Bridge Tower Place gets underway

Real Estate Weekly, Dec 8, 1999 by Lois Weiss

There will be a convenient garage in the building, while upstairs, residents can enjoy a third-story children's playroom and a landscaped rooftop garden. There will also be a fitness center and adjoining sun terrace.

Studying successful layouts created through the years, Kondylis designed these on the pre-war model. They therefore have foyers, and a separation of the private bedrooms and the more public living areas.

The main living and bedrooms will have herringbone patterned oak floors, and the solid core wood doors have polished chrome hardware.

The telephone lines have T1 capability for today's wired home and are integrated with the building's intercom system.

In addition to the SieMatic cabinets for both kitchen and bath, Kondylis has chosen complimentary marbles for the floors, walls and vanity tops of the various bathrooms. Fixtures are provided by Kohler with polished chrome finishes.

In the kitchen, floors are Bianco Sardo granite with accenting Absolute Black granite countertops and backsplashes. Kitchen Aid appliances are fronted in contemporary stainless steel, while the Kohler stainless steel sink and faucet includes a garbage disposal. Each unit will have its own washer and dryer, while the building's life safety system includes sprinklers.

Although the actual units are not allowed to be sold until the plan is accepted by the New York State Attorney General's Office, which is expected in January, the developers are allowed to pre-market to the community.

"We can receive letters of interest and it helps the developer and ourselves to line up prospective buyers." said Joanne deFranca. director of sales for The Sunshine Group, who will open the BridgeTower Place sales office at 1114 First Avenue on the 5th floor this week.

"I've already had 10 brokers who saw the presentation call and ask to bring clients in," she said last week.

New residents will find the area rich in history, and the ability to learn more about it. BridgeMarket is opening across the street this week, and shoppers and diners will be able to experience the Guastavino tiles for themselves.

BridgeTower Place itself is being constructed on the site of the manor house started by President John Adams' daughter and her husband, Colonel William Stephens. Their 23-acre estate was named after George Washington's Virginia home, and was to be known as "Mount Vernon on the East River," but remained unfinished and was sold. The manor house burned to the ground in 1826.

Meanwhile, the carriage house on 61st Street had become the Mount Vernon Hotel in 1808. Located at 421 East 61st Street, it now serves as the Abigail Adams Smith Museum & Gardens. Owned and operated by the Colonial Dames of America, it is one of the few historic sites that illuminates early 19th Century hotel life.

Maps, paintings and other resources are available to visitors, including many school children, and a small gift shop is open as well. There are candlelight tours from December 16 to 18, and the Washington's Birthday Ball takes place from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 20th, with period dancers, musicians and singing.