505 W 43rd St

505West43

In an unassuming section of Hell’s Kitchen, little more than a stone’s throw from Times Square, 505 West 43rd Street spans the distance between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues with two 16-story towers connected by a courtyard. To accommodate the building, the developers constructed a platform over an existing Amtrak railroad track and enlisted ODA Architects, who notably designed the Lotus Towers in Dubai and the Terrarium Cheong-Dam skyscraper in Seoul. The copper-colored brick building was completed in 2019, adding a mélange of old-world and contemporary design sensibilities to this classic Manhattan neighborhood. "The lobby is very impressive,” says Chris Toland, a real estate broker with The Agency who has been selling in New York for over 18 years. “It’s got super-high ceilings and it’s furnished in this Old English Gentleman’s club kind of aesthetic. It feels kind of special when you walk in; it feels very high-end.” The lobby is the first touchstone for a building that delivers functional minimal design, and a high level of amenities for full and part-time residents. The building’s 123 units include studios to three-bedrooms, with interiors designed by Andres Escobar & Associates, who also appointed the residences in Vancouver’s luxury Curv tower. Here the approach is minimalist; oak plank floors support simple kitchens that employ straight lines and white lacquer facades disguise the refrigerator and storage spaces. Bosch appliances, including ovens and gas ranges, are small yet functional. A studio with an against-the-wall kitchen and walk-in closet can cost $825,000, while a two-bedroom with an open kitchen and an exterior balcony might run $2 million. Select units have terraces or balconies, and all residences have in-unit washer/dryers. A rare four-bedroom penthouse duplex with a spacious outdoor private terrace might go for $4 million. Rather than a traditional receiving lobby, the entrance space at 505 West 43rd doubles as a lounge, with a large fireplace, exposed metal beams and modern furniture placed over polished concrete floors, giving it a comfortable yet industrial edge. The heated indoor pool opens to a relaxing sundeck populated with reclining deck chairs, and the interior courtyard reveals bicycle storage bounded by translucent glass, delivering a unique aesthetic to a functional space. Residents can also exercise in the well-outfitted fitness center and catch some sun on the rooftop terrace, overlooking the Midtown Manhattan skyline. The building is attended by a doorman, and pets are allowed. Its location gives it particular appeal for both full-time and pied-a-terre buyers. “I also think for an investor it’s a good option because the rental market over there is quite good,” says Toland. Proximity to Manhattan’s Theatre District makes 505 West 43rd Street particularly appealing. Playwrights Horizons, American Lyric Theater and Theatre Row are two blocks away. “Obviously it’s popular with people who either enjoy the theater or work in the theater,” says Toland, “You also can get downtown very easily. It’s really kind of a good central location.” Residents are just two blocks west of the Hudson River Greenway and Pier 84 at Hudson River Park and the West Side Highway. The myriad restaurants and bars of Midtown are easily accessible, though traditional grocery stores are harder to come by. The location also makes getting around Manhattan, in most any direction, particularly easy — Port Authority and the A and C and E trains are less than a 10-minute walk, with the Times Square subway hub nearby.