196 Orchard St

196 Orchard

On a prime corner of the Lower East Side, off East Houston Street, 196 Orchard presents an industrial façade with a hint of gold glimmer. Designed by Incorporated Architecture and Design and Ismael Leyva, the exterior was constructed from imported Spanish bricks lined with gold plates, planned to patina over time. “This is not a glass skyscraper tower,” says Alex Andrejko, a real estate salesperson and senior associate with the Noble Black & Partners team at Douglas Elliman, “The developer wanted to concentrate on fitting in with the neighborhood and being more timeless. Like the little black dress of the neighborhood, it will always be in style.” Opened in 2018, the 11-story building has a tiered “wedding cake” top with an expansive roof deck and an in-building two-story Equinox that makes its location even more appealing. “People have moved internally with this building, which is for me always the number one indicator that it’s a building people love,” Andrejko says. The building’s 89 units include studios to three-bedrooms with a modern-meets-industrial feel. Warm woods contrast with cool concrete ceilings and white walls are punctuated by black-framed casement windows. Open spaces have been prioritized, as have materials — white lacquer and Nero Marquina black marble accentuate the kitchen spaces, outfitted with Miele appliances. A small one-bedroom with a compact kitchen might run $1.4 million, while a three-bedroom with 12-foot ceilings might cost $3.6 million or more. Select residences have luxurious terrace spaces that almost double a unit’s space. The views from the top of 196 Orchard Street extend all the way to Hudson Yards, allowing for beautiful western sunset views. The roof deck space is one of the largest in downtown Manhattan, outfitted as an outdoor living room. “It’s a big, beautiful roof deck with grills, and the residents love it,” Andrejko says. The base of the building features a 30,000 square foot Equinox that can be accessed from 196 Orchard’s lobby, which is attended by a full-time doorman. Gym memberships are not included but can be negotiated at a discount. On the corner, a CVS is also part of the building. Pets are allowed, and in-unit laundry is the standard. “This is the northwest corner of the Lower East Side, so you really are at the nexus of three to five incredible neighborhoods and on top of the F train. The East Village is across the street, SoHo is down the street,” Andrejko says. Off East Houston Street, 196 Orchard is perfectly placed between Lower East Side institutions Katz’s Deli and Russ & Daughters. Down the block from Una Pizza Napoletana and five blocks from the famed pancakes of Clinton Street Baking Company, culinary options abound, as do nightlife opportunities. Small clubs and venues like the Mercury Lounge, Berlin, Rockwood Music Hall and others are just steps away. Plus, both Union Market and Whole Foods are within a five-block walk. This specific portion of the Lower East Side is also particularly accessible, with the F train stop three blocks away on East Houston and the 6 train a 10-minute walk on Bleeker Street.