Extell development
Developers of luxury New York residential real estate are betting that over-the-top indoor pools are the new must-have amenities and a game-changer for buyers. A few years ago, I helped a friend find a luxury apartment in New York. Outdoor space and a luxurious lobby were mandatory. A high-end indoor pool was also on the wish list. However, we couldn’t find all three must-haves in the location he wanted at the time. That has changed. Today there are several options in the city.
Elysa Goldman, vice president of development at Extell, a large development company based in New York, looks at the trend and shares her views. “A fitness center is what many buildings have and what shoppers expect today,” she said. “We have raised the bar by incorporating luxury indoor pools into several of our new projects. You won’t find many developments with indoor pools. “Our pools are saltwater and also lap pools, which we see as a great amenity that sets us apart.”
In addition to adding pools to its new properties, Extell is also adding programs, including swimming lessons for children and adults. “This is a convenience that, unlike outdoor rooftop spaces, can be used year-round,” Goldman continues. “We see these pools as an important inflection point for buyers,” she adds. Located on the Upper East Side at 95th Street and Third Avenue, The Kent features a 55-foot indoor pool with a sculpted, backlit glass wall. Located in West Soho, Extell’s 70 Charlton features 92 luxury residences ranging in price from $1,695,000 to $1,815,000 for a one bedroom unit from 824 to 831 square feet. The saltwater pool is a design statement.
Binyan Studios
Head to Long Island City, where luxury housing development continues, although Amazon has dropped the locale for its HQ2 headquarters. The 75-foot indoor pool in the Skyline Tower, soon to be the tallest condominium building in Long Island City, has a 30-foot skylit ceiling with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Manhattan. Price points currently range from $660,400 for a 405-square-foot studio to a 1,326-square-foot three-bedroom for $2,325,610.
According to United Vice President William Xu, United Construction & Development Group developed the Skyline Tower as the company’s “marquee project”. The land was purchased in 2014 and the building is scheduled for completion in October this year. “Nowadays, buyers are looking for more than just a condominium. They’re looking closely at the amenities,” Xu said. “We thought long and hard about adding a pool and decided that this is very important for our project. We needed one that would stand the test of time.”
Binyan Studios
Tomer Yogev is Development Manager at Adam America Real Estate, developer of two luxury condos with indoor pools; GALLERY in Long Island City and Brooklyn Grove, a new 27-story condominium on Nevins Street in downtown Brooklyn. “We’re seeing a lot of demand for indoor pools as an extension of fitness plans,” explains Yogev. At GALERIE, the pool is connected to an outdoor terrace. “These luxury pools have become a great sales driver for us. It’s the perfect family amenity,” he adds. A two-bedroom, 1,059 square foot family room is available at GALERIE for $1.42 million. In Brooklyn Grove, you can enjoy the 40-foot pool with a large skylight in a 467-square-foot studio for $590,000.
Luxury indoor pools in and around New York seem to make sense for both today’s developers and buyers.
