Park West Village and a Tale of Two Condos

First, a (very) brief history of the cluster of buildings known as PARK WEST VILLAGE. There are four, independently run condos (372 CPW, 382 CPW, 392 CPW and 400 CPW) that form a quadrangle on 97-100 streets and Columbus and CPW. Built in the 60's (and they share that post-war, slightly Soviet looking brick exterior), the buildings were converted to condos in the early 80's. Because they've been condos so long, they have VERY low carrying costs as well as low real estate taxes. They each have their own amenities inside, but they share a common parking lot, as well as gardens and playgrounds. IMHO (although I think this is common knowledge) 372 CPW (or THE VAUX, as it is officially named but I think that smacks of desperation in trying to sound fancier...sort of like naming your kid Tiffany) is the jewel in the Park West Crown. It's actually ON CPW and 97, and many units have fantastic views (more on that later). It also has a renovated and tasteful lobby and a lovely new gym, as well as a huge community room with a library, a bike room, and a children's play room. There are nominal monthly fees for the gym, the bike room and the playroom. The on-site parking, for which is there is several year waiting list, is currently $175 monthly. Yup, you read correctly. The going rate in that neighborhood is about $450 monthly, so you'd save $3300 annually when you hit the lottery and get off the waiting list.


After 372, I think 400 is the best run building, also with excellent facilities. It too, sits right on CPW, at 100 street.

Maybe because of the subsidized housing look of the exterior, or the location just past the 96th street invisible border of the "good upper west side", or the relative proximity of the housing projects on Manhattan Avenue and 100th street, Park West Village has tended to be undervalued. Even at the height of the market, apts with full on Park views and Park facing terraces were trading at $1000 per sf, sometimes a little more. (In February, an 1141 2 bed 2 bath with full on Park Views and a north facing terrace sold for $1400 per sf. That's certainly a new record, and one that will stand for quite some time, I'm sure. It was a beautiful renovation).

Which leads me to part 2 of Park West Village: A Tale of 2 Condos.

I currently have apt 17C on the market at $1,350,000. It's the same unit as the one that sold for $1400 per sf, only this is 9 floors higher. The views are breathtaking. I'm asking $1125 per sf. Did I mention the views? The apartment has a renovated kitchen, but in general could use some updating. Still...

Now I'd like to comparison shop with a nearby condo, which in many ways is the perfect comp:

Apt. 22A in the Ariel East, located on 99th and Broadway. It's a new development, and arguably a more aesthetically pleasing exterior. (Although, frankly, it depends on whom you ask). Because the building is new construction, there are tax abatements in effect for the next 10 years.

this is our listing http://www.randny.com/listings.cfm?ListingID=269162&ListingSource=RPL&PropType=S

and theirs:

http://www.corcoran.com/property/listing.aspx?Region=NYC&listingid=939319

Their asking price: $2,510,000 ($1552 per sf)

Ours: $1,350,000 ($1125 per sf)

Their cc: $1915.00
Ours: $631

Their taxes: $82 monthly, increasing by 20% every 2 years
Ours: $368

372 CPW is only a few hundred sf smaller than the Ariel, (and BTW, their measuring includes a certain percentage of common space, and they measure from outside wall to outside wall. I think the net difference is much smaller than the quoted sf would imply). Our second bedroom is actually the same size as their master bedroom, and our second bedroom is larger as well. We both have a terrace. Our view is better. They have a larger terrace (but still...they BOTH have terraces). We have a STUNNING VIEW.

Which apt makes more sense? Which is the better investment? Which has the better view? I leave those questions for you to decide. If you're looking for a condo, don't overlook Park west Village. By the way, there are new luxury rentals going up at Columbus and 97th. They will house a new Whole Foods, a Modells, a Borders (if it doesn't go bankrupt), a Michael's arts and crafts store, 2 new schools (Mandell school expansion and Solomon Schecter) and a TJ Maxx. That addition to the neighborhood will only improve the value of apts at park West Village.