416 W 52nd St

Nine52

Nine52 hides its luxury in plain sight. Behind the 1930s brick facade of the former Saint Clare’s Hospital is a white marble lobby with gold-tinted mirrors, and farther into the building, doors open to a private outdoor courtyard with landscaping and foot bridges over a koi pond. Like the more conspicuously high-end condos in Hell’s Kitchen, Nine52 supports similarly pampered living through its amenities — a wine cellar, free fitness classes and co-working desks — and airy units with ceilings up to 25 feet tall. “They really made the building about lifestyle, and I think it’s rare to get everything that this building has at this price point,” says Kathy Murray, a Douglas Elliman agent who led sales at Nine52 starting in 2019. “You expect something like this from one of these buildings on Billionaire’s Row, and you’re a few blocks away from there with I think a better amenity package than any of those buildings offer.” More than 60 different layouts across 150-odd units gives residents plenty of options. “Part of the appeal is that it’s not just all these cookie-cutter apartments,” Murray says. “There are different layouts to meet anybody’s needs.” Studios, sized from 450 to 575 feet, tend to be open concept on the smaller end and can have big private terraces on the larger end. One bedrooms fall into two categories: units ranging from 550 to 825 square feet that can include French-door closets and two terraces, and duplexes ranging from 1,200 to 1,400 square feet with an extra half bathroom and a rec room. Two bedrooms vary even more widely, from 875-square-foot units to 2,000-square-foot duplexes and in-between sizes with roomy terraces and long entry hallways. Three bedrooms start around 1,400 and go up to 2,500 square feet with a terrace, separate rec room and three bathrooms. For Murray, the townhouse units, which exist across different bedroom sizes, are the most standout options. “They offer multilevel living, so it really feels like a private home, but you get all the access to a luxury condominium.” Nine52 delivers all the expected luxury details — Caesarstone countertops, paneled refrigerators, white oak flooring, walk-in showers, Carrara marble-tiled bathrooms and LG washer-dryers. Units also have contemporary conveniences such as central heating and cooling and wiring for smart-home temperature control devices. The townhouse and artist-loft units offer upgraded apartment-living experiences by including patios with wooden fences and 25-foot-tall ceilings. Prices at Nine52 are similar to those at other new-construction mid-rise condos in and around Hell’s Kitchen, many of which have comparable amenity packages (except for the koi pond). But compared to high-rise condos, especially those at nearby Billionaire’s Row, costs here are millions less. As of 2024, studios here have sold for between $700,000 and $850,000, and one bedrooms have sold for between $900,000 and $1.4 million. Two bedrooms have sold for between $1.3 million and $2.2 million, and three bedrooms have sold for up to $2.4 million. Shared outdoor spaces were central to the building’s renovation, especially the inner courtyard with its wooden foot bridges, koi pond and landscaping. “It’s a quiet space to enjoy nature with the original fish from when the building was renovated,” Murray says. “There’s a little yoga area there. You feel like you’re disconnected from the city.” Residents can also go up to the roof deck and take in skyline views from multiple seating sections. The wine cellar and private dining room make entertaining easy, and a co-working space with desks and a reservable conference room is useful for residents working from home. In addition to the gym, yoga room and kids’ playroom, the building has bikes residents can borrow for cruising around town. Hell’s Kitchen’s appeal is being extremely close to some of Manhattan’s biggest attractions — Broadway, Times Square and the Highline — without having crowds of tourists right at the doorstep. From Nine52, residents can go to either end of the block and find both casual and date-night bars and restaurants up and down Ninth and Tenth avenues, including some with live music. Less than a mile northeast is Central Park and the Columbus Circle shopping mall, and for more scenic excursions, the Hudson River has parks and piers with food and drink options. The six subway stations within half a mile of the building provide easy access along Manhattan’s west side and reach parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Port Authority, also nearby, has convenient connections into New Jersey, as does neighboring Lincoln Tunnel. For traveling uptown or downtown, drivers can use the West Side highway, and cyclists can use the adjacent waterfront bike path.