A former telephone building becomes high-end condos with a focus on history
In recent years, when it comes to the New York luxury market, developers seem keen on packing buildings with tons of high-end amenities (think: sprawling gyms, playrooms, resident lounges, bars and golf simulators). But these shared spaces come at the expense of residential square footage, sometimes resulting in much smaller sized units — not to mention they’re rarely used regularly by residents. In a world seemingly obsessed with trends, buyers may find it refreshing to see the focus shift back towards something else entirely: preservation. “The amenity race is kind of coming to an end because buyers are more drawn to quality and craftsmanship and less of the bells and whistles,” says James May, an agent with eXp Realty. “And that’s what Stella Tower had from the beginning.” While amenity-rich buildings are great in their own right, they can be, in the words of May, “a little busy.”
Instead of trading square footage for over-the-top amenities, the developers of Stella Tower had a different approach: meticulously restoring a century-old Art Deco building designed by one of New York City’s most esteemed architects, Ralph Walker. In short, May describes the condominium as “luxury at its best.” Originally completed in 1930, the 18-story building once housed the New York Telephone Company before JDS Development Group converted it into 51 condo units in 2014. Affectionately named after his wife Stella, Ralph Walker’s vision has since come back to life, including the fastidious restoration of the building’s winged crown, resulting in one of the city’s first-rate examples of adaptive reuse.
Preserving history, one brick at a time — Stella Tower’s signature crown
Sometimes, the best parts of a building are actually hidden — they’re found in the quality of its bones, time-honored construction, or in this case, far out of reach from one’s line of vision. Staring up at Stella Tower from 50th Street, with its ornate detailing carved into the stone and golden entryway, passersby won’t notice the building’s crowning achievement — but it matters. Upon reviewing the building’s archival blueprints, the developers noticed a gorgeous crown in the original design. Apparently, the rectangular rooftop space had been covered up with concrete since sometime in the 1950s, for reasons unknown, but it piqued their interest to dig a little further.
While renovating the roof, they started to uncover some of the original precast behind the brick, and parts of the original, winged design were revealed. Rather than cover it back up and leave history buried, they decided to restore it — piece by piece — and reconstruct Walker’s original vision. According to the developer’s website, 48 new pieces were cast from 22 wooden molds, each taking 16 hours to create. The restoration was about principle, rather than flashy or ephemeral trends.
In addition, Stella Tower’s refinished lobby also features vintage-inspired design cues, with its antique gilding, giant golden chandelier in the center (inspired by Gaetano Sciolari’s 1950s atomic fixtures), terrazzo floor and geometric detailing in the moldings, mirrors and ceiling.
Luxurious units with custom millwork and a quality that you can feel
Many folks speak of ‘high-end’ finishes, but it doesn’t always make a palpable or noticeable difference. Upon stepping into one of the units, the hand-laid oak flooring feels truly solid, and despite being in Hell’s Kitchen, the spaces are surprisingly quiet. “The other thing about being a former telephone building, it was designed to hold heavy equipment, so the floors are super thick,” May says. “It’s just all really well done with sound-proofed windows and high-ceilings [up to 11-feet].” And this focus on quality is what is attracting the new luxury buyer: “Developers are reverting back more to high-end craftsmanship, and that’s what Stella always offered. They have solid finishes, the hardware on the doors are beautiful.”
Prospective buyers can find industrial-style, Nanz hardware and finishes throughout, as well as streamlined kitchens with integrated Miele appliances. Windows — although they’re not floor-to-ceiling — are at least six feet tall, creating a sense of airiness within the sturdy spaces. And for those who have a thing for great flooring, the bathrooms feature mosaic tiling, each one with a unique design reminiscent of the Art Deco period, as well as marble-clad vanities and walls, steam showers and Waterworks sinks. And since there’s no common roof deck, many units also have private balconies and wrap-around terraces.
Hefty price tags and celebrity residents
Studios start at $950,000 for anywhere between 660 and 700 square feet, while one-bedrooms run anywhere between $1.1 million to $2.9 million for 923 to 1500 square feet (two bathrooms are often the reason for the higher price tag). Two-bedroom units go between $1.98 million and $4.6 million for just over 1,700 square feet to 1,850 square feet. Three-bedrooms have sold for anywhere between $5.9 million and $9.5 million — the latter of which belonged to Trevor Noah of “The Daily Show” and included just under 4,000 square feet, a large, private outdoor terrace and heated plunge pool. Four- and five-bedrooms, although rare, are also typically penthouses with multiple private terraces and have sold for $8.95 million in recent years, with new listings asking $12.4 million.
Although not plentiful, the shared spaces are classic and beautifully-designed
What they do have by way of amenities can be found on the first floor, just to the right of the lobby, which is attended 24/7. “There’s a state-of-the-art gym in the building, a piano lounge, a little ‘work from home’ space and a shared outdoor space in the courtyard,” May says. The piano lounge features black walls and an impressive marble accent wall, as well as seating areas and a small bar area. “If you wanted to, you could go and relax or have a private event there as a resident. That lounge leads to another section where it’s a chill out space — a beautiful cozy living area where you can also host guests,” May adds. Residents can also access a cold room storage for grocery deliveries and a bike room. “The lobby's Art Deco detailing was also restored. They describe it as having a ‘jazzy welcome home.’ It feels home-y, but also like walking into a luxury hotel — just without the hustle and bustle. You’ll notice the gold details and the details in the molding, as well as the very warm welcome from the staff,” May says.
A diverse neighborhood just west of Midtown
Known for its eclectic restaurants and bars along Ninth and Tenth Avenues, Hell’s Kitchen has a great nightlife scene, and offers proximity to the Hudson River waterfront and Midtown attractions. Most residents, May says, also choose the building because they specifically want to be in Hell’s Kitchen, whether that’s a loyalty to and love of the neighborhood, or because their work is within walking distance. A lot tend to work on Broadway or in entertainment and television: “It’s a great location and the buyers that it attracts are a lot of industry [people] and also second-home buyers,” he adds. “The neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen, to me, feels like one of the last neighborhoods in New York that feels like New York City. The beauty is it has these nice tree-lined streets and townhouses, and then the hustle and bustle of Times Square.” As for getting around, the C and E trains are located one and half avenues away at the 50th Street station.
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Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Moderate Crime
Crime Score®
6/ 10
Biker's Paradise
Bike Score®
95/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
99/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100/ 100
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Powered by CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks. Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Environmental risk data is provided by First Street Foundation® and is designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios.
Parks in this Area
Hell's Kitchen Park
3 min walk
Basketball
Tennis
Trails
Ramon Aponte Park
5 min walk
Playground
Waterpark
DeWitt Clinton Park
6 min walk
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Bike Trails
Matthews-Palmer Playground
7 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Hudson River Park
7 min walk
Bike Trails
Dog Park
Trails
745 Plaza
9 min walk
Picnic Area
McCaffrey Playground
9 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Waterpark
Clinton Cove at Hudson River Park
12 min walk
Boating
Picnic Area
Kayak/Canoe
Tom Otterness Playground
14 min walk
Schools
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