A modern tower with three levels of amenities in historic Morningside Heights
After a day of school, work and city adventures, residents of the Vandewater can roll into its motor court to unload groceries or a car full of kids, then swing around to its residents-only parking garage. Once inside the double-height lobby, the front desk concierge is on hand to welcome the family home, perhaps putting Fido’s name on the list for the next day’s scheduled dog walker. From there, residents can retreat to their homes overlooking the city—or do a few laps in the pool or read in the white oak-paneled salon. “People can always find a space to work from home, relax or be with family and friends,” says Peter Denby, sales manager of the project and a broker at Brown Harris Stevens. This is a property aiming for the overlap between luxury and convenience. Designed by INC Architecture & Design and completed in 2021, the Vandewater “has a prewar feel, but is designed for modern living,” the agent adds. Located on West 122nd Street in Morningside Heights, the building is walkable to Columbia University and other nearby institutions, as well as Riverside and Sakura parks and Grant’s Tomb. “The access to parks and outdoor space is a big draw,” Denby says. The building is 80% sold and has attracted families looking for more space at a relatively affordable price, he notes, as well as Columbia professors, alumni and students buying with their parents.
Light-filled contemporary residences with a prewar feel
Named after a 17th-century Dutch farmer who once owned the land, the Vandewater offers 183 units over 33 stories. Towering over the otherwise primarily low-rise neighborhood, residences on all floors get plenty of sun through oversized casement windows. “There’s light and air all around,” Denby says. From the upper levels, residents have far-reaching views from the East River to the Hudson, while the lower floors overlook nearby gardens and landmarks like Grant's Tomb and Columbia University. Units offer open living, dining and kitchen areas and separate living quarters, and several residences offer private outdoor space. Details like custom pewter-colored hardware throughout and stepped lighting reminiscent of the building’s art deco-meets-gothic design give the Vandewater a cohesiveness that makes it feel like a home, the agent adds. Vandewater residences are less expensive than similar projects on the Upper West Side, offering one-bedroom units for $1.225 million to four-bedroom units that start at $3.25 million. A three-bedroom penthouse on the 32nd floor costs $4.15 million. About 20% of the occupied units are rented, Denby says, and a one-bedroom commands about $6,000 a month.
Amenities for the whole family
The Vandewater is on a residential street in an area not known for commercial space. Which is to say it’s not a bustling area with three gyms on the same block, so the design team planned accordingly. The building has three levels of amenities, providing everything from a Zen garden created by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates—where, during a recent visit, a resident was letting his leashed cat get some fresh air—to a teen room with a partnership with local boardgame cafe Hex & Co. Smaller kids can craft in a dedicated space that’s part of a Little Forest playroom or practice piano in the sound-proof practice room. There’s also a library, a great room that combines a living and dining area, a stocked kitchen plus a catering kitchen and a loggia and outdoor dining area with a grill. The gym was designed by The Wright Fit, and the wellness level also includes the 70-foot heated pool, a yoga room, locker rooms and a sauna and treatment room. There are sound-proof study rooms, hot and cold storage for packages and grocery deliveries and areas to stash strollers or bikes. The building is also LEED™ Gold certified.
Surrounded by greenspace and academic institutions, including Columbia University
Denby calls Morningside Heights a “Upper West Side-meets-college town neighborhood.” In addition to Columbia, the area is also home to Barnard and Teachers College, plus neo-Gothic architecture of Riverside Church. West 122nd Street is nicknamed Seminary Row because the Jewish Theological Seminary is at the end of the street and Union Theological Seminary is around the corner. There are delis and restaurants along Broadway and Amsterdam, with some hidden gems such as the Italian trattoria Pisticci on side streets like Le Salle. Groceries can be found at Appletree Market on Amsterdam Avenue and West 120th Street or Morton Williams Supermarket on Broadway at West 115th Street. “It’s amazing to be surrounded by all these prewar institutions and greenspace,” Denby says. “At the same time, there isn’t a Duane Reade on every corner. You’re going to have to walk a few blocks.”
Public transportation includes buses and the 1 train
The 1 train at West 116th Street is about a five-minute walk. There are also several bus lines serving the area, including the M60, which has stops at LaGuardia Airport. Residents have easy access to the Henry Hudson Parkway for a quick escape upstate or beyond.
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Quantarium
Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
3/ 10
Bikeable
Bike Score®
67/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
97/ 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
Sakura Park
3 min walk
Picnic Area
Trails
Events
Roosevelt Triangle
8 min walk
Hancock Park
8 min walk
Picnic Area
Sheltering Arms Playground
9 min walk
Picnic Area
Pool
Trails
Morningside Park
9 min walk
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Bike Trails
Riverside Park
11 min walk
West Harlem Piers Park
12 min walk
Julia Gabriel People's Garden
13 min walk
Trails
Lafayette Square
13 min walk
Schools
Source:
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