“Walking through that apartment was one of those quintessential ‘Jesus, I love New York’ moments,” says Michael Gross, author of numerous articles and books on luxury real estate, including 740 Park, of visiting PH1 in the Walker Tower. “I cannot praise that building or that apartment too much.”
The 24-story edifice, named for its designer, Ralph Thomas Walker, who was dubbed “the architect of the century” by the New York Times, has been painstakingly restored to its original 1929 Art Deco glory and transformed into one of the world’s most sought-after addresses. Comprising 47 luxury condominium residences and standing proudly at 212 West 18th Street in Chelsea, the building features unobstructed 360-degree views of Manhattan, soaring ceilings and massive tilt-and-turn windows. Most of the units have private terraces. Eleven boast wood-burning fireplaces.
“Everything about it is aesthetically glorious—it’s a glorious building,” Gross explains. “It’s the perfect synthesis of an old building with a modern construction sensibility.”
PH1, a full-floor unit with 5 bedrooms and 5.5 bathrooms, is on the market for $70 million. It has radiant-heated, French herringbone oak flooring; a Crestron home automation system; Smallbone kitchen; marble bathrooms with Waterworks fixtures and steam showers; Nanz hardware throughout; built-in zoned humidification systems (one must keep all those Warhols and Basquiats from crackling, after all); and ultra-quiet central air.
And then there’s the 441-square-foot, south-facing private terrace. “You can take your Central Park views—that’s fine—fact of the matter is, the park turns into a black hole at night and most people aren’t at home during the day,” says Gross. “The views from this apartment are mind-boggling; they put a lump in your throat. They are the opening scene of Woody Allen’s Manhattan–the first time you hear Gershwin.”
A few of the building’s oh-so-many perks include a 24-hour doorman, concierge, library lounge with pantry and bar, children’s playroom, fitness center with yoga room and sauna. And, not that you’d ever need to visit it with a terrace like that, but the Walker Tower’s landscaped roof deck includes a dining area, sun lawn, observation area and covered cabana room.
