11 E 29th St

Sky House

“Sky House was the O.G. It was the original residential tower in NoMad,” according to Nicole Grandelli, an agent at the Harrison Grandelli Team at CORE who recently represented a couple buying in the building. “When it opened in 2008, it was a great option for people who wanted good value in an up-and-coming neighborhood.” Brown Harris Stevens agent Margaret Lacey’s clients — who sold their 33rd-floor residence to Grandelli’s buyers — saw that potential. “They paid $1.8 million for it in 2009, and we got $2.595 million for it,” Lacey says. “So it held its value, and it has appreciated.” The 54-story tower on East 29th Street offers “breathtaking views,” Lacey adds. Indeed, when Sky House first opened, NoMad, an acronym for North of Madison Square Park, was still a bit gritty, and there wasn’t much around the tower, so there were 360-degree views from every exposure. Now, NoMad is one of Manhattan’s most desirable areas — aided by the additional luxury development and hip hotels like the Ace or the James. “The people who bought this apartment are sophisticated, and they only wanted to live in NoMad, but their budget was under $3 million,” Grandelli says. “Views were really important to them. Location was paramount.” Sky House remains a value option, according to Grandelli. Other, newer buildings in the area can cost more than double the price her clients paid per square foot. “You’re in the same area for a lot less,” Grandelli adds.