Soho Penthouse Scores $50M Deal

A penthouse in a boutique condo in Soho nabbed an eye-popping deal for the neighborhood, selling for $50 million.

An unknown buyer scooped up the unit at 151 Wooster Street in an off-market deal, the Wall Street Journal first reported. The 10,000-square-foot apartment is a combination of units.

The seller was an entity associated with Stefan Kaluzny, managing director of the private equity firm Sycamore Partners. The limited liability company purchased the penthouse for $14.7 million in 2009 and bought a unit on a lower floor for $8.2 million in 2016.

The deal was confirmed by Douglas Elliman’s John Gomes, who represented the seller with Fredrik Eklund. Ryan Serhant represented the buyer.

Baird Architects renovated the apartment, which features a floating staircase, 26-foot glass wine vault and private terrace with rooftop lawn.

Michael Namer’s Alfa Development and architect Lee Skolnick converted the eight-story, 10-unit building into loft condos in 2007. The building, built in 1915, includes a full-time doorman.

Sales at this price point are rare in downtown Manhattan, compared to luxury enclaves farther uptown. But just last week, One High Line in West Chelsea found a buyer for one of its penthouses, last asking $52 million. The 7,000-square-foot was the priciest contract inked in the borough from June 19th to June 25th.

Among the few homes to trade for more than $50 million in the area are a unit at 70 Vestry Street in Tribeca, which sold for $56 million in 2018, and a unit at the Getty in Chelsea, which closed for $59 million the same year.

June has proved to be a strong month for Manhattan’s luxury market, according to weekly reports by Olshan Realty.

The number of signed contracts for homes asking $4 million or more has exceeded 30 for five weeks in a row, marking this month as one of the strongest Junes since Olshan began tracking records in 2006.

— Sheridan Wall