181 E 101st St Unit 604

Huxley

An East Harlem corner once home to an abandoned brick church sprouted a glossy new condo building in 2021. Designed by Brooklyn-based Workshop DA and developed by Wonder Works, the nine-story Huxley sports an eye-catching facade sheathed in travertine-patterned porcelain tiles crafted by Spanish brand Porcelanosa. Located at the intersection of East 101st Steet and Third Avenue, the property is on the cusp of the Upper East Side and appeals to buyers looking for greater value in the area without sacrificing modern construction and amenities. “At a time when so many people are getting priced out of new developments, Wonder Works did a really great job of putting in high-end finishes at affordable prices,” says Samir Vogan, a SERHANT. agent leading the building’s sales team. “We have young professionals and families who got priced out of the Upper East Side able to afford here and still get a luxury feel with Italian finishes and heated floors in the bathrooms.” There are 71 apartments at Huxley, ranging from studios with home offices to three-bedroom residences. Many come with courtyard-facing terraces, and all penthouse dwellings include private rooftop “cabanas” accessible year-round that roughly occupy their footprint below. These open-air spaces are fenced in and reachable via the shared rooftop, not from within the units themselves. Prices start at around $550,000 for studios and go up to $1.3 million for a three-bedroom penthouse. Interiors are uniform across the building and emphasize Italian craftsmanship, with imported finishes that include terrazzo kitchen counters; cabinetry by Alta; Newform bathroom and kitchen fittings; luxury ranges by Bertazzoni; and custom wardrobes from Santalucia Mobili. (Some units also have built-in wine columns.) Wide-plank oak flooring paves the living spaces, while heated terrazzo floors are installed in the bathrooms. All residences at Huxley also come with in-unit washers and dryers, dishwashers and garbage disposals. The building employs a part-time doorman, who is stationed in the lobby every day until 8 p.m. Just off the lobby is a private courtyard equipped with Wi-Fi and open to residents year-round. Enclosed by a striking metal screen, the outdoor space is decorated with comfortable lounge furniture, lush plantings and an eight-seat dining table as well as a gas fireplace that makes it a cozy spot in the colder months. “We have all the necessities,” says Vogan, noting Huxley’s lower-level fitness center, game room with billiards table and bike storage. He also highlights the shared roof terrace, where the tops of the trees in Central Park are visible along with several Upper East Side skyscrapers. Open only in the warmer months, the space features a barbecue grill, dining area, chaise longues, sofas and planters with trees. This stretch of Third Avenue borders a vast public residential complex called Washington Houses, comprised of 15 high-rise buildings surrounded by sports courts and lawns. A convenient supermarket option is Ideal Food Basket, located on Lexington between 103rd and 104th streets and equipped with a sizeable deli offering prepared foods as well as an expansive selection of fresh produce. “Frenchy’s coffee shop is always packed,” adds Vogan of the neighborhood’s popular café and bakery, located two blocks away. “It’s one of my favorites in the whole city.” Nearby, MOJO Mousse Bar also serves coffee in the afternoons, in addition to five flavors of small-batch mousse made by the former executive chef of the Belgian ambassador. A range of restaurants — among them two Thai spots, a pizza parlor and Mediterranean-inspired eatery Effy’s Kitchen — can be found on Lexington. Across the street from Huxley is a dry cleaner as well as a pet store. Sunshine Playground, with a jungle gym and pavilion, is just down the block. Additionally, one of the largest teaching hospitals in the country, Mt. Sinai Hospital, operates a sprawling campus in the neighborhood, albeit on the edge of Central Park, about a 10-minute walk from the building. Those concerned about noise should note that both the fire department and police department have a presence next door to the building on Third Avenue. Huxley is located just three blocks away from the nearest subway line, the 6 train, which stops at 103rd Street and Lexington Avenue. The train also makes a stop at 96th Street, about six blocks in the opposite direction. The 6 is notably crowded, and in 2023 the MTA revealed it was the busiest line in the system, with over 140 million passengers for the year. To alleviate pressure, the Q train was extended to 96th Street and Second Avenue in 2017, so residents of Huxley also have that option easily accessible, with the added benefit of a modernized station and fewer riders. The Q is also in the midst of another expansion, with three new stops being added, including one on 106th Street. “This whole area is changing,” notes Vogan. Four bus routes also run along Third Avenue, and there is crosstown service available on both 96th and 106th streets.