After a long construction process, the new condos at 555 West End Avenue at 87th Street, formerly the St. Agnes Catholic school, are finished and ready for closings. There are 13 apartments in the 8-story building, with three to five bedrooms, and currently available apartments start at $7.9 million (for a four-bedroom). The website is here.
“The building’s amenities include a 24-hour doorman, fitness center, stroller valet, residents’ lounge, recreation room with pool table and dart board, and additional cold storage and bike storage,” according to a press release. “Private individual storage rooms that make for the perfect wine cellar or additional storage are available for purchase.”
Developer and architect Cary Tamarkin bought the building in 2014.
God, please have them adjust lighting at side entrance on 87th street. Awful. Those blaring balls at eye level are not friendly to neighbors or birds. Probably just a matter of time before they get shattered by a delivery box.
All these amenities we see in new luxury buildings, when what’s needed, more than a wine cellar or stroller valet, is an indoor toilet option for dogs. This would be of great value in weather like today’s.
Oh, for joy!
Even more rich people for the UWS. Just what we needed. This is really disgusting.
(A stroller valet…???)
Yes indeed, we need as many rich people as we can get. Rich people pay almost all the taxes for public services we all benefit from. Rich people are fleeing the city and although it might feel nice to dance on their grave, the city is facing huge pension plan payment issues that could bankrupt the city, or more likely force the city to cut services for everyone.
It’s in fashion to publicly vent disgust for the successful right now, especially in liberal towns like our where we all rely on and take for granted that successful people pay for just about everything. As they leave for states which are not broke and become tax payers there, we hurt here. And those places are welcoming them.
Jealousy is a bad thing to let lead your life. Be happy with what you have and if you want more then strive for that. I’m rooting for you and others to join the successful. Just as I’m joyful when my friends receive promotions, have an investment take off, and in any other way are able to improve their’s and their loved ones life. Because they pay taxes on that success that we all benefit from.
You’re mistaken. No one said anything about “successful” people. The comment was about “rich” people.
There are many people who are successful but have not become rich. Teachers, for instance. Those who work for not-for-profits. Government workers. Shopkeepers.
It is a stark illustration of what ails our society when “success” is measured not by what one has accomplished, but solely by the number of dollars one has managed to acquire through whatever means.
Within the context of my comment I was implying financially successful people. I agree it is only a single measure and a financially successful person could be an unsuccessful parent, citizen, etc.
But the parent comment in particular has scorn for the financially successful. Living in a particular area is a function of that type of success. If you have not found financial success at the level required to buy or rent in an area you desire then instead of projecting bitterness you should improve that aspect of your life to make it a reality. This country is bursting with opportunity.
For many people that type of success is not important and that’s great. I’d hope these people are using their time to pursue their passions and bettering their life in whichever way they like. But it’s everyone’s own choice on how to spend their time. If someone derives meaning through scorning the rich then so be it. I believe that’s a wasted life.
Re. Cato’s comment: Amen.
“more rich people”????????
What do you think the UWS The median income inn 23.24.25 (the UWS) is 96K Even growing up here in the 70’s it was much higher than most of the city. Remember thir taxes pay for a lot of better things in the area and will not sit by and allow the quality of life issues we all face to fester
I’m sure you’re just jealous.
Lovely kitchen, but I hope that ladder is removable and that there is a closet somewhere high enough to store it. It would be super inconvenient to have to constantly slide it over to get to the counter, drawers and lower cabinets.
No, don’t believe ladder is removable, you can see track it runs along at upper cabinets.
Those sorts of ladders have been around since 1800’s if not before IIRC. You know what you’re getting when installed or purchase a space where it resides, why would you want to “put it away” somewhere.
The track makes said ladders more stable than if you’d just used a stand alone fold-up, step, or any other ladder that is put away after use.
Love this building . Would move here in a heartbeat is I had the $$$. what a great building to be reimagined as a residence .
My only issue is the dang 87th street bus that goes right by the windows of this majestic buidling. Fumes and Noise !
FYI
The former St. Agnes Catholic school at 555 West End Avenue on the corner of 87th Street has been sitting empty for several years now as a developer has been working to turn it into a condo development.
I’m pretty sure they were working in conversions to condos from the moment St Agnes closed. As I recall signs were up pretty immediately.
Honestly the whole thing makes me sad. St. Agnes served kids from less well off families. And now the Catholic school on like 91 between Columbus and Amsterdam was converted to a Christian school and its tuition is far higher than the Catholic school.
Makes me sad. Economic diversity is slowly disappearing.
That being said, building looks exquisite
Tuition at many Catholic schools was “low” because archdiocese gave parishes/schools funds. That has largely come to an end with parishes and schools being told unless they can be relatively self sufficient will be merged or closed.
Many RC schools had a huge population of non-Catholic students (mostly minorities), who were low income. Their parents saw RC schools as better alternative to local zoned elementary schools,or public high schools. The “low” tuition often meant those children were getting a private school education relatively cheaply.
Many RC schools were offering scholarships or other ways or reduced tuition to above students. Well regardless of that situation bills still must be paid, and money must come from somewhere.
Quite honestly many Catholic schools in NYC began suffering as white flight saw the waves of Italian, Irish, German, and others of European descent move to suburbs.
Other shoe that dropped was post 1960’s or so Catholics began to chose public schools instead of religious. Same with healthcare, Catholic hospitals began to lose patients when adherents of that faith choose to go elsewhere.
I know, a stroller valet? What a demeaning job.
No building has a dedicated “stroller valet”.
Rather it is a service provided by a building provided by existing staff.
In most if not many buildings staff wear many hats; taking turns as doorman, porter, concierge, etc…
Stroller valet service is basically nothing more than taking those prams for residents or guests upon arrival, placing them into a dedicated storage area until needed. When guest or resident wants the thing back they simply call down to lobby or whatever and someone is dispatched to fetch said stroller from storage to have it ready when owner arrives down stairs.
There is no shame in working. It is attitudes like this that lead to unhappiness. A stroller valet role may be the first step in pursuing a concierge career or care taker career. You could also make connections with your clientele that would help move your career along. It could also be a good role while studying to acquire the skills necessary for starting out in a professional field so you can sustain your life and families in the future.
You need to have a vision and a goal. And for some people that may start at stroller valet. Perhaps they see themselves as a manager for a services company down the road. Learning how the different tasks are done is the second step in this path with the first step being the creation of the goal.
Someone replied to a comment calling a reader “jealous”. Well listen here, how could any of us be jealous of rich people?? We all know for a fact that most of them made their money by cheating or stealing. Very few actually inherit riches. The rich and boring have ruined the vibe of the UPW and NYC as a whole. Trump & The GOP are destroying America while greedy and shady developers along with the help of NYC and NY State government are destroying NYC.
I don’t believe your conjecture to be true. I know many successful people and they made their money by bettering themselves through worthwhile education, passion, and risk taking. They have discipline to save and invest money, to live below their means, and delay gratification in ways that many unsuccessful people don’t.
They make their money from starting or joining startups, from developing in-demand skills, and from managing their income so it turns into wealth over time. But patience is key here and wanting everything “right now” is only a recipe for misery and jealousy. Which are really poor ways to spend your limited time on Earth.
And money isn’t everything. You can be successful in many ways. Bus social groups tend to cluster and if you’re trying to live amongst the monetarily successful when you’re not, you’ll feel threatened and left out unless you can get over that and find value in other things. This creates bitterness which occupies the time you could spend enjoying your life, improving your status, and just generally being happy like the many people who have figured it out.
I hope you’re able to success, and peace, and happiness in time.
Great!! More condos for Russian oligarchs and thugs to buy up!!
Yes, yes, yes. The UWS of today is not the same UWS of even 5 years ago. I miss my little studio on W. 90th Street!
And just like everything priced higher than $2-3m currently, it will sit for a LONG time vacant. Unless China eases up on money transferring policies it enacted a few years ago.
No views worth mentioning!
So many bitter and jealous people!
Maybe they should give up their giant rent-controlled apartments before attacking the wealthy.
Gee…all this and that keen Citibike rack too.
Saint Vincent’s hospital is now luxury condos.
Mother Cabrini hospital is now luxury condos.
St. Ann’s Church in Greenwich Village is now a NYU dormitory.
Church of Saint Vincent de Paul in Chelsea was closed and is being demolished. A new luxury hotel will rise on site.
Saint Clare’s Hospital (later Saint Vincent’s Mid-Town), closed, more luxury housing….
And so it goes….
Yeah, I think they needed the money to settle all of those lawsuits. You know the ones I’m talking about. Funny how nobody wants to mention it though.
So it goes.
Has nothing to do with settling lawsuits per se. In fact unless the archdiocese owns property outright funds must be split with order that does. This or some arrangement is made for said funds to go into some sort of retirement or whatever fund.
It isn’t just RC church selling up properties; Jewish and various other faiths have been shutting down houses of worship, schools and other properties, then selling land for redevelopment.
Many houses of worship in Harlem are a case in point. Either they have sold properties, or a deal was made to sell, but developer will provide space for church/religious in new building.
Shaare Zedek synagogue on west 93rd was sold and is being redeveloped.
Only reason West-Park Presbyterian Church wasn’t sold and redeveloped is because a bunch of goody-two shoes joined forces with apartment buildings on either side of lot lines (to preserve their views), and got the place landmarked. So it sits largely empty, crumbling surrounded by a scaffold that may never come down.
Fact of matter is NYC like many other parts of country has become less religious. Thus all those houses of worship, schools and other properties have become surplus to requirements.
As usual, very interesting stuff BB. Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge with us. You are absolutely right about the fading popularity of religion. The reasons are too numerous to list here.
And speaking of NYU dorms, on the other side of the spectrum, it’s still crazy to me that The Palladium, where I spent many late nights…many years ago, is now an NYU dorm as well. Time marches on…:)
I grew up in 545 WEA, the building next to “St. Agnes Catholic Boys School”, so I’m quite familiar with 555 WEA. I remember when St. Agnes boys would flood out into the street and later on when the St. A moat was a garbage pit with rats, lol. I am happy to see the building being used. However ,I am sadly disappointed that, as usual, a “new” UWS residence is (obviously) for the wealthy, only. When my parents (reluctantly) moved into 545 WEA, in the 60’s,, their security deposit to Westbuild Realty was $217.93 (I still have the check), and the neighborhood was affordable to most. I LOVED the area for many, maaany decades, until the installation of ugly new high-rises blocked the view and some sun…, and the whole vibe of the area changed for the worse. Just a thought..Wouldn’t it have been wonderful if, instead of a greedy thirteen 3-5 bedroom luxury apt. bldg, the developer would have built twenty+ 1-3 bedroom luxury apartments?? I would have first on their list to buy… mainly because the dog park is around the corner & also because who doesn’t want to live in a building with a moat?! Honestly, there are no views I’d want to see from any of 555’s windows, especially the dreary rectory and sad line of the Uber-poor waiting to be fed.
Even better 5 of those 20 1 to 3 bedroom apartments be designated for low income housing
Apparently all UWS kids (and all kids citywide ) are so well educated by now, there is an apparent over-abundance of good public schools we have no choice but to convert into them into luxury condos.
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If I was rich that’s the building I would buy in. It’s gorgeous!!!