25 Central Park W

The Century Condominium

Built on the former site of a theater of the same name, The Century, developed and designed by Irving Chanin, is rich in history and character. Completed in 1931, the 32-story New York City landmark is among notable Art Deco buildings along Central Park West, including the El Dorado and The Ardsley. Its lobby is a classic example of Art Deco design, combining curvilinear lines, warm wood and a striking patterned green and gray terrazzo floor. “The Art Deco details are beautifully maintained throughout the building, especially in the lobby with its terrazzo floor featuring bronze inlay, and in the wood-paneled elevators adorned with Deco metalwork,” says Compass broker James Morgan, who, in addition to doing more than 20 deals in the building, has been an off-and-on resident of the condo for the past two decades. Chanin himself lived in the building until his death in 1988. Other well-known residents over the decades have included Ethel Merman, Jack Dempsey, Carmen Miranda, Robert A.M. Stern, Jeff Bezos and Tommy Mattola. Beyond The Century’s architectural and historical cachet, another factor adds to the building’s appeal. As Brown Harris Stevens broker Lisa K. Lippman explains, it’s a real estate unicorn of sorts. “People love that it’s on Central Park West. People love that it’s a condo,” she says. “It’s very uncommon to find a condo on Central Park West. It’s even more rare to find a prewar condo on Central Park West.” Homes in The Century offer many prewar details such as crown and cove molding, fireplace mantels, casement windows and arched doorways. Many apartments include sunken living rooms, a feature common in Art Deco design. With larger apartments more challenging to rent during The Depression, those in The Century skewed smaller than units in similar buildings constructed a few years earlier. However, Chanin ensured that residences offered elevated style. “No matter what the size of the apartment, he built a foyer to create a grand sense of arrival,” says Morgan. The building’s unique one-bedroom duplexes with Art Deco railings serve as another example of The Century’s elegance on a small scale. The Century’s 422 units include studio to four-bedroom apartments. Studios up to 600 square feet list for up to $1.2 million, and one-bedrooms as large as 1,163 square feet sell for up to $4.2 million. Two-bedroom homes up to 2,330 square feet ask between $1.2 and $12 million, and three-bedrooms as large as 2,675 square feet sell for up to $6.6 million. Four-bedrooms up to 4,416 square feet fetch up to $18 million. Kitchen and bath finishes vary due to residents’ renovations over the years. Select apartments offer private outdoor spaces, and, of course, many provide impressive views of Central Park. The building’s large staff includes a concierge, 24-hour door attendants and maintenance staff. A large courtyard with seasonal landscaping can be viewed from many apartments and offers a sitting area. Morgan notes that building management has successfully navigated the challenge of adhering to mandatory landmark regulations while also adapting to the needs of today’s residents, citing the recent approval of plans for an amenity floor with a gym, a playroom and multi-purpose spaces. (Owners should expect some kind of assessment in the future to finance the project.) Similarly, owners may now install through-the-wall air conditioners. The Century offers laundry facilities and is pet-friendly. Commercial spaces in the building include a dry cleaner, a drugstore, a hair salon and several medical and dental practices. Located in Lincoln Square, The Century is close to many of Manhattan’s most popular destinations. In addition to being on Central Park, the condo is two blocks from the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts — home to the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Ballet, the New York Philharmonic, Film at Lincoln Center and other arts organizations. The American Folk Art Museum is at 66th Street, and Carnegie Hall is a 10-minute walk away. Shopping can be done at a Whole Foods Market at The Shops at Columbus Circle, which also contains stores such as Eileen Fisher, Williams Sonoma and J. Crew. Public transit is very easily accessible from The Century. The A, B, C and D lines stop at 59th Street-Columbus Circle, three blocks away, and the 1 and 2 trains stop at 66th Street. An entrance to the West Side Highway is at 58th Street for travel by car in and out of the city. Laguardia Airport can be reached in about 40 minutes.