Feature: The Ashley

Courtesy of Curbed.com

Nestled in prime Upper West Side, the Ashley is just one of the new luxury buildings to open this year. The Ashley likes to keep close company with its sister building, the Aldyn, built right next door.

The Ashley shares the neighborhood with a host of Upper West Side notables. The Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center, home of the world’s most creative and talented artists, sits on the same block. The creativity flows from the Lincoln Center two avenues over to Broadway with an abundance of restaurants. From area favorites such as Shun Lee to Café Fiorello, residents have their choice of international fare in close proximity. For those who like to eat-in, the one block walk to mega-grocer Western Beef will be much appreciated. Affording to live in Upper West Side is one thing but shelling out more for overpriced groceries is another.

Honorable mention, there goes the Apple Store at 67^th and Broadway and the AMC Loews Lincoln Square at 68^th, both within walking distance. I don’t know about you but I like to follow the 5 Block Rule. If everything is within about 5 blocks from where I live then I found a match. The only downside I can think of is that you have to walk about 2 avenues over for the 1 train and 3 avenues to Columbus Circle (or you could take the bus). On the bright side, that same 3 block walk will put you at Central Park…

The 209-unit Ashley is unique in that it is one of the only rental buildings built by Extell Development. While typically building condos such as the sold out Avery and Altair Lofts; the Ashley will inherit many of the condo features and details that Extell is known for. The Ashley will share the bowling alley and pool with the Aldyn while the condos get the excellent river views. Wait, did you say bowling alley? Apparently one of the features of the Ashley will be the 37,000 square foot amenity space dubbed the Palestra.

This will house the building junior Olympic swimming pool, full length basketball court, 2 lane bowling alley, golf simulator, squash court, gym and spa. The Ashley is setting the bar high for rentals. Amenities such as the bowling alley and the basketball court are usually only seen in select condominiums such as Downtown by Starcke in FiDi, and even then, the basketball court is half court, and the alley is only one lane. What we have here is a rental development that can give designer condominiums a run for their money.

 Many of the units are oversized which goes against the Manhattan rental grain. 3 bedrooms start at 1,800 square feet. Besides the size, the layouts at the Ashley really seem to cater to residents.

Studios have oversized windows to create space through lighting. Also, the studio layouts are configured so that the foyer only opens up enough to view the living area rather than the sleeping alcove. This allowance to privacy in a studio without having to put up walls will have the introverted resident thankful.

Large living room space

Living room and kitchen at the Ashley

Studio Bedroom at The Ashley

 College-age hipsters? Look elsewhere. IMO, the Ashley is a great choice for families as well as young professionals, The residence layouts as well as the amenities they offer, make it an ideal building/area to raise a family. The restrictions on walls in addition to the pricing should keep the college dorm crowd away, which is another plus. Young professionals should appreciate the areas cultural venues, Central Park locale and social amenities that make it an ideal neighborhood for you to call home; away from the seemingly barren FiDi, and the college-age crowd infesting the village. The Ashley doesn’t follow any fads, or “niche” that many new developments are working on, so what you get is elegant simplicity, in a place that I can see myself wanting more than the typical one-year lease.

 

For more information on leasing/pricing:

212-202-0721