99 John St Unidad 1907

John Deco Lofts

There is something almost magical about the Art Deco period in New York City. Even today, that sense of grandeur and symmetry, ornate detailing and geometric patterning still holds up against the test of time. That’s partially why a building like the John Deco Lofts still captures the imagination, even over 100 years after it was completed. Designed by Shreve, Lamb & Blake, the acclaimed architecture firm behind the Empire State Building, John Deco Lofts was originally an office building before it was converted to apartments, and then finally to 442 condominium units in 2007. “It’s one of a kind, it’s not generic,” says Michael Hania, founder of The Sitruk – Hania Team and licensed real estate salesperson with Corcoran. “Very few buildings offer this blend between worlds, so you really feel like you’re going back in time. As soon as you’re in the lobby, you have the same feeling as when you walk into the Empire State or Chrysler building.” Residents step into a fully marble-clad lobby, outlined with black and gold triangular floor patterns below soaring ceilings, partially held up by large centered, brushed steel and marble columns. Even the doors of the lobby’s 12 elevators feature Art Deco patterning with their steel and bronze vertical lines, and interiors clad with intricate steel mesh. “In the lobby, when you look at the geometry and the materials they use, it could very well be May 1934, and that’s what’s cool about it,” adds Hania. And it’s this striking time-warp sensation that juxtaposes beautifully with the ultra-modern residences above.