455 Central Park W

Circular living rooms and Central Park views

No surprise, the layouts and finishes vary significantly between the 19th-century building and the new tower. There are 17 residences in the former hospital, offering circular living spaces that measure 36 feet in diameter, making for grand entertaining spaces or primary bedroom suites with office nooks and copious closet space — although custom cabinetry may be required to fit the curving walls. “It has magnificent ceiling heights, windows and scale,” Tavakolian says, pointing out the view over the driveway and former chapel, with Central Park in the distance. In the summer of 2024, the agent was representing a four-bedroom residence in the former hospital, which also boasts an eat-in kitchen, a wood-burning fireplace and a separate wing with two bedrooms for guests or children. It was listed for $5.3 million during the third quarter of 2024. A similarly sized residence with more modern finishes and outdoor space facing the park asked $8.8 million around the same time.

The multi-faceted tower features columns of windows that look out over Central Park, plus hardwood floors, 10-foot ceilings and open layouts. A large chunk of the tower is owned by Columbia University, which leases units out to faculty. At the end of 2023, a three-bedroom residence on the 23rd floor of the tower sold for $2.87 million.

White-glove service with an indoor pool and a David Rockwell-designed lobby

Guests and residents can arrive in style via the circular cobblestone driveway. An attached parking garage is available to residents for a monthly fee. A seasonal fountain is at the center of the drive, with hydrangeas and other flowers planted around it. A covered entry leads to the David Rockwell-designed lobby, which is staffed around the clock and features wrought-iron detailing, patterned terrazzo floors and a seating area. Hallways, punctuated with arched doorways, connect the tower and the old hospital building, giving residents access to amenities like the business center, fitness room and the children’s playroom. There’s also a lap pool on the basement level and a landscaped courtyard that looks out onto West 106th Street. A concierge is on staff to assist residents with day-to-day needs. As a nod to the past, historic photographs of the building in different stages — from a hospital ward with nurses standing by to a derelict dwelling with peeling paint and a battered roof — are displayed throughout the condo.

Near hiking and birdwatching in Central Park’s North Woods

Central Park’s Great Hill offers summer concerts and events, while its North Woods has wooden hiking trails. Lasker Rink and Pool — which offers seasonal ice skating and swimming — is located inside the park around West 106th Street, about a 10-minute walk from the building. There’s no commercial real estate along Central Park West, but there’s a corner deli and Osteria 106, an Italian restaurant, one block away at West 106th Street and Manhattan Avenue. Saiguette, a Vietnamese restaurant on Columbus Avenue and West 106th Street, offers delivery and takeout. Next door, Bob’s Your Uncle is a bar with a strong beer list and shuffleboard. Residents also stroll up to Harlem to visit eateries along Frederick Douglass Boulevard. Whole Foods, Target and other shops can be found on Columbus Avenue between West 97th and West 100th streets.

Blocks to B and C train stations

The B and C trains stop along Central Park West at West 103rd and West 110th streets, so three or four blocks from the building, respectively. The M10 bus runs up and down Central Park West, while the M16 offers crosstown service. Drivers can access the Henry Hudson Parkway via West 96th Street, which usually takes less than 10 minutes.