5 E 22nd St Unit 20S

Madison Green

Clicking through online photos doesn’t do the Madison Green condominium justice. Rather, it’s being in the thick of the Flatiron District, walking all of 20 paces to Madison Square Park and interacting with the friendly staff that piques buyers’ interest. Neoly Lika Williams, a licensed real estate broker at LKW International Real Estate, experienced these distinctions firsthand, initially as a short-time resident in the building across the street and later, circa 1998, when she closed her first of many deals at Madison Green. “Any time I put a condo on the market in this building, I get a ton of interest,” Williams says. “I’ve never gotten so many showing requests. The location is just fantastic. You have everything right there: the park, dining, subways.” And although the 30-story high-rise was built in 1985, the common areas were updated as recently as 2019 — a necessary maintenance for a building with a whopping 423 units. Also necessary? That amiable building team, which consists of a 24-hour door attendant, concierge, resident manager and engineering staff. Between the neighborhood's vibrant culture and the building’s on-top-of-it way, residents of Madison Green are well taken care of. Due to decades of renovations, the units at Madison Green are not homogenous, as illustrated by the 44 unique floor plans throughout the building. There are a couple of commonalities, however, that prospective buyers can generally expect. Firstly, many of the units have a spacious coat closet near the entry and a pass-through, galley-style kitchen directly across from it. Secondly, “because there are so many units in the building, you have much lower common charges,” Williams says. Even so, buyers should expect stiff competition for on-market units. “I’ve brought clients here who ended up putting in offers well above asking, $50,000 or $60,000 above, who still lost in bidding wars to other all-cash buyers. This was probably back in 2012, so demand is always high. These units tend to sell quickly.” Most of the residences are one-bedrooms, with prices ranging from $1.2 million to $1.6 million. Two-bedroom condos typically list between $1.7 million and $2.7 million, while three-bedrooms have sold for as much as $4.9 million. As expected, units facing East 23rd Street and Madison Square Park have a higher price tag, as do those with a balcony. In addition to the greenery of Madison Square Park, residents can enjoy a ground-level, landscaped garden dotted with ginkgo trees and cafe tables. “People go down there with their pets pretty often,” Williams says. “It’s gated, but they keep the garden open to the street during the day, so I’d say it’s semi-private.” Next door to the courtyard, a valeted garage caters to residents with cars. A gym is situated on the second floor, while the party lounge, which has a catering kitchen and can be reserved for private events, is up on the 20th, and a sky lounge with a library and seating pods is on the top, 30th floor. From there, residents can take in views of the park, Empire State Building and Flatiron Building. There’s also a shared children’s room for families and a laundry room on every floor. As evidenced by its name, the best part of Madison Green’s location is Madison Square Park, the 6.2-acre green space across the street from the condominium. It’s typically the better option for relaxing surrounded by trees, flowers and fountains, but there’s also the bustling Union Square Park on the other side of the neighborhood. Open four days a week, the Union Square Greenmarket is one of the city’s most popular destinations for fresh produce and locally made goods. Culinary options in the Flatiron District abound, from the popular Eataly and the upscale COTE Korean Steakhouse to the swanky Thyme Bar and the casual Thai Villa. There’s also a thriving retail scene along Fifth Avenue that’s been around since the 1980s, back when the now-landmarked historic district was known as “Ladies’ Mile.” Morton Williams Supermarket is right at the end of the block, and both Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods are within a half-mile. Stairs to the R and W trains are mere steps from the lobby doors. One block away, residents can catch the F and M trains to the west or the 5 and 6 trains to the east. Multiple bus lines run along the perimeter of Madison Square Park, and the closest Citi Bike station is one block south on East 21st Street.