15 William St

15 William

One of the best places to take in the Neoclassical and Art Deco architecture of lower Manhattan’s Financial District (aka FiDi) is from the double-height lobby of 15 William Street. Here, residents have an uncrowded view of the area, along with a handsome wooden library nook and concierge providing hotel-level service, such as a hot coffee bar every morning. And as one of the neighborhood’s first ground-up construction properties of the 21st century, it has room for plenty of luxuries. “They have about 33,000 square-feet of amenities that include a squash court, yoga studio, kid’s playground and a saltwater pool,” says Maria Velazquez, an agent with Compass who has sold more than 200 units in the building. A dedicated staff and responsible residents help keep the residences looking shiny and new, too. “I consider this building special because of how it’s managed,” Velazquez says. “It’s more about the community, and people feel a sense of ownership. I’ve had people come in as renters who are now owners, and they’re waiting to combine units.” Thanks to the building’s location at a five-way intersection, units have better natural lighting than might be expected from FiDi’s narrow streets and high density of skyscrapers. “The building is shaped like a boomerang, so all of the units get some kind of view. Even on the lower floors,” Velazquez says. Layouts are also generous by Manhattan standards. Every unit, including the 700-square-foot studios, has at least one oversized bathroom with a walk-in closet. One bedrooms are a little more than 800 square feet, and like the studios, they maximize space by setting the minimalist kitchen into one wall of the main entry area. Two-bedroom, two-bathroom units are just under 1,400 square feet and have corner windows in either the living or sleeping area. Three bedrooms, which average 1,600 square feet, let residents truly separate their dining areas from their living rooms, and the few 3,500-square-foot four-bedroom penthouses have private terraces. Kitchens have a paneled design where refrigerators and dishwashers blend into the wall, and while some appliances have been replaced since the building opened in 2008, most owners maintained the same look. For the primary bathrooms, interior designer André Balazs took inspiration from his work at The Standard hotel and added a folding wall that can be closed for privacy or opened to let in more light. Every unit has a washer-dryer, and some also have built-in home office nooks that can be hidden behind sliding panels. Finding any condo unit for under $1 million in this part of town, especially at a newer building with an indoor lap pool, is a feat. Here, studios start at $900,000 and one bedrooms start around $950,000 — although they can go up to $1.3 million for duplexes with private terraces. Two bedrooms are priced from $1.6 million to $1.9 million, and three bedrooms are priced from $2 million to $3 million, depending on size and location within the building. Beyond that, penthouse four bedrooms have sold for upwards of $9 million. In addition to common high-end amenities like an indoor pool, fitness center and spa, 15 William Street rounds out its offerings with racquetball and basketball courts, a private movie theater, a dog park and indoor and outdoor kid’s play areas. “And there’s a rooftop with a 180-degree terrace,” Velazquez says. “You can see Lady Liberty right there, framed between all the other buildings in FiDi.” Next door, a public parking garage comes in handy for residents with cars. FiDi has a daytime personality that’s abuzz with finance workers and gawking tourists, but at night, it’s one of Manhattan’s quieter neighborhoods. Delmonico’s, an institutional steakhouse, is across the street, and two blocks south is Stone Street, which has had a popular bar and restaurant scene since the 1600s. The nearby East River Greenway and Brooklyn Bridge are popular walking and cycling spots, and farther south, Battery Park has greenspace with waterfront views. “Every single subway line is two blocks away,” Velazquez says, so wherever residents need to commute to in the city, they have multiple options. Nearby, the Wall Street pier has ferries to Rockaway Beach, which is a big perk during the summer. Plus, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Battery Tunnel give drivers quick access to north and south Brooklyn.