108 Leonard St

108 Leonard

Occupying a full city block in Lower Manhattan, the restored neoclassical building at 108 Leonard Street was originally home to the headquarters of New York Life Insurance. Built in 1898 and partly designed by McKim, Mead & White, the white marble façade is adorned with ornate details and topped with a working clock tower. “You’ll never see it again, you can’t build it again,” says Elena Sarkissian, Director of Sales for 108 Leonard. In the late 1920s the Italian Renaissance palazzo-inspired building became the site for city courts and government offices and the building was officially landmarked before its conversion into condominiums, which opened in 2019. The clock tower, which was originally hand-wound, became electric and is connected to an 8,770 square feet penthouse triplex residence, which has never been listed. To transform 108 Leonard’s interior spaces, Jeffrey Beers International was enlisted to oversee the design. “We’re not a view-driven building, we’re an interiors-driven building,” Sarkissian says. That’s evident from the double-height lobby with its cascading staircases and Corinthian columns. “The whole design aesthetic is to juxtapose these grand elements with a fresh contemporary feel,” she says. The units themselves have Chevron-patterned oak floors and Italian Scavolini kitchens with marble countertops and Miele appliances. A two-bedroom with en suite bathrooms and a walk-in closet costs at least $3.2 million. The 16-story building’s 167 units include one to four-bedroom residences, as well as a few more spacious penthouses. The 14th and 15th floors are reserved for the Crown Collection, 11 one-of-a-kind penthouse units with fireplaces and varying ceiling heights, above 15 feet. A rare five-bedroom triplex with a large outdoor terrace, stately arched windows with downtown views, expansive gallery spaces and a private internal elevator has been listed for over $24 million. On the roof of 108 Leonard firepits and cabanas signal gathering spaces for residents. “The rooftop is really spectacular,” Sarkissian says, “For a 16-story building in Tribeca you have a full gorgeous view from Hudson Yards through the Midtown skyline. You see into FiDi, the Freedom Tower.” A sundeck and meditation lounge are also available for relaxation. In the lower level of the building a wine cellar and dining room, private lounge spaces and a fitness center all cater to residents. Bonus: there’s a large indoor pool, too. “The pool is definitely a main attraction. It’s 75 feet and has a dry and wet sauna and a jacuzzi, so it feels like a vacation, in Tribeca,” Sarkissian says. The limited in-building parking spaces are sold out, but many residents opt to use spaces in the nearby rental garage. Occupying the block between Lafayette and Broadway, 108 Leonard can lay claim to the neighborhoods of Tribeca and Civic Center, with Chinatown nearby. North of multiple federal buildings, the small greenspace of Collect Pond Park provides a small reflection area. Restaurants like Serafina and 1803 are less than a 10-minute walk away, and groceries can be found at Gourmet Garage of Tribeca, a block north, off Franklin Street. Commuters to the World Trade Center can take a 15-minute walk, with the rest of Manhattan accessible via the Canal Street subway hub, including the 6 train, J and Z, and the N and Q, R and W trains.