The story of the building at 515 Broadway in New York City’s SoHo neighborhood is a kind of riches-to-rags-to-riches story. It started out in the mid-19th century with the St. Nicholas Hotel, one of the city’s most opulent hotels that cost more than $1 million to build. The hotel waned in popularity as locals and visitors shifted uptown, and wound up, along with its stunning white marble facade, being demolished.
But the story doesn’t end there.
On the very same spot, noted architect Sam Warner designed a six-story red terra-cotta building in 1884 for commercial use. High ceilings, king-sized windows and large spaces turned out to be perfect for the switch to residential lofts decades later. After more recent renovations, the 19th-century site has been transformed into dreamy apartments with just the right mix of old and new.
Apartment 5A, for example, recently was reimagined by Ike Kligerman Barkley, a design firm that made Architectural Digest’s top 100 for 2022 list. In almost 3,000 square feet, the open-plan home has been configured with two bedrooms, three bathrooms, living room, dining room, a home office and contemporary kitchen. “It really is a dream apartment,” says Kirk Eckenrode of The CE Group of Elegran real estate. “It’s as immaculate as it looks.”
The flow of the apartment starts in the great room, seamlessly segueing from living room to dining area to the kitchen. Floor-to-ceiling shelves line the walls of the rooms, good for storage, art displays or books. Modern-day wooden beams cover original fixtures along the 12-foot ceiling in these rooms. Light wood floors keep the feel airy. “The seller has maximized, in terms of his design, usable square footage,” Eckenrode says.
Contemporary furniture in the living room accents clean lines in a soft off-white and gray palette. The dining area has a solid wood table that seats 10. The kitchen has been transformed into a homey, livable nook with top appliances. Long cupboards for appliances and dishes make the most of the high ceilings.
Bedrooms are in the back of the apartment for maximum privacy. The main bedroom has a walk-in closet and an en-suite bathroom with a standing tub, and shower with white marble walls. The second bathroom has a tiled shower and marble-topped vanity. Both have heated floors. The apartment, which also has air conditioning, is move-in ready. Also, furnishings are included in the $6.995-million price.
The building has drawn celebrity attention in the past decade. Businesswoman, model and TV host Heidi Klum bought and renovated one of the penthouses and the rooftop area in 2018. Actress Meg Ryan once lived in the building too, having bought actor Hank Azaria’s place and completed a massive redo. The building’s reclaimed luxury restores a bit of what the St. Nicholas Hotel started more than a century and a half ago.
Kirk Eckenrode and Trevor Connolly of The CE Group at Elegran are the listing agents.
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