Over the summer, a Wired New York poster tossed up some renderings of a new High Line-straddling/Lukoil gas station-neighboring development at 245 Tenth Avenue, designed by Della Valle Bernheimer. In all honesty, we didn't run with them then, because we weren't sure if the project was real or something out of Pan's Labyrinth. How could a building be inspired by both "steam trains" and those IBM punchcards that used to run computers? Total. Mindfuck. But a tipster just pointed out that the sales office opened on Wednesday night, and now 245 Tenth Avenue has a mesmerizing web presence, one worthy of its West Chelsea locale. The Grasso Holdings development has a randomly perforated steel skin, and inside lurks 24 superfancy units and ground-floor gallery spaces. Corcoran's Debra LaChance has the listings, and she's not playing around. You're looking at $1,200-$1,500 per square-foot, with some hefty monthly maintenance and taxes. It's all worth it, however, once you see the High Line terrace. When we think High Line, we think an endless parade of tourists, but it's quickly becoming the must-have accessory for 2007.
· 245 Tenth Avenue [Official Site]