20 West St

The Downtown Club

Walking past 20 West Street, one might easily breeze by, barely pausing to notice the 40-story tower. After all, its location between two heavily trafficked tunnels is inauspicious, and its brick-clad facade is somewhat unremarkable at first glance. It’s not until either stepping back (to admire the classic Art Deco architecture) or narrowing in (to spot the plaque designating it a New York City landmark) that a passerby would realize the high-rise holds a deeper significance. Today, it may be a 283-unit condominium known as The Downtown Club, but it was once home to the Downtown Athletic Club (DAC), an elite, members-only sports and social organization. Formed in 1930, the club had an impressive 70-odd-year run, but it cemented its place in the cultural zeitgeist by creating the Heisman Memorial Trophy, the most prominent award an NCAA football player can earn. And today, the prestigious award’s history is still intertwined with the residences at 20 West Street. In the late 1920s, Starrett & van Vleck, the firm behind the Saks Fifth Avenue building, elected to build 20 West Street in the Art Deco style that was popular at the time. Save the asymmetrical setbacks at the tower’s crown, it’s the entrance that best encapsulates the style — more specifically, the metal marquee and, directly above, the chevron glass panels. The high-rise officially opened as the Downtown Athletic Club (DAC) in 1930. On the third floor, DAC members could dine at a private restaurant, while the fourth through the 12th floors were filled with athletic facilities such as an Olympic-size swimming pool and racquetball courts. The next three levels were reserved for banquet rooms, and the club’s exclusive hotel began on the 22nd floor. The lower floors, originally meant for the club’s athletic facilities, were given larger windows in order to amp up the natural light, whereas units starting on the 20th floor have smaller, double-hung windows. When the club was converted into condos, the kitchens were outfitted with orange-hued, wood cabinets, black granite counters and stainless steel appliances, while bathrooms received the once-typical beige tile treatment. And because a large portion of the club was a hotel, many of the rooms were simply turned into studios. Over 60 percent of the condo’s units are studios, and quite small ones at that. Some are less than 400 square feet, though most fall between 400 and 700 square feet, selling for $500,000 to $700,000. Another 20 percent of the units are one-bedrooms, with a price tag between $600,000 and $975,000. The remaining condos are either two- or three-bedrooms, which have sold for as much as $3 million when renovated. The club’s first athletic director was none other than John Heisman, the famous college football coach most known for his 16-season stint at Georgia Tech. In an effort to boost business and clout, the club approached Heisman about starting an award for the best college football player, says to Rob Whalen, executive director of the Heisman Trust. Whalen, who began his long-term career with the trust over 30 years ago as an intern at the DAC, added that unbeknownst to many, Heisman initially rejected the idea of such an award, declaring college football a team sport. When he passed away a year later, the club decided to name the award in his honor, and the Heisman Memorial Trophy was born. In the old lobby, perched dead-center on a marble pedestal, the original Heisman Trophy was once on display for anyone (non-members included) to view or photograph. For decades, the club hosted the winner’s ceremony and later relocated the black-tie dinner portion to a larger venue. Recalling the ceremonies of the ’90s, Whalen says, “The press would camp out and tune in from the eighth-floor basketball court, and the announcement was held up in the ‘Heisman Room.’ Technically, it was the 13th floor but — New York City superstitions — it was labeled ‘H’ for ‘Heisman’ in the elevator.” Today, that banquet room is divided among several condos, but back in the day, the mahogany-clad space was “lined with hand-painted portraits of all the Heisman Trophy winners,” Whalen recalls. Unfortunately, many of the athletic facilities that made the DAC so enticing were removed when the building was converted to The Downtown Club condominium. Still, sports- or history-loving residents will appreciate the double-height gym, a 12,000 square-foot space that includes separate locker rooms, saunas, a yoga room and, of course, images of past Heisman winners. There’s also a business center, nine-seat screening room and social lounge that opens to a terrace. A second outdoor area can be found on the roof deck, where residents can take in 360-degree views that include the Hudson River, Statue of Liberty and World Trade Center. Though the area immediately outside the condominium is a bit jarring — expect a lot of honking and six lanes of traffic — residents can follow the sidewalk just one block south to reach a far more serene area: Battery Park. The sculpture- and memorial-laced green space is fronted by the riverfront Battery Park City Esplanade, a popular path for runners and dog walkers with a good view of Lady Liberty. The esplanade leads to several other parks, including Pumphouse Park and Rockefeller Park, as well as Brookfield Place, an upscale shopping center with multiple eateries. Of course, there are your typical FiDi attractions like Stone Street, The Oculus and World Trade Center or South Street Seaport, but the neighborhood has also attracted some outstanding newcomers, big and small, in recent years. Take for instance, the $500 million Perelman Performing Arts Center, which, as of fall 2023, hosts world-class shows across theater, dance, opera and more. Or Best Sicily Bottega, a small sandwich shop and market with rave reviews. Much like The Downtown Club, FiDi and Battery Park blend past and present. For residents of The Downtown Club, the nearest transit option is actually a lesser-known gem: the Downtown Connection bus, a free service with over 30 stops around the perimeter of Lower Manhattan. For farther trips, there are nearby subway stations for the 1, 4, 5, N, R and W lines. Other modes of transportation include Citi Bikes, the PATH train and ferries. Not to mention, the West Side Highway and Hugh L. Carey Tunnel to Brooklyn are right outside the building.