turning 2 “lofts” into 1 “apartment” at 303 Mercer, then selling for $996/ft

I’m not offended, really
Some people just prefer to live in Manhattan “apartments”, instead of “lofts”. I get that, but it is unusual to see one of those “apartment” people buy adjoining lofts (with 11 foot ceilings, large windows, wide-plank flooring, even “loft-like proportions”) and turn them into an “apartment”. Granted, the result of combining #205 and #206 at 303 Mercer Street (at the epicenter of central Greenwich Village??) is rather awkward, but this “1,868 sq ft” apartment … errr … loft … err … space did pretty well on a December 2 resale: $1.86mm, or $996/ft.

straining on entry
It is unusual (but not rare) for classic lofts to have a foyer, but I can’t recall having seen a loft with a designated (private) lobby, as the #205/206 floor plan has it (the babble calls it a foyer). It is not unusual (though hardly common) in a classic loft to enter the main living space by walking around the dining table. Maybe Manhattan Loft Guy needs to get out to see more, but I don’t think I have ever seen a classic Manhattan loft in which one enters the master suite through the closet / dressing area.

The #205/206 combo floor plan suffers from each of these peculiarities. The effect is much more pre-war “apartment” than classic Manhattan loft, though there may not be any classic prewars with master entries through a closet.

There’s no doubt that 303 Mercer Street (dubbed Snug Harbor by some nautical developer) is a loft building. In fact, it is three buildings with industrial pasts that were converted as a single coop in 1979. (Somewhat awkwardly, as the “C” lacks an elevator.)

It is appropriate, industrial provenance notwithstanding, that the #205/206 combo was not marketed as a loft; the babble begins:

This beautifully renovated apartment lends itself to gracious entertaining and comfortable family living with its classic yet loft-like proportions.

That should have adjusted the expectations of any loft fans who visited.

© Sandy Mattingly 2010