Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XVII

2 6 2 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I its base. With prices starting at $45 million, a sprawling 13,554 square foot apartment on the 75th and 76th floors of the building reportedly sold for $90 million, while the penthouse, located on the 89th and 90th floors, is claimed to have sold for $100 million. “New York City has always been one of the world’s most desirable cities to live in, and its growth as a global capital of finance and commerce has increased its appeal to wealthy real estate buyers the world over,” says Janice Chang of Douglas EllimanDevelopment Marketing. “135West 52nd Street features condominium homes from one to five bedrooms, which means it is attracting a very diverse mix of buyers. Many of our buyers plan to use their apartments as primary homes, but we have also seen significant investor interest. Buyers are really responding to the opportunity to own in the same Midtown location where other new properties are selling at stratospheric prices, but at a much more reasonable price point.” A former hotel designed by Rafael Viñoly, 135 West 52nd Street is now being transformed into 109 condos ranging between $1.5 million and $15 million. In an attempt to stand out from its neighbouring high-end residential apartment buildings, town homes and cultural institutions, it will feature a permanent 40- storey LED light installation on the building’s façade by lighting designer Thierry Dreyfus. “The New York property market continues to set new records, while available inventory remains low,” adds Chang. “These factors have created an incredibly strong real estate market, and we expect that to continue.”