300 E 23rd St

Tempo

In a neighborhood known for its red brick high-rises and coveted brownstones — some of which date back to the 1840s — Tempo’s 19 gleaming glass stories are something of a Gramercy Park anomaly. Completed in 2011, Kutnicki Bernstein Architects designed the contemporary structure to be on par with Gramercy Starck, according to Steven Clair, a licensed agent who has been selling in the building for years. The nearby Phillipe Starck building, built in 2007, also features a sleek glass exterior that could pass for an office building if not for the balconies. But for Tempo, “The large appeal is that since it’s no longer a new development condo, you’re able to buy an apartment that has all the bells and whistles as a new development, but without the same price tag,” Clair says, comparing it to buying a certified, pre-owned car. He adds how a one bedroom might go for $1 million compared to $1.4 for the same size in a newer building. D’Apostrophe Design spearheaded the top-of-the-line interiors in the 98 units, outfitting open-concept kitchens with stone counters, white custom Gruppo Italia cabinets and appliances from Bosch and Sub-Zero. Clair adds how many design choices, including waterfall countertops, helped popularize and set the standard for new condos. There are also terrazzo tiles in kitchens and bathrooms, soaking tubs from Zuma in en suite bathrooms, Bosch washers and dryers in each unit and Merbau hardwood flooring throughout. Floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing city views and 10-foot-high ceilings that buyers of new builds have come to expect are also present here, while some units also come with terraces or balconies. It’s true that balconies facing 23rd are going to experience all the traffic noise, but Clair points out that Tempo’s angled windows are a building differentiator, since this helps to reflect and thereby reduce indoor noise. Balconies in the back of the building face a courtyard. One bedrooms start around $768,000 for 690 square feet with three-bedroom penthouses going for at least $3 million. Visitors couldn’t be blamed for mistaking the lobby for a hipster hotel further downtown, as Tempo’s red banquette seating, black walls and sleek front desk evoke entering an exclusive space that’s ready to cater. In that sense, a full-time door attendant and concierge are at the ready, and residents also benefit from an on-site super. A second-floor fitness area gets flooded with natural light and stays current with equipment upgrades. It’s possible to bring a personal trainer here, or a massage therapist to the nearby private massage room that opens onto the second-floor courtyard, although Clair observes how the sauna is one of the most popular amenities. The courtyard is a community gathering spot for projector movies in the warmer months, as is the 3,300-square-foot rooftop deck for grilling and parties, like watching the July 4th fireworks. Views of the city skyline and East River don’t hurt either. “There’s a large demographic of buyers who want to be in the neighborhood,” Clair says about Gramercy Park, from NYU graduate students to those working at nearby hospitals, including Bellevue and NYU Langone. But this far east section also offers both the cache of its name and its convenient location in between midtown and downtown, with Union Square and its associated shopping, dining, nightlife and destination farmer’s market within walking distance. The eponymous, and private, Gramercy Park is also within walking distance, but only those living in its immediate vicinity are granted a set of keys. The local 6 train is just a few blocks away at 23rd and Park Avenue South, but nearby Union Square is a main transfer hub for the 4,5,6, L, N, Q and R lines. The M23 bus also stops right in front of the building. Clair cautions, “You’re buying a product that was built over a decade ago, so you might have to put some money into fixing it up.” However, it’s also rare for units to become available since many owners prefer to rent them out as an investment instead of selling them.