540 W 49th St

540 W 49th

“540 West is for buyers who want the services of a luxury condo building, but they don’t want to sacrifice quality of life,” says Katie Thurber, leading agent at SERHANT, whose annual sales total more than $500 million. “You don’t share a floor with more than ten people.” The glass and steel frame luxury condominium built in 2015 is smaller, “with more of a boutique feeling and a tight-knit community.” Given its location between 10th and 11th Avenues, which is one hundred percent residential (save for the corporate offices of the American Red Cross and the parking lot at 11th Avenue), the block is rather quaint. Meanwhile, the hustle and bustle of Times Square and the Theater District is just a straight shot down 49th Street across three avenues. Thurber says the whereabouts gives residents “the best of both worlds.” The residences at 540 West feature open floor plans with floor-ceiling windows — most units offer both courtyard and street views — to maximize light and space. The interiors are designed with wide-plank white oak floors, laundry closets with washer/dryer units and custom built-in wardrobes and closets. Bespoke kitchens feature grey lacquered cabinetry, Silverstone quartz countertops, integrated Liebherr refrigerators, Bertazonni cooktops, and ovens. Penthouses also have Bertazonni wine coolers. The low-rise complex comprises 110 properties in two seven-story buildings — the primary building on 49th Street and a smaller companion structure on 48th Street — across a central courtyard. Residences range from studios to two bedrooms and a few three-bedroom combined units. A 542-square-foot alcove studio on the second floor, with a walled-off shelving unit that creates a cozy nook for a queen-sized bed, sold for $700,000 in June 2024. Similarly, a 782-square-foot street-level one-bedroom with four considerable closets in the primary bedroom sold for $700,000 in June 2024. Meanwhile, a 1,450-square-foot two-bedroom penthouse with a 24’ by 37’ private terrace sold for $2.4 million in September 2023. Additionally, a not-quite-as-grand three-bedroom on the fourth floor, converted from a two-bedroom and studio, sold for $3.1 million in June 2019. 540 West is a full-service luxury condominium with a round-the-clock door attendant, lobby concierge and live-in resident manager. According to Thurber, the building’s enormous outdoor spaces are the top amenity. “The roof deck is humongous. Almost everyone can be up there at the same time. There is also a beautiful garden on the second floor.” Residents can find a petite gym with the latest cardio machines and essential weight training equipment on the lower level. A bike parking room is on the same subterranean floor. Additionally, larger units come with deeded storage, while smaller units can rent a private repository. Those in Midtown this far west — in this case, just three avenues from the Hudson River Greenway — have the luxury of living near Hudson River Park and the Empire State Trail (which runs from Manhattan to North Canada). Charming cultural institutions are just a short walk from 540 West, including the Museum of Modern Art, The Shed, The Vessel and Classic Car Club Manhattan. Similarly, Hudson Yards is just a three-quarters-of-a-mile walk down 10th Avenue, which provides access to luxury shops, chain lunch spots and specialty spots like the Spanish food market, Mercado Little Spain. While the gym in the building is, as they say, “state of the art,” the neighborhood encompasses some of New York’s most exclusive and luxurious gyms in the world, including Life Time Fitness and Equinox’s destination club and hotel in Hudson Yards. For groceries, residents can shop at nearby markets, including Food Emporium, Target and Brooklyn Fare. Endless train options exist because of the proximity to Times Square and Port Authority. The A, C and E trains are accessible at 42 St-Port Authority Bus Terminal. From Times Sq-42 St, the N, Q, R, S, W, 1, 2, 3 and 7 trains can transport residents to almost anywhere in New York City. If those were enough options, there’s also 42 St- Byrant Park, which services the B, D, F and M trains. Additionally, about a mile south of Pier 79, the NY Ferry provides access to Battery Park City and St George in Staten Island.