The Mark: Manhattan's newest `it' building

 

Brokers Weekly

May 14, 2008

 

The Mark: Manhattan's newest `it' building

By Maggie Hawryluk

 

 

First there was The Time Warner Center, then 15 Central Park West and The Plaza came along.

 

Now The Mark is set to be the next "it" building in Manhattan. 

 

Located in the heart of what JP Forbes, sales director at the Alexico Group-developed project, calls Manhattan's "Gold Coast," - the Upper East Side enclave that hugs Fifth Avenue's Museum Mile - The Mark offers the best of the best: unobstructed city views with lush peeks of Central Park, five-star hotel services and amenities, a restored landmarked pre-war building and interiors created by acclaimed French designer Jacques Grange.

 

So it's no surprise that The Mark, at 25 E. 77th St., is 30% sold and commanding sales reaching into the $5,000 psf range.

 

Forbes said sales could be going much faster, but his team has opted to steer clear of any promotions to sell units, only accepting the asking price. 

 

Rumors of a reported $150 million penthouse sale to a Russian oil tycoon early in its development could be credited with helping the building attract global interest from those looking for both primary residences and pieds-a-terre.

 

But while that record-breaking deal - for a penthouse plus two other floors - never came through, The Mark is exactly the type of building that has been the stand-out in what has become a sincerely sluggish housing market - as uncompromising in its design and development as it is in price.

 

The 9,799 s/f penthouse - with its five bedrooms, seven baths, four fireplaces and $35,477 monthly maintenance fee - is priced at $60 million.

 

In all, The Mark offers 118 hotel rooms and 42 apartments housed on floors nine to 16. Of the 42 units, 32 are fully furnished by Grange. Unit offerings range from studios, one- and two-bedrooms found in the "Suites Extraordinaire" package, three- to five bedroom plans in the "Towers Extraordinaire" and the five-bedroom, 10,000 s/f "Penthouse Extraordinaire."  Pricing ranges from $1,975,000 for a studio to $23,500,000 for a five-bedroom unit, with the penthouse being offered at $60 million. 

 

According to Forbes, three of the six Tower units have sold, with two three-bedroom units and a four bedroom in contract.

 

In addition to services and amenities that range from limousine service and airplane charter to painting and repair services, Forbes said that another major eye catcher at The Mark is the bold, but classic design. 

 

"Jacques Grange has brought in a real attitude with this project," Forbes said. "He wanted to bring back that grand hotel feel." 

 

And Grange has certainly achieved it. The building's lobby features dramatic black-and-white marble flooring - a color scheme evident throughout all of the units - and several one-of-a-kind pieces commissioned by artisans from across the globe.

 

As if Grange wasn't busy enough designing the hotel and residences at The Mark, he will also be adding his touch to the expanded dining room at the Sant Ambroeus, which will cater to the guests and residences at The Mark.

 

 

 

Castle in the sky a pricey dream home

By Maggie Hawryluk

 

 

Five bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, four fireplaces, 2,319 s/f of outdoor space, 10,000 s/f of living space and priceless city and park views are what real estate dreams are made of. But this dream comes at a price, a hefty one - $60 million to be exact.

 

There are a number of tantalizing treats inside the Jacques Grange designed "Penthouse Extraordinaire" at The Mark. Each huge bedroom features a full bathroom with floor-to-ceiling marble slab walls, custom marble flooring, a soaking tub for two and a custom vanity.

 

Though the bedrooms are impressive, the 20'9" by 15'9" master suite is the jewel in the crown. It includes a fireplace, a 16'4" by 17'8" sitting room and separate his and hers walk-in closets that lead into bathrooms. A spacious exercise studio not only includes a full bathroom, but also a steam shower.  The penthouse also has an eat-in kitchen, a 25'9" by 19'5" formal dining room, a 27' by 21'10" library with fireplace and private elevator with lobby.

 

But the piŠce de r‚sistance in the residence is the 47'10" by 33'7" living room housed in The Mark's original landmarked copper roof turret.

 

The residence will have 11-foot ceilings throughout and won't be short on light, as large windows have been generously placed in every room, with most rooms offering multiple chances to enjoy the view. The 16'3" by 28'8" skylit conservatory, which leads to the terrace and pavilion on the top floor, will further drench the penthouse in light. 

 

The terrace can be reached either by the spiral staircase or personal elevator.  A second library inside the roof pavilion also has a fireplace, pantry and powder room. 

 

Corcoran Sunshine is the exclusive sales and marketing agent for The Mark.