Cool Lofts in the Queen City

Goodness knows SoHo barely looks like SoHo anymore. Struggling artists who once lived there cheap have been replaced by thriving professionals with deep pockets paying high rents. The cute boutiques have been replaced by chain stores, the funky little dive bars by chi-chi restaurants.

But…for a taste of SoHo living, consider New Rochelle. Specifically, snagging one of the loft condos in the funky 19th century bookbindery building, the Knickerbocker, that developer Martin Ginsburg has turned into residential space. The building, originally built by publisher G.P. Putnam and Sons, made it onto the Nationl Registry of Historic Places in 2000 (cool!).
How funky? Try exposed wooden beams and columns, 22-foot tall ceilings, weathered brickwork, big arched windows, Flemish gables, and—hey, why not?—a rooftop garden.

No two units are alike, but perhaps the most unique unit is the five-level residence that once housed the watchtower. Cool?
The building, dubbed Knickerbocker Lofts features a cyberdoorman with 24-hour virtual concierge service and security. Of the 45 residences, there are 12 units for sale including #12 below. Prices range from about $300,000 to more than $700,000. Try getting anything for that amount in SoHo today.

Sale Price: $540,000
On Market Since: March 2008
Price per Sq Ft: $480
Address: 52 Webster Ave, #12, New Rochelle
Style: Midrise Condominium
2 BR, 1 bath, 1,125 sq ft
Taxes: $2,964
Monthly Common Charges: $482
School System: New Rochelle
Pluses: close to bus and railroad, deck, assigned parking, no pet restrictions, fitness center, high speed Internet access
Minuses: common laundry
Agent: Kathleen Murray, Houlihan Lawrence Inc, Rye (914) 967-2305,
ext. 367; kmurray@houlihanlawrence.com

Reader Comments:

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Jan 15, 2009 02:41 pm

Posted by Anonymous

Hi John- Thank you for all the great things you have mentioned about our special community here at the Knickerbocker Lofts. I am the Director of Sales and I just wanted you to be aware of a couple other great points. Did you know that Business Week magazine listed New Rochelle as one of the best places to raise kids?(November 2008) Why? Go to www.newrochelleny.com and read about our city. Click on the "Admit one" ticket to view the videos and highlights and listen to our mayor, Noam Bramson, talk about our great city. Also- many of the lofts do have their own washer/dryer hook up (but not all of them.) As you mentioned we have an exercise room and a club room with a fireplace. Each loft comes with an on site parking spot. There are lofts as low as $270,000 and that would be with a brand new kitchen and bath or you could buy it "as is" for a $20,000 discount- so $250,000! I will gladly give visitors a tour if they call 914-235-8200 or e-mail me at DFugazy@HoulihanLawrence.com - thank you again- Debbie Fugazy

Mar 24, 2009 05:26 pm

Posted by Anonymous

Jeez,

The place is unique and cool and I was in love with them when I saw them...... but they've been feeding the same propaganda for over a year now. I was interested in one of their lofts over a year ago and i get the same hard sell crap saying there's so much interest in these units, especially the one I wanted. There were supposedly offers in the works being accepted by the management company for the unit I wanted and some of the alternate ones. Well over a year has passed and NONE of those units are sold. The asking price has not dropped a cent. HEY KNICKERBOCKER/HOULIHAN, TRY LOWERING YOUR ASKING PRICE AND STOP INFLATING THE VALUE OF THE LOFTS!!! maybe, just maybe, you'll get a legit offer and maybe you'll understand that it's a pretty ggod offer! They're just waiting and waiting for the market to turn and couldn't care less about holding on the units. HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO BE STUBBORN ON YOUR ASKING PRICE FOR #12? In a time when ALL developers and sellers are actually acknowledging what's going on the market by lowering their asking price, Knickerbocker insists on dealing in bad taste by keeping their asking price the same in one of the most difficult financial environments since the depression. By the way, their new "upgrades" are from IKEA, confirmed from Debbie herself. Oh, that's with an additional price tag too.