The $90M Florian Gramercy Park Launches Sales; 20% of units under contract

Image courtesy of T&E Development

 

International Development Team of T&E Development and Minrav  Launches Sales at The Florian Luxury Condominium at 350 East 18^th Street in Manhattan’s Upscale Gramercy Park

Douglas Elliman’s Eklund Gomes Team Successfully Sales 20% of Units

New York, NY–The Florian, a 54-unit luxury condominium building located at 350 East 18^th Street in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan, has launched sales, with the first 10 units, including one of the two penthouses, already in contract. (https://thefloriannyc.com)

The 77,630-square-foot property was developed by an international joint-venture of Brooklyn, NY-based T&E Development, owned by Einav Gelberg and Tomer Erlich, and Israel-based Minrav Development LTD. The Eklund Gomes Team at Douglas Elliman Development Marketing represents the property. The design team included architect ARC Architecture + Design Studio and interior designer 7 Haus.

The project, which cost in excess of $90 million, was funded primarily through a $63 million construction loan from Northwind Group. Minrav purchased the 80’x92′ site five years ago for $28 million and later tapped T&E Development as a joint-venture partner due to Gelberg’s and Erlich’s multifamily development experience.

The Florian is the most luxurious condominium property offered for sale in this section of Gramercy Park. The developers and Eklund Gomes Team’s founder John Gomes guided many aspects of the building’s design, collaborating with designers to incorporate elements most desired by buyers, from amenities to residential finishes. The Florian’s architecture stands out as a beacon of a modern, elegant and welcoming interpretation of classic urban residential design.

“Seeing more than 20% of the residences already under contract before completion confirms that buyers immediately recognize the value, quality, and long-term vision we set out to achieve,” shared Gelberg. “The continuing interest from domestic and overseas buyers indicates the attractiveness of The Florian’s design and amenities as well as a continued desirability of the exclusive, refined and convenient Gramercy Park neighborhood,” he added.

The building brings modern living and aspirational luxury at an affordable price, with sales averaging at approximately $2,100 per square foot. The units range from $1.225 million for one-bedroom units to $2.5 million for two-bedroom/two-bath condominiums and $3.995 million for a three-bedroom/2.5-bath penthouse. The property houses 31 one-bedroom units, 19 two-bedroom units and two three-bedroom units from the third through 12^th floors. It also has two three-bedroom penthouses – one that is 2,287 square feet and includes both a balcony and terrace, and a 1,902 square-foot unit with a balcony. With the building’s completion and TCO expected in late January or early February, the property offers buyers a short wait time from closing to move-in day.

According to Gomes, “The Florian offers finishes and wellness-focused amenities typically available only in the ultra-luxury market. These include a spa with a treatment/massage room, sauna, jacuzzi, cold water plunge and outdoor recovery area on a terrace. Unusually for a new development, the property also offers parking garage spots. The design of units, particularly kitchens and day rooms, centers on high-quality natural materials and a rich, warm color palette. The thoughtful layouts bring copious amounts of natural light into all spaces and take advantage of stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, including the Empire State Building. The designers incorporated expansive, full height windows into all residences and opted for a curved wall of wraparound windows on the building’s corner to further enhance the panoramic views.”

“The Florian reflects the kind of residential experience we believe New York buyers—and especially global families—are seeking today: warm, modern, luxuriously-crafted homes with natural materials and thoughtful details. The buyers love Gramercy Park’s residential character and convenient access to Manhattan’s private schools and universities and cultural, dining and entertainment options. We have received a lot of interest from the Tri-state area as well as from overseas, mainly Asia, frequently from families of students attending local universities,” added Tomer Erlich, partner at T7 E Development.

Gramercy Park’s tree-line streets offer residents a secluded and private retreat from the city’s hustle. The Florian is within walking distance of the area’s most venerable institutions, including the National Arts Club, the Players Club and off-Broadway theaters as well as Union Square’s Greenmarket and vibrant green spaces such as Rutherford Park and Stuyvesant Park. The Florian’s location offers convenient access to public transportation, entertainment venues and Broadway theaters, destination dining venues, museums and shopping.

 

 

SHARED AMENITIES

Both indoors and outdoors, The Florian’s thoughtful and luxurious amenities complement the comfort of residences. The building’s 24-hour doorman and concierge are always on duty to manage deliveries and welcome guests. The Florian offers private parking spots that are available for purchase, which is one of the more unique elements that you only find at a limited number of buildings in Manhattan. Electric vehicle charging stations are also available.

The first floor houses the lobby and four parking spaces. The second floor features the gym, bike room and pet spa, along with six additional parking spots. The third floor includes the 900-square-foot spa and 620-square-foot lounge that both open into an 11,300-square-foot courtyard with pavers and planters.

The building’s 1,030-square-foot premium fitness center, with strength and cardio equipment selection and design quality of a private fitness club, provides residents with a dedicated space to focus on wellness and rejuvenation.

Atop the building is a 1,000-square-foot lush, landscaped rooftop terrace that includes an outdoor kitchen with a grill/barbecue, sink and refrigerator, a dedicated dining area, and lounge seating next to an adjacent outdoor courtyard. It offers picture-perfect views across the city.

In the 1,200-square-foot lobby, the team wanted to create the look of a luxury boutique feel that’s intimate and cozy, so they chose a darker color palette of natural color walnut paneling, Roman Clay paint and natural stone flooring in a geometric pattern of rectangular and triangular tiles. The lobby features a seating area, mail room, and indirect LED lighting hidden in the ceiling that washes over the walls with a halo effect. The walnut panels in the lobby reflect some of the finishes present in the residential units.

Similarly to the main lobby, the spa lobby and gym have a darker color palette with wood accents, matte stone and Roman Clay finishes.

The lounge area has a brighter color palette, but features some of the same finishes as the residences, including wood paneling, Brazilian stone, light wood, and solid-colored fabric upholstery.

ARCHITECTURE

“The facade showcases a meticulous palette of materials. Light-toned brick cladding envelops the structure with a tactile quality that evokes the masonry traditions of New York, while expansive gridded windows framed in bronze metal introduce a contemporary character. This interplay of earthy solidity and luminous transparency creates a dynamic rhythm across the façade,” shared ARC Architecture + Design Studio Founding Principal Robert Bianchini. “The ground level is distinguished by dark, lattice-like screens that provide a sense of permeability. These screens establish a strong base and create a welcoming streetscape presence, suggesting both exclusivity and accessibility.”

The exterior façade rainscreen system features RockCast Moderno Series 24-inch elongated brick in a Lily White color that brightens the exterior of the building, while opulent golden-hued bronze framing was added around the windows. The façade also includes bronze metal accent panels that were produced in Europe by Bisam Façade, which also manufactured the super high-efficiency windows. The brick and bronze materiality, combined with arched windows and curved walls, evoke an unmistakable luxurious residential quality and make the tower stand out in the streetscape.

The Florian’s oversized grid windows and curved corners reflect the residential character of the neighboring historic buildings, while reinterpreting it for contemporary design trends. Traditional, decorative spanrail panels were used around arched windows throughout the exterior, serving as both functional and aesthetic elements.

On the ground level, the building features lattice-like metal screens that provide privacy while creating a welcoming streetscape presence, and the rooftop terraces and elevated gardens create microclimates and offer residents visual and physical access to nature. The façade is set back on higher floors to reflect the height of the low-rise buildings on 18^th Street, while the other elevation reflects the taller buildings to the east. The setbacks house terraces.

The main entrance and parking entrance are on East 18^th Street, directing residents and guests to a cozy, residential street with neighboring small residential properties, some of which feature New Orleans-inspired balconies with metal railings that are incorporated, in a modern reincarnation, into The Florian’s upper floors. The entrance has a slight recess that leads to an entry door and is marked by an aluminum canopy in a bronze color with LED lighting. The same LED lighting is also used in vertical strips throughout the first two stories of the façade. The linear LED lighting fixtures were custom produced to match the rest of the facade elements. The developer chose to not include any retail space in the property so it could offer an increased number of tenant amenities and provide a welcoming and warm residential appearance at the ground level.

“The Florian is an Ultra-Low Energy Building (ULEB) and uses approximately 20 percent less energy than the standard new construction. We achieved this by future-proofing the building: installing an ultra energy-efficient façade and windows, and including highly efficient, all-electric appliances in all units. This will benefit the residents, who will be paying significantly lower utility bills,” said Gelberg.

RESIDENCES: INTERIOR DESIGN AND FINISHES

“The designers selected tactile, textured finishes and rich, deep, dark color palettes that emanate a warm, comforting feel and complement the modern design and bronze elements of the exterior,” explained 7 Haus Principal Chen I. Tal. “The developers, designers and brokers took great care in reviewing and selecting materials, finishes and appliances to ensure they met the desired quality and look. The team traveled to Europe and South America to personally view the materials and appliances. For example, the team visited Brazil to review dolomite stone in an Arabescato pattern on site.”

John Gomes added that the design was a collaborative process and he shared his understanding and experience of the current preferences of New York City condominium buyers and the latest design trends. “We were mindful of many current design trends when designing the residences. For example, a basic white kitchen is no longer popular and buyers expect very high-end finishes with elements like lights in the closets and cabinets, built in spice racks, cutting boards incorporated into sinks, and chef’s kitchens,” he said. “The Florian represents the trend of this type of condominium closing the gap on the interior design that, until recently, was only available in the ultra-luxury developments in New York City.”

All of The Florian’s residences were designed for flexibility, maximizing the views and comfort. Units feature hand-laid European white oak floors and oversized, triple-paned windows and wraparound windows that let ample light into rooms. Each residence has a tranquil living space to either unwind in or to entertain, along with pristine, chef’s-type open kitchens and dining areas that are perfect for entertaining.

The kitchens include two-tone, custom-designed Nolte kitchens with graphite oak lower cabinetry, graphite gray upper cabinetry, glass display cabinets and undercabinet lighting; Italian Arabescato marble countertops, backsplash, and island countertop with waterfall edges; sleek ceiling-mounted lighting; European white oak engineered wood flooring hand-laid in a chevron pattern; best-in-class appliances and fixtures like Sub-Zero refrigerators and wine coolers, Wolf induction ranges with vented range hoods and microwaves, Waterworks faucets in nickel finish, and Cove dishwashers; multifunctional galley sinks with integrated accessories; and a Bosch washer and dryer in every residence.

All primary bathrooms have Cosentino Dekton wall cladding and flooring in a custom color called Alabaster that was selected especially for the building. This is believed to be the first use of Dekton in a large multi-family property in New York, as until now the material has been typically seen in luxury single family residences in the U.S. The bathrooms also include a dual walnut vanity custom made from natural stone and topped with Nilo Brazilian quartzite countertops, Waterworks Flyte fixtures in a nickel finish, Kohler medicine cabinets with custom lighting, heated floors and integrated ambient cove lighting, ceramic tiles and two-centimeter-thick stone sinks. Select residences have fluted glass shower enclosures and freestanding tubs. Several residences feature a secondary bathroom as well as a powder room fitted with a distinctive Calacatta Borghini marble vanity.

Each space was designed for its particular use depending on the unit to give them individual identities. For example, primary and secondary bathrooms have slightly different color palettes. The primary bathrooms incorporate different colors, including Albarium and Bromo, of 5’x9′ Dekton panels for a seamless look, and many of the bathrooms include handmade tiles manufactured in Spain above the sinks

Other design elements throughout the residences include oak entry doors with a keyless smart lock system with biometric recognition, museum reveals and flushmounted doors, and a Mitsubishi high-efficiency split heating and cooling system with a Google Nest Fourth Generation thermostat.

Shani Tal, interior designer with 7 Haus said that all design elements were chosen with a focus on making each unit warm and welcoming, even including the lighting. “We custom-selected the color temperature of the lighting fixtures to highlight the color palette of the spaces. The fixtures have a temperature of 2600 Kelvin.”

The project team also included MEP engineer Bicaluro Associates and structural engineer Wexler Associates.