500 W 43rd St Unidad 15E

The Strand

Corcoran broker Tony Testa, who has been selling homes in the 1988 condominium The Strand for 11 years, understands the appeal of the newer luxury developments in Hell's Kitchen like Hudson Yards and MiMA. He also knows that for many people, the cost of those homes can be prohibitive. "For someone who wants new construction but can't afford the price per square foot, this is a really good runner-up," he says, noting that while The Strand is an older condo, "You don't feel like you're walking into a 1988 building. "He says this standing in the living room of one of the 42-story building's penthouse units, a nicely renovated one-bedroom with uncommon views that improbably encompass the Freedom Tower to the south, the Hudson River and the Intrepid Museum to the north. Designed by Costas Kondylis Associates, the unusual building is not rectangular, but rather diamond-shaped, and positioned at a 45-degree angle to Manhattan's grid. This orientation, combined with the condominium's unique design, results in many of the units providing 90-degree views in any given room and the sense of being in a corner unit. "Every corner has multiple views," says Testa. "The board is really well run," says Douglas Elliman broker Heather Meissner, who specializes in selling investment properties in the building. She cites the purchase of a backup generator following Hurricane Sandy and renovating the building's amenities during the pandemic as proactive and savvy decisions that help maintain the condo's condition and appeal. The Strand also offers flexible rules and policies for buyers, permitting pied-a-terres, investment by LLCs and trusts and co-purchasing. Homes include studios to four-bedrooms, and many units feature small balconies accessed through glass doors. Studios measure 390 square feet to 490 square feet and list for about $500,000 to $685,000, and one-bedrooms 390 square feet to 1,670 ask $595,000 to $1.5 million. Two-bedrooms are priced at around $825,000 to $1.8 million and measure 838 square feet to 1,400 square feet, and three- and four-bedrooms 1,800 and larger sell for $2.4 million and up. The condo's late-1980s vintage is reflected in the parquet floors of many units and, compared to many bedrooms found in new construction, larger sleeping quarters. Many include updates thanks to the renovations of previous owners over the years. The building is staffed by a concierge and 24-hour door attendant and offers garage parking. A small residents' lounge includes a catering kitchen and can be rented out for events. The standout amenity is a sun-filled top-floor health and fitness center with a lap pool, jacuzzi, gym, men's and women's steam rooms, saunas, and full locker rooms with showers. The level also includes a sun deck. The lobby is a neutral, welcoming space with a double-height foyer that incorporates limestone and marble. Located at the intersection of 10th Avenue and 43rd Street in Hell's Kitchen, The Strand is surrounded by shopping, dining and entertainment options. A Food Emporium is down the street, and a Target with a grocery store is one block away. Popular restaurants line 10th and Ninth Avenues, and the theater district is three blocks to the east. For outdoor, riverside recreation, Hudson River Park and the Hudson River Greenway are two blocks to the west. Luxury shopping and dining can be done at Hudson Yards, directly south at 34th Street, and the sprawling Jacob Javits Convention Center is nearby on 11th Avenue. Nearby public transportation includes the A, C and E at Port Authority Bus Terminal at 42nd Street and the N, Q, R, W, 7 and Times Square shuttle three blocks east. The West Side Highway is two blocks west, and the Lincoln Tunnel is minutes away, providing connections to New Jersey and Interstate 495. Newark Liberty International Airport can be reached in about 40 minutes.