443 GREENWICH
By Daniel J. Bollinger
Introducing the ultimate Tribeca Conversion: 443 Greenwich is located in the northwest corner of Tribeca on a quiet cobblestoned street. This 1882 Charles Haight building has been gut renovated into 53 two to five bedroom homes including eight penthouses. The architects and interior designers at CetraRuddy and Nathan Berman of MetroLoft have teamed up to bring us some of the best-designed residences on the market today. Preserving the original Carolina Yellow Pine exposed wood columns and using reclaimed wood from the gut renovation 443 Greenwich is sure to win some design and architecture awards. Open living spaces, generously proportioned rooms with much light and great flow, these homes acknowledge the building’s industrial past and celebrate Tribeca’s architectural history. A plethora of 21st-century technology and custom design in this full block Romanesque Revival style building is redefining Tribeca. As Nancy J. Ruddy, founding principal and executive director of Interior Design for CetraRuddy says, “Tribeca isn’t about fashion or trends. It’s about timeless elements like sophistication and authenticity, all with a sense of history and of understated chic.” Yes, 443 Greenwich Street certainly delivers this. The great rooms, kitchens, and master baths define this project.
A STARTING POINT
The lobby sets the tone with open, airy space with exposed brick walls and many arched windows. The ceilings are made from reclaimed wood from the original structure, and the floors are beveled limestone tile. The lobby leads straight to views of the wonderfully designed landmarked Courtyard by landscape architecture firm HMWhite.
The great rooms in these residences are fantastic. The original Carolina Yellow Pine columns run through them and help define the enormity of the space and also define the industrial elements of this building. 10’ to 11’ ceiling heights and many arched oversized windows allow for a plethora of light to illuminate these spaces. The tilt-and-turn windows open fully and are wired for motorized shades. Flowing from the great room is the kitchen.
The kitchens are massive and perfectly designed. Warm inviting brown tones of integrated Christopher Peacock cabinetry with open shelving and glass ribbed cabinets adorn the kitchen. With all the best appliances, the kitchens feature a Wolf range, SubZero refrigerator, Miele coffee station and Gaggenau full height wine fridge. More exposed Carolina Yellow Pine columns add to the warmth. With solid slab Pietra Cardosa marble backsplash and countertops and Calacatta marble islands with polished stainless steel straps adorning the sides, the kitchens are very well designed. The custom designed vent is one of a kind and is the centerpiece of the kitchen. The vent is extra-wide, longer than the range. It has excellent design details like rivets along the vertical seams and a horizontal band across the bottom. This vent design creates a warm hearth feel accentuating the overall warmth of the kitchen. Watch this kitchen win kitchen design awards in addition to this project as a whole. The kitchens are very balanced, with the vent centering the kitchen, with balanced, open shelving on each side and the island-defining space. The warm tones of the brown cabinets, exposed wood columns, and bluish-grey Pietra Cardosa marble contrast with the stainless steel appliances and island straps, and the white Calacatta Marble island beautifully. A true masterpiece. I must also mention the Blanco SteelArt extra deep and extra wide stainless steel kitchen sink and the pot-filler above the range.
AND THERE’S MORE
The master baths are also very well designed. There are floor to ceiling Sugar White marble walls, a wet room with a great niche factor (three tiers), a marble bench, a rain shower head, and steam shower. There is a bidet in every master bath. There is a custom designed trough sink with a recessed Robern oversized medicine cabinet and Watermark fixtures throughout. All the fixtures, pulls, hinges, and accents are bronze. Radiant flooring and a heated towel bar are exactly what you would expect in a project of such high standard. The design detail that stands out is the Arebescato Orobico Grigio marble slab wall centered behind the freestanding sculptural tub. The designers installed this feature wall just to break the ‘white’ so prevalent in the master baths. It is a beautiful decision that makes the wall look more like art. The secondary baths also have floor-to-ceiling marble walls and recessed Robern medicine cabinets. All bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms.
According to Richard Cantor of the property’s real estate marketing and sales team Cantor-Pecorella, the eight penthouses are comprised of duplexes and triplexes. All have fireplaces. Penthouses have double-height (18-foot plus) ceilings in the living areas. Two of the penthouses have their own internal elevators. One has a windowed walk-in closet and two penthouses come with two parking spots. All have plenty of open terraces. The great thing about this part of Tribeca is the peace and serenity you will experience on the terraces. In such a tucked away part of Tribeca, you will not experience the sounds of hustle and bustle on the sidewalks like other areas of the city.
Though 443 Greenwich is a larger development, it still offers the privacy of a boutique offering. Each elevator is only shared by 4 to 5 units. There is a common freight elevator. Where most developments center all of the elevator shafts in one area of a building to save costs 443 does not. This allows for privacy like a boutique building and offers amenities as in large developments. The ultimate amenities include a limited amount of valet parking spaces and a 75’ lap pool. There is also a 5,000 square-foot roof deck, personal storage, a fitness center, wine cellar, bike storage, children’s playroom, and 24-hour building staff (doorman, concierge, live-in building manager, porters, and handymen).
Nancy Ruddy encompasses the many features and feel of this project when she says, “Tribeca is the essence of what it means to be in downtown Manhattan. Our goal for 443 Greenwich was to support that spirit and respect the majesty of the building’s landmark character while creating elegant homes for modern living. Historic details create a textural counterpoint to the sleek and modern crafted interiors. The planning and detailing combine to create uniquely authentic New York City villas.” As Cantor adds, “443 Greenwich is a landmark with ultimate luxuries: in addition to generous and gracious spaces, the building provides the ultimate in luxury, privacy, and exclusivity. From private driveways and personal elevators, homes are private, intimate and inspiring.”
For more information, visit: 443greenwich.com
