199 Bowery

Nolita Place

HTO Architect designed the 12-story Nolita Place in 2002 during a period of rapid change in the area, leading the New York Times to proclaim, “The Bowery is gentrifying,” in an article the same year. As a comparison, the story highlighted the Andrews Hotel, a cheap lodge next door commonly known as a flophouse, that represented typical old school Bowery housing. Soon after, Nolita Place was converted to condos in 2005, while the hotel is now called The Andrews, and functions as a transitional shelter. Today, the contemporary red-brick Nolita Place doesn’t exactly stand out or blend in. Yet it draws notice for its condo status. “There are so few condos in the area; a lot of times you have to go much further east toward the water, where you’re getting away from subways and the main action of Manhattan,” says Matthew Berkson of The Berkson Group, who has conducted both sales and rentals in Nolita Place. “If you want that artsy, industrial feel with the ability to walk to the Lower East Side, Soho, etc., then it’s a very nice oasis,” he adds. The condo’s 63 units are mainly comprised of studios and one-bedrooms, with a smaller number of two-bedrooms for good measure. Apartments are entry-level luxe as they’re equipped with desirable features like dishwashers, built-in microwaves and central air, but lack bragging rights for finishes. “It’s modern, but not the kind of super luxury that can price out a lot of buyers because of all the bells and whistles,” says Berkson. For example, unrenovated kitchens and bathrooms are approaching the 20-year mark, but others have been updated with trendy SMEG refrigerators, wine storage, walk-in showers or marble floors. Some residences have also added washers and dryers, while a large laundry room serves those that haven’t. Oversized windows overlook the Bowery or the quieter courtyard terrace. “Noise is such a subjective thing,” says Berkson, “But in the back of the building you don’t hear a thing.” Granted, those who enjoy going out might appreciate that Ainslie Bowery is on the ground floor, a popular beer garden that’s open until 3 a.m. on the weekend and midnight the rest of the week. Then again, the smaller spaces are conducive for being out and about: studios start at 432 square feet and two bedrooms top out at 1,000 square feet. Units don’t come on the market very often; recent prices varied from $520,000 for the smallest studio to $1.7 million for 1,000 square feet — a far cry from what the Bowery used to command. The second-floor roof deck in the back of the building is the main star in this small condo. The terrace is large enough to accommodate residents without feeling cramped and faces other residential buildings for a peaceful escape among its landscaped scenery. The gym is windowless and small, but well-maintained with the basics. Storage units are available, although there’s currently a waitlist. A full-time door attendant and live-in super round out the amenities and contribute to creating a sense of community. Nolita Place straddles Nolita and the Bowery; the eponymous street is a major artery that’s lined with some remaining restaurants and lighting supply stores that are holdovers from earlier decades. As they close, they’ve been replaced by trendy boutiques like O.N.S. Clothing for curated classics; equally trendy businesses encompass everything from upscale plant shops to scooter dealerships. Nightlife also thrives down here. The intimate Bowery Ballroom is a two-minute walk from Nolita Place and has played host to musicians large and small since 1998, from Arcade Fire to The Raveonettes. Bars abound too, from the dive kind to Attaboy, a narrow, swank speakeasy with no menu and tailored drinks improvised on the spot. In the same vein, iconic staples like Katz’s Deli, a world-famous spot for a pastrami on rye (and When Harry Met Sally obsessives), are a short walk from the likes of The Musket Room with its one Michelin star and New American tasting menus. Meanwhile, a nearby Whole Foods has firmly cemented the changed nature of the neighborhood. Not least, several museums surround the condo. The destination New Museum of Contemporary Art is a block away, although it’s temporarily closed while OMA / Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas are working on its expansion. Subway options could be better, but the J, Z lines are a block away at Delancey Street for the Bowery station, and the 6 train is four short blocks away at Spring Street.