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The Swannanoa

The Swannanoa

The Swannanoa
Cooperative Building
105 E 15th St
New York, NY 10003
The Costar Building Rating

A rating for the building relative to other buildings of the same type throughout the country. Learn more

71 Units
10 Stories
1900 Year Built
$761K - $2.0M Value Range

Available Units

For Sale
No Units Available
For Rent
No Units Available

Highlights

  • Controlled Access
  • East Village Community School Rated A-
  • High-Rise Condominium
  • 2 min walk to Union Square Park

A Neo-Renaissance gem in the heart of Gramercy

As Ken Barkoff stood outside the neo-Renaissance building in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan, he marveled at the architectural details. The Corinthian columns standing two-stories tall and the curved bay windows took his breath away. “It was like a work of art,” Barkoff says. The year was 1991. Barkoff had just graduated from college in Buffalo, New York, and was looking to start life in the city. He knew he had to live in that building. Known as the Swannanoa, located at 105 E. 15th St., the building is a 10-story Beaux-Arts masterpiece. It was designed by architect Gilbert Schellinger and was completed in 1900. Today, it is home to 71 co-op units.

Architectural masterpiece

The building harkens back to an era of towering architecture in New York City. The carefully carved stone façade is rooted in the classic neo-Renaissance style, reflective of Schellinger’s flair, who was prolific in designing New York buildings in the late 1800s and early 1900s. An aficionado of design, Barkoff dreamt about living in the Swannanoa. He scraped together $50,000 — a lot of money back in 1991 — and purchased a studio apartment there. As an enticement for the sale, six months of maintenance were included. For the next 34 years, Barkoff would make the Swannanoa his home, upgrading over the years to a two-bedroom apartment. He is now president of the co-op association, as well as an investor with two rental units. He operates his business as a seller’s agent at Barkoff Residential from the building. From $50,000 back in 1991, a 250-square-foot studio now sells for $400,000. A studio sold in July 2023 at $401,000. A one-bedroom, 800-square-foot unit sold for $925,000 in September 2022.

Vibrant neighborhood with farmers market and grocers

Some people call it Gramercy. Others call it Union Square. In the 34 years that Barkoff has lived in the vibrant neighborhood near Union Square, he said residents have called it Union Hill. It is at the intersections of Greenwich Village, East Village, Union Square and Gramercy Park with Union Square Park as the town square. The row houses give the neighborhood a distinctive vibe, and it is known for its historic architecture and tree-lined streets with sidewalks. The farmer’s outdoor market at Union Square is also famous, open four days a week throughout the year. It offers fresh produce as well as wines and other artisanal specialties with farmers traveling from all over the region to sell their goods. There are also community events throughout the year. For groceries, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's are within walking distance of the building. “Everything is at your fingertips,” Barkoff says. “The convenience is unparalleled.”

A creative enclave with eclectic shopping and dining

When it comes to dining out, there is no shortage of options. ABC Kitchen is known for its eclectic American menu using fresh, seasonal produce. Casa Mono on 17th Street is known for its Tapas with a creative flair. For casual food, there’s Joe’s pizza for fast, inexpensive New York thin slices. For shopping, the neighborhood is right near the famous Strand Book Store, nicknamed the Strand, with 18 miles of books for hours of browsing. Paragon Sporting Goods is right across Union Square. It’s a mega sporting goods store with departments for skiing, tennis, and other specialties. There are also several off-Broadway theaters in the area, plus other performance spaces in the surrounding area. Madison Square Park and Stuyvesant Square are nearby for those seeking quiet contemplative spaces in an urban setting.

Yesterday’s grandeur. Today’s convenience.

Even after over three decades, Barkoff still marvels at the architectural masterpiece he lives in, feeling fortunate to be amongst such grandeur. Walk through the stone façade, an elegant marble lobby greets visitors. And while the lobby has been restored to reflect the history of yesteryear, two new elevators have also been added. Soaring ceilings reaching more than nine feet can be found in many of the units. The apartments also feature hardwood floors and large windows that fill the rooms with natural light, a key element for Barkoff. Some New York City apartments lack natural light, but the tall ceilings and the large windows in the building draw it in, he says. There are decorative fireplaces with mantles in some units and stained glass. The kitchens vary in style from space-saving galley style to open eat-in design. Some of the bathrooms in the units have clawfoot tubs, a feature of a bygone era. On the upper floors, the bay windows offer vast views of the cityscape.

Building Details

Amenities

  • Controlled Access

Condo Association

  • Swannanoa Condos
  • Union Square Park Subdivision
  • Smoking Allowed in Building

Building Design

  • Co-Op
  • High-Rise Condominium

Unit Features

  • Laundry in unit

Activity

Views

19

Unit Information

Unit
1
2
3
4
5
6
21
22
23
24
Beds
Studio
3 Beds
2 Beds
2 Beds
--
Studio
1 Bed
--
1 Bed
1 Bed
Baths
1 Bath
1 Bath
1 Bath
2 Baths
1 Bath
1 Bath
1 Bath
--
1 Bath
1 Bath
Sq Ft
--
--
--
600
290
325
--
--
--
--
Status
Off Market
Off Market
Off Market
Rented
Rented
Rented
Off Market
Off Market
Off Market
Off Market
Price
--
--
--
$5,500/mo.
$2,500/mo.
$3,000/mo.
--
--
--
--
Estimated Value
$1,989,000
$1,989,000
$1,989,000
$1,989,000
$1,989,000
$1,989,000
$1,989,000
$1,989,000
$1,989,000
$1,288,579

Unit Size and Value Ranges

Studio Units
Sq Ft Range
250 - 325
Est. Values
$760,507 - $1,989,000
1 Bedroom Units
Sq Ft Range
None Available
Est. Values
$1,098,925 - $1,989,000
2 Bedroom Units
Sq Ft Range
600 - 800
Est. Values
$1,989,000
3 Bedroom Units
Sq Ft Range
None Available
Est. Values
$1,989,000
All Units
Sq Ft Range
250 - 800
Est. Values
$760,507 - $1,989,000

Map

Area Factors

Low Crime

Crime Score®

3 / 10

Biker's Paradise

Bike Score®

94 / 100

Walker's Paradise

Walk Score®

100 / 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.

Environmental Factors

Busy

Sound Score®

59 / 100

--

Air Pollution®

N/A / 10

--

Flood Factor®

N/A / 10

--

Fire Factor®

N/A / 10

--

Heat Factor®

N/A / 10

--

Wind Factor®

N/A / 10
Source: First Street, How Loud
Sources: First Street, How Loud

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

Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Disclaimer: Please note that this building may not be in these schools' attendance zones.

Agents Active in this Area

See Area Agents

Property Tax History

Source: Public Records

Similar Condominium Buildings

Building Team

Architect
Pallante Design Associates
Property Management
Halstead Management Co. LLC
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified.