What you can get for $1 million in Hell's Kitchen, an eclectic area that's 'close to everything'

Have you always wanted to live in Hell's Kitchen but assumed you are priced out? In this new series, Brick looks at listings in New York City’s most in-demand neighborhoods for under $1 million—roughly the median sales price for Manhattan co-ops and condos—as well as higher-priced options below $2.5 million. 

If your goal is to live large, think small: Buying a studio or one bedroom is a way to net the nabe of your dreams. New to buying NYC real estate? Be sure to wrap your head around the difference between co-ops and condos. Co-ops are generally less expensive but also are older and have fewer bells and whistles than condos—plus more rules. With that in mind—happy hunting!

In this week’s Your Next Move, Svetlana Choi, a broker at Coldwell Banker Warburg, and Danny Sayegh, a broker at Compass, give us the inside story on Hell’s Kitchen, an eclectic, up-and-coming West Side neighborhood with a low-key vibe.

What draws buyers to the neighborhood?

The fact that you can easily get to many key Manhattan destinations from here: Central Park, Midtown offices, public transportation, Broadway theaters, Pier 84, the Hudson River Park, Hudson Yards, the High Line, restaurants and bars, and smaller neighborhood green spaces such as DeWitt Clinton Park—makes it attractive to buyers, Sayegh says.

"One of the other favorable features is that Hell’s Kitchen is a designated low-rise district, so there are not many tall buildings blocking your views or sunlight,” he notes. 

“It’s a bustling area that features a wide variety of wonderful restaurants and bars,” Choi says, adding that because it’s just west of the theater district and home to the Actors’ Studio, it attracts a lot of performers and musicians.

What are housing and pricing like?

Choi says there is a “wealth of housing” choices, including 19th-century buildings, post-war co-ops, and amenity-rich new condo developments.

Prices, she adds, start at $500,000 and rise to over $2 million.

What type of property can I get for under or around $1 million?

According to Choi, it’s possible to find a one-bedroom co-op in the $500,000s, an older one-bedroom condo for about $750,000, or a unit in a brand-new building starting at $1 million.
 
She notes that there are a few Housing Development Fund Corporation buildings for low-income residents and “modest prewar co-ops, including The Whitby on West 45th Street and Addison Hall on West 57th Street.”

StreetEasy lists 109 options in this price range.

I can stretch my budget. What can I get for $2.5 million?

There are many choices in this price category, Choi says, including (for example) a one-bedroom condo on a high floor with “spectacular city or Hudson River views” for $1.75 million. A small two-bedroom, one-bath unit in an older condo development will run about $1.4 million, but, she says, “most are priced around $1.5 million or more.”

In newer condominium developments, two-bedroom, two-bath units range from $1.75 million to over $2 million.

Are there any newer condo developments I should check out?

Newer condos typically offer the most luxurious amenities and finishes, features that attract many buyers.

Opened in 2019, 16-story 505 West 43rd St. has 123 units, a pool, courtyard, roof terrace, fitness center, and lounge with a fireplace. The least expensive unit is a two bedroom with two baths that's 1,042 square feet and listed for $1.5 million.

547 West 47th St., aka The West Residence Club, opened in 2022; it has 12 stories and 219 units. Amenities include a rooftop pool, sundeck, an outdoor lounge, grilling stations, a rooftop field and dog run, fitness center, yoga and Pilates studio, chef’s kitchen, and private dining room. With an asking price of $775,000, a 469-square-foot studio is the least expensive unit on the market.

Designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Aìlvaro Siza, 611 West 56th St. opened in 2021. The 35-story tower has 77 units, an outdoor garden mezzanine, entertaining lounge, a fitness center, media/games room, and playroom. Listed for $1.3 million, the least expensive unit has one bedroom, one full bath, and one half bath. It is 860 square feet.

Although these three developments have city and river views, they are farther from public transportation and grocery stores, Choi says.

Which attractions do you show buyers who have never been to the area?

Choi shows clients the theaters, Restaurant Row, which is on West 46th Street between Eighth and Ninth avenues, and the Amish Market.
 
“I also emphasize that Carnegie Hall and MoMA are within walking distance, not to mention Rockefeller Center and St. Patrick’s Cathedral,” she says. “There are also the shops at Time Warner Center [now Deutsche Bank Center] on 59th and Columbus, which has a very popular Whole Foods Market.”
 
Sayegh takes clients to Pier 84 at Hudson River Park and local restaurants, including The Marshal and Mémé Mediterranean.

What are the nearby neighborhoods, and are they less expensive?

The Upper West Side is more residential and more expensive than Hell’s Kitchen, Choi says, adding that Hudson Yards and Chelsea also are more expensive.

Check out these listings that are around $1 million in Hell’s Kitchen.

353 West 56th St,. #2H

Listed for $625,000, this studio condo in Parc Vendome Condominiums has hardwood floors, beamed ceilings, and walk-in closets. The 1929 building has 139 units and 19 stories; amenities include a full-time doorman, landscaped gardens, a music room, billiards room, library, banquet room, and private dining room. 

350 West 42nd St., #10L

This 957-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath corner unit, in The Orion Condominium, is listed for $1.18 million. It has hardwood floors and floor-to-ceiling windows; the kitchen features granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a breakfast bar. Built in 2007, the development offers a full-time doorman and concierge, an on-site parking garage, and amenity suite with a fitness club, swimming pool, whirlpool, private club, screening room, business center, and sundecks.

351 West 53rd St., #2

This full-floor two-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath apartment has original details, including exposed brick walls, fireplaces, and hardwood floors, as well as a flexible layout and an updated, open kitchen. The boutique pre-war co-op, which dates to 1920, has six units on four stories and an additional six units in the adjacent building. The asking price is $999,999.

547 West 47th St., #710

Part of the West Residence Club, which was built in 2022, this studio condo is listed for $995,000. It has a marble countertop and custom cabinetry in the kitchen, a washer/dryer, central air, motorized shades, and private storage. The building has a garden entrance, 24-hour attended lobby, and over 3,000 square feet of amenities including a library, co-working space, fitness center, rooftop swimming pool, and sun deck.

325 West 45th St., #1001

Reduced to $599,000 from the original asking price of $610,000, this one-bedroom, one-bath co-op is located in The Whitby, designed by Emory Roth and built in 1924. Amenities of the 10-story, 200-unit, pet-friendly complex include a full-time doorman, concierge, live-in super, bike room, package room, laundry room, and storage.