PS 166 Richard Rogers School of the Arts & Science (The) Rated A
City View
Resident Manager or Management On Site
Laundry Facilities
5 min walk to St Gregory's Playground
A recently renovated Upper West Side prewar staple
As its name suggests, The Central condominium is located in the heart of prime Manhattan neighborhood the Upper West Side. The distinctly prewar, Renaissance Revival corner low-rise might seem unassuming at first glance — almost seamlessly blending in with its historic turn-of-the-20th-century surroundings — but it packs a punch inside. Replete with a precession of vaulted sky lights, the curtain window walled roof addition contains uniquely light-filled penthouses, like those one might more easily find in Midtown or Tribeca. Well-proportioned residences throughout the rest of the 1920-built structure have mostly been updated with new finishes and appliances. Recent Local Law 11 restorations to its brickwork facade are anchored by also recently renovated limestone and terracotta-accented corners, brand new Hunter Douglas double hung windows and a revamped roof. With much of this work completed in the past few years, new homeowners here benefit from these updates but without the additional expenditure as all assessments have concluded. Prewar condos are a rarity in this part of town, where co-ops are more common. “The main draw is that The Central is relatively small; rising only eight stories and containing just 60 units,” says Elina Rhodes, an agent with Douglas Elliman. “Rather than being relegated to a dark dingy basement, which is the norm throughout the city, the laundry room is located right off the small but stately lobby. Though there isn’t a crazy number of amenities, the staff is very attentive and personable. The condo doesn’t allow pets, which depending on the buyer, can either be a draw or draw back.” Positioned right along Broadway, The Central is near many of the neighborhood’s parks, shops, schools, museums and subway stations.
Modestly sized but efficiently laid-out residences with prewar features
“The layouts aren’t super huge but very efficient and conducive to contemporary needs,” Rhodes adds. Sold for $1.8 million in 2018, unit 709 — covering 1,129 square feet of space — includes a somewhat secluded principal suite tucked away at the end of a long hallway. “Very little space is wasted. Ceilings climb at least nine feet, much higher than is common in most new developments.” Other prewar details include parquet flooring. Selling for $1.1 million in fall 2024, unit 706 is a sizeable one-bedroom with an additional flex room that can either be used as a home office or second bedroom. Like most of the homes that appear on the market, it’s been fully renovated with new cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, lighting fixtures and ample closet space. That said, like in any older building, those interventions vary greatly and often reflect the taste of previous owners. Because of The Central’s U-shape massing, many units benefit from multiple exposures. While 433-square-foot studios have most recently sold for $600,000, one-bedrooms tend to fetch between $850,000 and $975,000. Slightly larger two-bedrooms climb just above $1 million, with the previously mentioned glass house-like penthouses going for just above $1.8 million. A few combined three- and four-bedrooms have exceeded the $3 million mark in the past.
Sufficient amenities and everything offered on The Upper West Side
Residents and their guests enter the building through a step-up entrance on West 88th Street. The compact yet deceptively grand lobby is outfitted in Romanesque columns, elaborate crown molding, black and white marble flooring and period-appropriate furnishings. The original yet periodically maintained elevator can be accessed just a bit further in. The Central also has a bike room and owner-only storage units. The building is helmed by 24/7 door attendants and a live-in super.
The surrounding area abounds with some of the city’s best restaurants and specialty grocery stores including the legendary Zabar’s. There’s also a West Side Market and Trader Joe’s nearby. Long-established haunts here include reimagined southern eatery Jacob’s Pickles and breakfast go-to Barney Greengrass. Both Amsterdam and Columbus avenues play host to a seemingly endless array of owner-operated restaurants, bars and boutiques. Pizza favorite Mimi’s is located within The Central’s retail podium. French bakery and cafe La Farine Pâtisserie is right across the street. Large big box stores cluster together in dense pockets at the intersection of Broadway and West 72nd Street and along Columbus Avenue between West 97th and West 98th streets. Cultural attractions in the area include the massive American Museum of Natural History, The New York Historical Society and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Riverside Park is two blocks west and connects to the Hudson River Greenway jogging and cycling path, lining the entire western edge of Manhattan. Central Park and its 843-acres of activity-rich green space is three blocks east. The grand Jackie Kennedy Onassis Reservoir is situated at the end of West 88th Street and is wrapped by a well-utilized running track. The 86th Street Subway station two blocks south is served by the local 1 train, but residents can quickly transfer to the express 2 and 3 lines at either 72nd or 96th streets, depending on which direction they’re going. For those that keep cars in close-by garages, the Henry Hudson Parkway can be accessed at the end of either West 79th or West 96th streets.
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Quantarium
Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
3/ 10
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
84/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
100/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100/ 100
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Powered by CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks. Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Environmental risk data is provided by First Street Foundation® and is designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios.
Parks in this Area
St Gregory's Playground
5 min walk
Basketball
Playground
Playground Eighty Nine LXXXIX
5 min walk
Playground
West 87th Street Dog Run
6 min walk
W 87th Street Park & Garden
6 min walk
Picnic Area
Playground
Riverside Park - Hippo Playground
7 min walk
Serpentine Promenade
7 min walk
Hippo Playground
8 min walk
Playground
Classic Playground
8 min walk
Joan of Arc Park
9 min walk
Picnic Area
Trails
Multi-Purpose Field
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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