425 E 13th St

The A Building

The A Building has many reasons to stand out. Its location is around the corner from a subway stop, Target and Trader Joe’s. Its previous residents have included celebrity actors, models and Olympic athletes (snowboarder Shaun White). But the thing that makes this building truly remarkable is its outdoor swimming pool. “It’s the only condo in the East Village that has a rooftop pool,” says Florence Ng, a real estate agent at Compass. “That combined with a large amount of outdoor space, 24/7 security and having a lot of light from the floor-to-ceiling windows makes it one of the most attractive condos in the East Village.” Views of the neighboring Immaculate Conception church and a variety of private balconies and terraces help create a calm atmosphere — which, like the pool, can be hard to find in this noisy part of Manhattan. “The layouts are really efficient,” Ng says. Studios, which range from 450 to 525 square feet, still make room for a sleeping alcove that’s separate from the open-kitchen living and dining area. Some studios have private balconies, but that feature is more common in one bedrooms, which vary from 525 to over 800 square feet. On the smaller end, these units have a pantry closet in the kitchen, while bigger units, which can be duplexes, have extra bathrooms and home offices. Most two bedrooms are between 1,000 and 1,500 square feet and often have en suite bathrooms for both bedrooms, as well as a home office space. Some also have multiple balconies or extra-large terraces. Three bedrooms go up to about 1,900 square feet and can include kitchen islands to allow for more cooking space, as well as larger closets in all the bedrooms. Then there are the penthouses, which on the high end reach 2,500 square feet and can be duplexes with private elevator entrances and private roof decks. Clean and simple aesthetics guide the decor scheme. Kitchens have white lacquer cabinets with matching paneled refrigerators, and mirrored backsplashes that make the spaces appear larger. Glass partitions and dark tiling (gray or emerald green) elevate the bathrooms, some of which also have double vanities. The most commonly renovated feature are the floors, which are still the original painted white in some units, but most units now have them in natural wood stain. Although the building is over 15 years old, these long-lasting design choices, coupled with washer-dryers in every unit, have obviated the need for significant updates. Buyers looking in and around the East Village for a condo with a pool won’t find better prices than at The A Building. Around the area, other condominiums with indoor pools often have units priced $500,000 to $1 million more, although they also include additional amenities like on-site parking. Up through the first half of 2024, studios at The A Building have sold for between $750,000 and $850,000, while one bedrooms have sold for between $900,000 to $1.2 million. Two bedrooms have sold for between $1.5 million and $2.5 million, and three bedrooms have sold for around $1.9 million. Beyond that, four-bedroom penthouses have sold for $3.6 million and above. The rooftop pool and lawn area are the most popular shared spaces. “I think the building is representative of the neighborhood clientele, which are young urban professionals who enjoy entertaining,” Ng says. There are lifeguards to keep everyone safe, shaded cabanas to keep them cool and gas grills with a wet bar. However, building management makes sure these spaces aren’t overrun with parties and remain fun for everyone. On lower floors, there’s also a fitness center equipped with Peloton bikes. This neighborhood’s buzzing restaurant, bar and nightlife scenes are major draws, and residents barely have to go one block to discover new dishes and trendy hang outs. But community gardens and mini green spaces hidden throughout the East Village are perhaps the area’s most pleasant features, in addition to Tompkins Square Park, which packs in walking paths, a dog park and sports facilities. Having both a Trader Joe’s and Target just down the street is hard to beat in Manhattan, and when residents want a break from checking out the dozens of locally owned boutique shops, they can head west for even more lively Union Square, or go east for the calm of the river walk. Because the building is located in the northwest corner of the East Village, it’s only a few hundred feet from the L train. Buses on 14th Street can take residents to the west side and connect them to eight different subway lines at Union Square. And just over a mile south, the Williamsburg Bridge offers pedestrians, cyclists and drivers convenient (and scenic) access to Brooklyn.