Flank’s new seven-story development, located at 385 West 12th Street, may be small, but it’s not at all lacking in amenities. The twelve-home community will have six full-floor units, two duplex penthouses and four town homes. Three and four bedroom units will range in size from just over 2,500 square feet to over 4,000 square feet. Residents will love the common condominium offerings: the custom-designed kitchen cabinetry, the brand name appliances and fixtures, and the 24-hour attendant in the lobby. But the added amenities reflect those of a much larger development. One of those amenities is a two-tier “recreation” area on the roof. This area can serve as a place to congregate on the weekends, and unlike other nearby recreational choices, familiar faces will become the norm after a few visits. The area is 2,700 square feet, and offers a 50-foot lap pool as the focal point. An outdoor shower and oversized hot tub round out the water activities. Below, residents can gather around the gas grills for an old-fashioned barbecue, or they may take their food to the convenient dining area. After the meal is over, the exercise deck beckons.

Being pampered will become second nature to people here at 385 West 12th, as the development introduces a number of lifestyle assistants for the overscheduled resident. They will be able to pick up packages in personal storage lockers. Dry cleaning will be delivered, and a full-time housekeeper will be poised to help keep their homes looking spotless. Finally, Flank has made arrangements with lifestyle manager Jennifer Bell to offer residents an alternative to luxury-style concierge services. Bell’s approach is much more personalized, whether dealing with dinner reservations or art curating.

While community amenities are always attractive, it is the home which must tell the final tale. And these homes have a good story to tell. Expansive ceilings of up to eighteen feet will encourage lofty dreams. A Viking dual oven in the kitchen will spark the creative juices with its grill and six gas burners. In the master bath, radiant flooring will ensure that no dream ever suffers cold feet.

In addition to all of the comfort factors offered here, the developers of 385 West 12th Street have also designed a technologically advanced home. When finished, residents will use a remote to control a lot of the processes in their homes, including climate, window shades, lighting and home audio/video. It will be customizable to fit the preferences of the residents. 385 West 12th Street is expected to be completed in early 2009. Prices start at $5.795 million and reach up to $13.5 million.

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The previous home of the Superior Ink building in West Village is facing a new life–as a condominium development And with an architectural firm like Robert A.M. Stern in charge of the design, there isn’t much doubt that something big is going to happen here. Rumor has recently been confirmed that the town homes and condo structure that will be developed at 70 Bethune street is going to retain the Superior Ink name. With a tower 15 stories high, and not much around to compete, Superior Ink is bound to be the local hotspot. Seven town homes will line Bethune Street, adding single-family structures, which are becoming rare in the metropolitan area. In all, developers plan to have 69 condos and 7 town homes with studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments of up to 4,100 square feet.

Like many of Stern’s designs, Superior Ink is expected to “go green. “ The development has already registered for LEED certification, which means that they have pledged to use environmentally sound building procedures, a more efficient use of energy and renewable resources.

Superior Ink’s facade is a motley combination; the town homes render a dark seventies brick style, while the tower looks more modern. Then again, what’s on the outside isn’t as important as how the building is constructed and the inside design. Large windows and wide rooms will dominate, and the addition of elevators, a private gardens and rooftop terraces will add to the open mobility. Those who choose to live here are going to be eligible for a 421(a) tax abatement.

Related, which just received the 2007 National Building Museum Honor Award, is responsible for developing Superior Ink. This area of Manhattan has a lot of attitude, being near to Greenwich Village and placed right off the Hudson River. With the market demand of Chelsea and West Village, this development should be as popular as some of Stern’s other newcomers. Sales here start in September 2007, and prices have as-of-yet been undetermined.

Just how Superior Ink will turn out is anyone’s guess. A work in progress, Superior Ink has been rendered with commercial space on the ground floor, town home basements, arched windows and two-story bay windows, in addition to stoops. A few amenities that seem destined for inclusion here are a lounge, a gym, a pool, a children’s playroom and a private parking area.

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The gem of the West Village, 166 Perry Street is a luxury condominium property with room for 24 residents. Asymptotote, best known for its more “virtual” designs like the Guggenheim virtual Museum and the Virtual Reality 3D Trading floor of the NYSE, has gone real world with its design of this eight-story property to speak to those who feel cramped by common housing. Its ceilings are up to 12 feet high, and windows are large enough to provide an excellent view of the nearby river. Residences will have two to three bedrooms, including the two larger penthouses. Standard amenities such as the 24-hour concierge and doorman apply. Residents also have access to private storage and a body-waking fitness center.

Perhaps the neatest part of looking out at the view, is knowing that people aren’t looking back at you. This is because the windows at 166 Perry Street are “one-way.” Inverted and angled Scholl glass has been placed in a honeycomb pattern to maximize aesthetic appeal and minimize claims of lack of privacy. This is accomplished by using electronics to change the glass from opaque to translucent and back.

Living at 166 Perry Street should be all about expansion of the mind, and that is why Asymptote has chosen to use materials that allow for the imagination, such as translucent blue-tinted glass in the bathroom. To avoid a sense of banality, each material used has a specific area or function. Stone tile dots the entryways, wood flooring covers most primary areas, and solid wood doors introduce residents to other areas of the home. An open kitchen with white lacquer brightens and focuses the attention to a nicely placed Corian kitchen island. There are no organization issues in this kitchen, as even the refrigerator is intelligently positioned under the cabinets.

In its design, Asymptote has managed to bring the Jetson’s to Manhattan. A glass facade combines with bright curves and brilliant colors to appeal to forward-thinking residents who desire the best of modern life while keeping one eye on the future. Condos retain a comfortable, cozy size. Prices range from 2.65 million to 11.5 million dollars, without including monthly common charges. The structure is planning for occupancy in autumn of 2008.

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