392 Central Park W

CPW Towers

One of seven near-identical buildings within the Park West Village complex in Manhattan Valley, CPW Towers at 392 Central Park West dates to 1960 and was created at the behest of influential New York City official Robert Moses, who cleared several blocks of what he deemed “slums” to pave the way for this “towers-in-a-park” development from 97th to 100th streets between Amsterdam Avenue and Central Park West. As such, the 19-story red-brick building — designed by S. J. Kessler & Sons and developed by Webb & Knapp — contains no retail and is set away from the sidewalk, rising amid trees, shrubs, flowers and lawns. Originally containing rental apartments, the rectangular slab building was converted in 1991 and now features 413 condo residences, with those on the corners and in the middle sporting private balconies, many of which offer coveted views of Central Park. “As far as apartments, they include spacious studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedroom units,” says David Rossman, an Eastpointe Residential broker who recently listed a studio in the building. Notably, the largest residences are equipped with two bathrooms, which is not always a given in Manhattan. There are also a handful of even larger combination units within the complex, including a three-bedroom with balcony that hit the market in July 2024 for $2.8 million. There is little uniformity across the units in the building, as some owners have chosen to gut-renovate, while others have undertaken smaller updates. Alcove studios are the smallest of the offerings and have prices between $660,000 and $895,000. One-bedroom homes start at around $985,000, while two-bedroom configurations go for $1.2 million and up. “Monthly common charges are kept fairly low,” adds Rossman. For instance, a junior one-bedroom with a Japanese-style shoji screen wall was priced at $700,000 and carried a monthly common charge of $434. Owners interested in renting out their unit, however, face elevated costs when compared to the rest of CPW Towers complex. “The condo fee is $2,365 per year, more than double next door, and does not include the broker’s fee,” explains Rossman. That charge is typically passed along to the prospective tenant, which can be a deterrent, but owners occasionally chip in. An additional $750 “lease fee” is charged to owners per 12-month contract, meaning a 13-month agreement would incur a total of $1,500. “The building is filled with amenities,” says Rossman. “They have a 24-hour doorman and porters, as well as additional basement storage and bike storage.” The lobby connects to a landscaped garden popular with families dotted with shade trees, benches and a playground. The basement-level fitness center, available to both tenants and owners, costs $400 per year and includes free weights, cardio machines and weight-lifting equipment. There’s also a shared laundry room in the basement, which comes in handy since in-unit washers and dryers do not come standard and are typically only seen in combination units. (A dry cleaner is located across the street.) Surface parking is available for those with a vehicle, and pets are permitted for owners but not renters. The building staff keeps the property in well-maintained condition, and the most recent renovation occurred in 2022, when the hallways were updated with new carpets and lighting. While Central Park West itself is known — and prized — for its largely residential streetscape devoid of retail, 392 Central Park West is situated adjacent to one of the area’s largest shopping destinations, Columbus Square. Anchored by a two-story Whole Foods, the complex on Columbus Avenue also includes national retailers such as Target, Home Goods, Sephora and Five Below, plus places to eat and grab a coffee like Bareburger, Chipotle and Starbucks. The mixed-use development is also home to two schools, BASIS Independent Manhattan and Guidepost Montessori at Columbus Square. The surrounding neighborhood of Manhattan Valley is brimming with casual delis, cafes, salons, restaurants and banks — especially on Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. Perhaps the biggest draw is Central Park itself, which offers ample places for rest and recreation, including the Tarr Family Playground at the 100th Street entrance. Less than a block from the building is a rare storefront on Central Park West called Perfect Picnic NYC, which offers curated gourmet food baskets as well as bespoke picnic experiences for a range of occasions. “Location is the number one draw, because of you have the 2 and 3 express trains at 96th Street and Broadway,” notes Rossman, pointing out that riders can get from the station down to 42nd Street in less than 15 minutes. (The 1 local train also services the station, which is roughly a 10-minute walk from the building.) The B and C subway lines, meanwhile, are even closer, stopping at 96th Street and Central Park West. The M10 bus runs up and down Central Park West, while the M96 and M106 — which both stop near the building, at 96th Street— provide reliable crosstown service to the Upper East Side. A Citi Bike dock is located just outside the property, on 100th Street.