchen design also includes a Gaggenau glass-ceramic electric stove. Rooms are furnished with a Miele Touchtronic washer and dryer. And throughout the hotel, residents will come across exquisite artwork by the top artists of the world, including the likes of Guy de Rougemont, Mattia Bonetti, Vladimir Kagan and Eric Schmitt, to name only a few.

Something must be said of the nearly-10,000 square-foot penthouse, with its private roof-top terrace and sky-lit conservatory. This is truly a home fit for a king (or queen) with a large family, or a small family and a lot of interests. This home’s living area has a 26-foot ceiling with a fireplace and a wet bar. Add the “little” things like a his/hers bath, an exercise studio complete with steam shower, and a library with a fireplace, and the resident of this home can honestly claim to know what luxury is. With a price tag of $60 million, the owner can also say he/she knows the price of living large.

The Mark has “smaller” one, two and three bedroom units available, as well as a few studio and five bedroom units, for prices ranging from $2.2-$23.5 million. Rooms start at 481 square feet and extend to nearly 5,000 square feet of living space. Besides its 77^th Street address, The Mark’s location is sometimes listed as 992 Madison Avenue. Sales started in February 2008.

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Friendly elegance. That’s what residents of 535 West End Avenue will think when they catch first sight of their new home. The 20-story building suggests intimidation, but the smooth, rounded brick facade says welcome. Its location on a quiet tree-lined street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan also helps create a comfortable ambiance.

From the moment residents of 535 West End Avenue step through the canopied entrance, they are met with luxury, including imported stone floors and hand-painted wood in the building’s lobby. Individual units afford a grand entrance, with a large reception hall greeting residents home. The huge dining room encourages dinner around the table, and with room to sit ten comfortably, is a great place to hold a dinner party or corporate meeting. The separate living room, by contrast, is cozy and inviting, with plenty of natural light coming from the two large windows. A large library provides a place of respite for the weary warrior.

535 West End Avenue really is for the aesthetically-inclined. Its rooms are large, but well-proportioned, and each has been diligently designed to add sensual beauty in addition to practicality. The kitchen is anything but the steamy workroom that it has come to be known as. Custom-designed English cabinetry and dark wood floors add class. A state-of-the-art French oven by la Cornue adds style with function. All that’s needed from the family chef is a little bit of creativity.

535 West End offers its residents more than the simple pleasures. With a private fitness area, his and hers saunas, a billiards room and an indoor pool, this development has everyone covered. And, a mere walk from the development, Riverside Park affords a great place to get some outdoor time. Also nearby is the American Museum of Natural History, the Lincoln Center and the Rose Center for Earth and Space.

This Lucien Lagrange development is being marketed by Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group, who has more than twenty years of experience and more than $20 billion in collective sales. Most of the units have been sold or are under contract, but there are still a few available. Units are spacious, ranging from 3,744 square feet to an immense 8,451 square feet of space for 5-7 bedrooms. Residents must be willing to pay, of course, as the available units start at $9.25 million and surpass $21.5 million.

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While Loft 14’s sharp glass facade and wide open floor plans might give one the impression that this is the typical modern-style condo development, William Q. Brothers Architects has added a few special design features that immediately sets it apart from others. Residents have their own private elevator entrance to their units, which at first glance looks like a tastefully decorated office space. Ceilings soar above and Brazilian Garapia wood flooring extends through the homes. Recessed lighting adds to warmth that starts at the living room fireplace. Designated outdoor space encourages residents to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city.

Located at 135 West 14th in Chelsea, Loft 14 shares the neighborhood with a number of artistic and cultural venues. It is blocks from Union Square Park and across the street from St. Vincent’s Hospital. Washington Square Park is also within walking distance; this park has been featured in many movies and television series and is a popular spot for chess and scrabble matches. Of course, those with little inclination for the outdoors will enjoy the neighborhood’s other attractions, including a myriad of art galleries and lounges scattered throughout the area. Some of these hangouts are celebrity hotspots, including Bungalow 8.

The interiors of Loft 14 were carefully crafted with the highest value appliances, including Sub Zero and Miele appliances in the kitchen and Grohe fixtures in the master bath, which is made complete with a large soaking tub. Basaltina countertops in the kitchen add gourmet elegance to any dinner menu, and spa-like bathrooms provide a nice place for residents to relax in after the house has been cleared out and tidied for the night. Customized mahogany vanities are made to fit the whims of 14’s many residents. Brave couples can even shower together under the double-headed rain shower-heads provided in each large-sized shower stall.

The available Loft 14 units are being marketed by CORE Group, and include 2-3 bedroom units ranging in size from 1,846-2,320 square feet in area. Prices range from $2.375-$3.225 million. As of July 2008, nine units have been sold, the highest for a respectable price of $3.15 million. Designers expect the building to be ready for occupancy in Winter 2008.

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