210 Lafayette St

One Kenmare Square

The name of this luxury condominium may be a clear nod to the pre-1980s — when the intersection it’s on was known as Kenmare Square — but the 11-story building is decidedly modern. The rippling, wave-like, dark-glass facade along Lafayette Street was dreamt up by architect Richard Gluckman, whose work at the helm of Gluckman Tang Architects includes the Andy Warhol Museum and MoMA Design Store. But while the long, gleaming facade along Lafayette is suited to the trendy street, it wouldn’t translate well to the smaller, back portion of the condominium that carries all the way to cobblestoned Crosby Street. Here, Gluckman scaled the block-wide building to only six stories and opted for a streamlined brick that meshes with the nostalgic streetscape. “At the time One Kenmare was built in 2005, [developers] were still converting many of SoHo’s cast-iron buildings into condos, so it was the rarest animal,” recalls Thomas Hemann, a real estate salesperson at Compass. “A lot of buildings were still artist lofts, so when this came along, it sold out quickly. To be able to buy a brand-new condominium in SoHo was really, really rare. And that was even before this area exploded with the cafes.” Today, of course, the neighborhood is one of the buzziest and most desired in Manhattan. “The location is just amazing, and there are a lot of buyers who like a small boutique building like this one,” Hemann says. As with any residential building designed in the mid-aughts, it’s entirely normal to see renovations. And while a few owners at One Kenmare Square have combined units, aesthetically, the units have remained unchanged — a testament to the timeless finishes selected by Gluckman’s team. “The kitchens are very modernist: everything has very clean lines, very sleek and understated,” Hemann says. Gray lacquered cabinets span the gourmet kitchen which is outfitted with top-of-the-line appliances from Miele and Sub-Zero. The white-and-gray veined Carrara marble extends from the counters to the backsplash, and in some cases, cascades down a waterfall-edge island. All bathrooms have a separate shower and oversized soaking tub from Kohler, plus a white lacquered vanity (double vanities in primary en suites) and a light gray mosaic tile. The nine-foot casement windows, which have been triple-glazed to dampen acoustics from the street, nearly stretch to the minimum 10-foot-tall ceilings. East-facing units on high floors have long views that lead down Delancey Street (where Kenmare Street ends) to the Williamsburg Bridge. When One Kenmare Square debuted, owners purchased either a studio, one-bedroom or two-bedroom residence. Since then, several units have been combined, adjusting the boutique building’s makeup: There are now two four-bedroom condos, one five-bedroom condo and one six-bedroom condo. Units along Lafayette Street may have a gentle curvature along the western wall, thanks to the building’s wavy facade. Studios, all less than 500 square feet, have historically sold for between $875,000 and just over $1 million, while one-bedroom units, 660 to 770 square feet, typically cost around $1.5 to $1.6 million. Roughly 70 percent of the condo’s residences are two-bedrooms, which cover over 1,000 square feet and cost between $2.2 million and $2.8 million. Hemann adds that “the common charges here are very reasonable for having full-staff and for having a small number of units in the building.” The staff that Hemann refers to includes a 24-hour doorperson, concierge and live-in super. Residents may enter from Lafayette Street to either stop at the reception desk or walk past a blue-hued, ribbon-like art installation that subtly mirrors the building’s facade before reaching the two elevators and mail room. There’s also a more private, keyed back entrance available from Crosby Street. The condo’s only amenity space is a gym, which Hemann describes as “small but well-equipped.” Though One Kenmare is technically at the border of SoHo and Nolita, Hemann argues that it’s in the true heart of SoHo. “Lafayette Street is lined with all these great cafes. When you walk down the street, you’ll see everybody turned out from their tables, facing outward so they can be seen. It’s the social scene, place to be.” Some of these hotspots include Jack's Wife Freda, an American-Mediterranean bistro a few doors north of the building, and Balthazar, a mainstay French brasserie just around the corner. Residents can also walk across the street, past Lt. Petrosino Square, an urban pocket park, to reach Eileen's Special Cheesecake, a beloved bakery with 50 years of service under its belt. Little Italy is also brimming with mom-and-pop eateries to the south, while SoHo’s sidewalks, packed with shoppers and visitors, are just two blocks west. Crosby Street has dozens of galleries and showrooms for the artistic set. The 4 and 6 trains at Spring Street are the nearest subways, though the N, Q, R, W and J, Z lines are also within walking distance at separate stations. A couple of buses and Citi Bike stations are available, as well, but the area is predominantly pedestrian. For drivers, the closest thoroughfares include Delancey Street, Bowery, Houston Street and Canal Street.