June 14th 2011
CityBizList
TRANSFORMATION: FROM HORSE STABLE TO PARKING GARAGE TO A ONE-OF-A-KIND LUXURY CONDOMINIUM LOFT HOMES AVAILABLE IN PRIME CHELSEA LOCATION
Broad Mill Development Group (BMDG), developer of the Carriage House, located at 159 West 24th Street, be-tween Sixth and Seventh Avenues, announced today that New York City’s most exciting conversion project of the year is now on the market for sale. The Carriage House offers a balance of pre-war aesthetics, modern finishes and unique history.
Acquired by Eric Gray, Joshua Sacks and Eamon Roche of BMDG, the 32,000-square-foot Carriage House formerly served as the longest running parking garage in Manhattan, operating since 1917. From horse and carriages to automobiles, the Carriage House was a home for transportation up until 2007.
“You get the total package with the Carriage House,” says Gray. “It’s the perfect blend of old and new, charm and luxury in a prime Chelsea location when there is little inventory of new boutique buildings.”
To honor the building’s particular history with a contemporary style, the developers approached Michael Schmitt, an award-winning architect who shared their vision of providing residents the opportunity to live in a piece of New York City history with the comfort of the most state-of-the-art amenities.
Today, the 24-unit midrise still boasts elements of the original horse stable, such as the limestone façade, with nearly every apart-ment showcasing exposed brick walls and some featuring original cast-iron columns. Homes also offer modern conveniences and luxury appliances: kitchens include Sub-Zero refrigerators and Wolf ovens cooktops; each home is outfitted with a washer and dry-er. All lofts are pre-wired for a multitude of audio visual applications. Master bathrooms are adorned with beautiful mosaic tile floors, Carrera marble countertops, radiant floor heating, white Thassos tile stall showers and large soaking tubs. All residences have extensive customized Italian cabinetry, customized moldings, and seven-inch white oak hardwood flooring.
The Carriage House offers a mix of units from two-bedroom penthouses to duplex lofts as well as studios and one-bedrooms; with no more than four residences per floor, every loft has an intimate feel. Owners of these homes can take advantage of the shared rooftop space as a place to lounge and relax. The furnished rooftop is equipped with a six-burner natural gas barbeque and out-door kitchen with sink. The interiors were designed by the internationally renowned designer Gustavo Martinez, and reflect a dual aesthetic with elegant yet comfortable residences. Innovative design attends to every detail: the exterior, for example, is adorned on every floor with custom flower boxes, with filigree fabricated by Milgo Bufkin, makers of the iconic LOVE sculpture on West 55th Street.
Jocelyn Turken, Joél Moss and Herbert Chou of Warburg Marketing Group, the Carriage House’s exclusive selling agent will be han-dling sales, while MetLife serves as the exclusive mortgage consultant for the development. “It is the perfect marriage of townhouse intimacy and apartment living,” says Turken. Residence 2C is a fantastic 1,020-square-foot, one-bedroom loft featuring 10-foot 3-inch ceilings with southern views through oversized triple-pane windows. Penthouse B – the largest in the building – is a 2,449-square-foot duplex with private terraces on both floors, one of which sports a wood hot tub, the other a natural gas barbeque both joined by an exterior spiral staircase. A true gem, it has two generous bedrooms, two-and-half baths, soaring ceilings with multiple skylights and a gas burning fireplace. The building features a part-time doorman as well as an IP video intercom system. Residents are offered optimum security and convenience as cameras allow residents in any location to control building access.
Perhaps the most coveted amenity the Carriage House offers is its eight private indoor parking spots. Utilizing a cutting-edge hy-draulic lift parking system developed by Harding Steel, residents can self-park their vehicle in the building and access the lobby di-rectly from the garage. “From the priceless convenience of parking a few feet from your doorstep, to the privacy afforded only by a boutique building, the developers have thought of it all,” Moss added. The building is located in the heart of trendy Chelsea, surrounded by numerous shops, restaurants and entertainment hot-spots. Directly across the street you’ll find Whole Foods; fashionable boutiques such as Balenciaga, and culinary favorites like Eataly and Billy’s bakery are close by. Urban explorers can take a stroll on the nearby High Line or explore Madison Square Park. The building is blocks away from Chelsea’s flower district, the Chelsea Piers, the Joyce Theater, and prestigious galleries like the Gagosian gallery and Barbara Gladstone gallery.