Posted by Leonard Steinberg on January 11th, 2013
The streetscape around Astor Place and Cooper Square is in the process of being altered significantly: In the past few years, the architectural landscape has been revolutionized, most recently with the addition of 51 Astor Place, home to hi-tech including the IBM Watson Group. Other buildings added as neighbors to the magnificent Cooper Union Building are the spectacular Thom Mayne-designed 41 Cooper Square across the street, 445 Lafayette Street and the Standard East Village. Currently a brand new park is being installed, creating an entirely new looking pocket of Manhattan that was once rather derelict and sad looking.
I noticed the radical change recently when we listed our new exclusive at 62 Cooper Square: I sold it to the current owner over 12 years ago as raw space when the neighborhood was very different, although still rather wonderful. My client had the choice of several floors but opted for the 4th floor as the windows facing the park were at a height that just skimmed the tips of the trees: this vantage point allows the combination of both greenery and sky to enter into the apartment. Often buyers are deluded into believing the highest floor has the best views: not so when facing trees. And now more trees and a more wonderful experience on the street is just months away.