Residences at The Dominick

Sumptuously staged studios and a palatial Presidential Penthouse

In keeping with a special commercial zoning ordinance approved by former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, The Dominick’s 391 units cannot be occupied by the same person for more than 29 days in any 36-day period and for no more than 120 days a year. Though no resale units were available in Summer 2024, previously available residences include everything from standard 500 square feet en suite guestrooms — marketed as studios — to a massive 10,000 square-foot, four-bedroom residence dubbed the Presidential Penthouse. While the former offering averages around the $750,000 mark, the latter sold for a whopping $50 million in 2015. This half-floor palace in the sky purportedly includes 20-foot-high ceilings and a 462 square-foot outdoor terrace. While one bedrooms — essentially junior suites — have sold for $1.5 million, two bedrooms fetched between $2.6 million and 8.7 million, depending on size, condition and position within the building.

Though some of the larger units have been gut-renovated based on owner specifications, Rockwell’s sleek and arguably timeless design scheme is still reflected in the studios and one bedrooms that make up most of the building’s stock. According to a Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Award 2017 description, the designer and his team went for a sophisticated grayscale color palette with hints of gold and mid-tone woods. Oversized, Turkish Marmara-clad bathrooms are outfitted with separate rain showers and clean-line vanities, an aesthetic that carries through to custom Fendi Casa furnishings: leather sofas, metal mesh chairs, tufted headboards and low-lying side tables. Sliding hearths incorporate built-in lighting and shelves. These particularly durable elements have withstood the test of time and are periodically maintained by hotel staff. Homeowners don’t really need to intervene unless they really want to. An integrated technology system allows homeowners or guests to effortlessly control lighting, blinds and air conditioning through a centralized console. Ensuring privacy without compromising on the floor-to-ceiling views is the building’s double-sided mirror facade.

A home away from home with both the conveniences and manageable shortcomings of a hotel

In a July 2022 review for Matador Network, critic Elisabeth Sherman writes: “My family stayed in a one-bedroom suite, which features a living room and a master bedroom. As soon as we opened the blinds, we were stunned into silence. From our room we could see all the way up to Times Square, from the living room, the skyline of Jersey City spread out before our eyes.” She notes that a sliding pocket door closing off the bedroom from the living room is ideal for parents looking to watch a bit of late-night T.V. without disturbing their kids. “The only downside to this otherwise perfect hotel room is that, oddly, the bathroom doesn’t have a door (the toilet at least is in its own enclosed space), so you can’t really shower or brush your teeth without disturbing whoever is sleeping in the bed.” Such is the challenge of trying to make a home out of a hotel room, especially one with a trendy but not necessarily efficient “open plan” layout. Certain units might be better suited for individuals and couples and others, for families.

Michelin Star restaurant Vestry, top ranked Sisley Spa and a rooftop hosting 70,000 honeybees fr

The developers allocated over 300,000 square feet of space for the hotel’s suite of external and internal amenities. In addition to the double height lobby with a suspended light sculpture, the street level houses several haunts like the Spring & Varick restaurant and the Mr. Jones cocktail lounge. There’s also a through-block public plaza toward the rear that provides the monolithic structure with a bit of breathing room. Helmed by renowned chef Shaun Hergatt, Vestry is a Michelin Star seafood restaurant revered throughout the city. In a feature for the guide’s online editorial platform, writer Salvatore DiBenedetto notes that Hergatt sources honey for various dishes from The Dominick’s honeybee program. In 2023, a series of hives were installed on the building’s roof and now, collectively, house 70,000 honeybees brought over from Italy. This staple also makes its way into specialty cocktails at the 7th floor Bar d’Eau, which gives way to a seasonal rooftop pool and bocci court. The honey even goes into the food and drinks at the top floor El Takoy restaurant, known for its “very-bee-ry” smoothies. It comes as no surprise, perhaps, that the award-winning Sisley Spa?also implements the building’s honey in various treatments. When it comes to the soft product, residents benefit from an extensive room service menu as well as prompt cleaning and laundry services. There’s also a prerequisite business center and top-line gym. Homeowners, like guests, get favorable rates at the Icon Parking garage across the street.

SoHo’s luxury boutiques, Tribeca’s burgeoning gallery district, and The Village’s eclectic cuisine

For those previously mentioned high-profile professionals and cultural figures, Downtown Manhattan’s comprehensive hospitality, retail, and arts offering abounds nearby. While SoHo is home to name brand luxury stores, Tribeca is rapidly emerging as New York’s main gallery district. The West Village and Greenwich Village are chock full of distinct eateries and owner-operated, albeit high-end, boutiques. Close-by music venues like Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom and Webster Hall are ideally situated for the artists that often stay here. For commuters, the C subway stops right around the corner. Getting out of town or to the airport is straight forward with the entrance of the Holland Tunnel a few blocks west.