The month of April 2020 will probably be remembered for a long time as the apex of the co-op and condo sales market in New York City.  The calm before the storm if you will, the last month before COVID-19 shut down the country and effectively put the real estate market on pause.  

So let’s take a look at the top ten apartment sales in Manhattan for the month of April.  Not surprisingly, many of the usual suspects top the list.  The ten apartments are all condominium residences and they’re scattered about Manhattan.  Each building falls under the banner of new construction, seven of the ten sales representing a sponsor apartment.  They each are architecturally distinct, boast over-the-top-amenities and offer a cloak of privacy.  At the apartment level, these opulent homes share a multitude of commonalities, including  expansive great rooms, cloud-in-the sky views, loft-like ceilings, patterned floors, opulent kitchens and master baths and stunning windows.  The aggregate total of the top ten apartment sales was north of $254 million.

The top three sales took place at 220 Central Park South, the newest tower of titans that graces the southern end of Central Park.  The three sales, each passed $50 million with the biggest sale closing at $56.25 million.  In a short time, 220 has become the preeminent address in the city as sales north of $50 million have become almost commonplace.  The 79-story limestone mecca to the uber wealthy, was developed by Vornado Realty Trust and designed by acclaimed architect Robert A.M. Stern.

Apartments 60, 63 and 65 at 220 CPS are all full floor homes spanning some 5,935 square feet and offering four bedrooms, five full baths and two half baths.  These pre-war style homes offer views in all directions and practically sit atop Central Park.  The three units sold from $9479 to $8578 per square foot.  If you have forgotten, 220 is also the address of the city’s most expensive residential sale, the $239.9 million transfer of a four-level unit in January 2019 to hedge funder Ken Griffin. Click here to view current and past sales for 220 Central Park South.

The fourth highest priced sale was at 56 Leonard Street, the Jenga-like structure that stands wondrously in the heart of Tribeca.  The 57-story glass structure became an overnight architectural icon when completed in 2016 and a forever addition to the downtown skyline.  Penthouse 57, the last full-floor penthouse to sell, closed at $21.55 million, just over $4100 per square foot.  The 5252 square foot residence offers 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths and three outdoor spaces.   Additional attributes include 14-foot ceilings with floor-to-ceiling windows and river-to-river views. Click here to view current and past sales for 56 Leonard Street.

The fifth transaction closed at 212 Fifth Avenue, the boutique condo on the northern edge of Madison Square Park at East 25th Street.  The 24-story prewar was converted to 48 exceptional condominium residences in 2017 and is now the New York home to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos; he purchased the penthouse apartment for $51.55 million in 2019.  The recent sale was apartment 20-B, a 3078 square foot three-bedroom residence that closed at $16.13 million, more than $5200 per square foot.  Designed in classic prewar style, this finely crafted corner home offers a loft-like setting, exquisite detailing and postcard views of the Flatiron Building. Click here to view current and past sales for 212 Fifth Ave.

The sixth sale is at 2 Park Place, the Woolworth Tower Residences at the landmarked Woolworth Building south of City Hall.  The top thirty floors of this 57-story skyscraper, once the world’s tallest building, was converted to 30 condominium residences in 2015. Apartment 31-A is a full floor unit spanning some 5991 square feet while offering four bedrooms and 4.5 baths. The sold price for this artfully crafted home, the sixth on our list, was $16 million, about $2670 per square foot. If sitting in the clouds is on your bucket list, this one-of-a-kind residence also boasts 632 square feet of exterior space, one of only four terraced apartments at the Tower. Additional highlights include a spectacular great room, stretching some 73 feet in length, 10 foot ceilings and extraordinary views in multiple directions. Click here to view current and past sales for 2 Park Place.

The seventh priciest sale in April was at 160 West 12th Street, part of the Greenwich Lane condominium complex on the grounds of the former St Vincent Hospital.  Apartment 94, a sprawling four-bedroom, 3319 square foot residence sold for $11.5 million, about $3465 per square foot.  The home, like several on this list, was designed in classic prewar style.  Highlights of the residence include an extended formal entrance gallery, a spectacular master suite with direct access to an adjoining terrace and a voluminous great room. Greenwich Lane opened in 2016, repositioning some of the hospital’s older structures while complementing the complex with some newer additions.  In total there are 200 residences spread across ten buildings, five condominiums and five townhouses.  The buildings share common amenities, including a stunning interior garden. Click here to view current and past sales for 160 West 12th Street.

224 Mulberry Street in Nolita is the site of the eighth highest priced sale.  Apartment 2-S, a duplexed three-bedroom covers more than 4000 square feet and sold for $9.99 million, just over $2450 per square foot.  This prominent new development tucked within one of New York’s oldest neighborhoods, has just six residences across its eight floors. Completed in 2015, this downtown jewel artfully adopts to the historical sensibilities of Mulberry Street while offering luxury residences never before seen in this part of the city. The residence boasts soaring 23-foot ceilings, a 990 square foot terrace, custom cabinetry throughout and a private bedroom floor. Click here to view current and past sales for 224 Mulberry Street.

The ninth sale on the list is a penthouse apartment at 15 West 61st Street, The Park Loggia, a new 32-story tower just off Central Park.  True elegance reverberates from this stately Upper West Side tower designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill.  Apartment PH-2A is a 2391 square foot corner penthouse with an extraordinary exterior loggia.  The private outdoor space is perched high above Central Park and extends the width of the apartment enjoying access points from the living room, kitchen and master bedroom.   The apartment sold for $9.4 million, just over $3900 per interior square foot.  To date, this is the highest recorded sale at this new Upper West Side tower. Click here to view current and past sales for 15 West 61st Street.

The tenth sale was at the new ultra slim at 180 East 88th Street, the only Upper East Side sale of the bunch.  At 32 stories, the building is the tallest structure north of 72nd Street on the East Side and offers residents unparalleled views.  The building also offers a boutique feel with just 48 half and full floor homes.  Apartment 22-AB, a full floor unit at 3785 square feet, sold for $9.3 million or $2457 per square foot.  This five-bedroom residence features four exposures, soaring 14-foot ceilings and uncompromising detailing throughout. Click here to view current and past sales for 180 East 88th Street.