Waldorf Astoria condo conversion launches sales

The Waldorf Astoria’s condo conversion continues to move forward. Three years after closing its doors for its transformation, the iconic hotel has launched sales for its 375 condo residences.

The renovation project, which has been in the works since 2014, is being developed by Dajia Insurance Group and designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. The new residences will range from studios starting at $1.7 million to four-bedrooms starting at $18.5 million.

“For almost 100 years, the Waldorf Astoria has been New York’s ‘Unofficial Palace,’ and was famously anointed by Conrad Hilton as ‘The Greatest of Them All’,” Andrew Miller, CEO of Dajia US, said in a statement. “Now, with residences for sale for the first time, buyers from New York and all over the world can call it home.”

The interiors and amenities are, expectedly, very fancy. They were designed by Jean-Louis Deniot and include features that allude to the building’s Art Deco style: Tile mosaics with a pattern inspired by the hotel, antique bronze hardware, custom cabinets, herringbone floors, and vanities with polished marble countertops. Some of the units also come with private outdoor spaces.

At a preview earlier this week, Deniot said that the front doors tried to simulate an exterior townhouse front door: “It was very important for us to give the impression of something very individual per unit.”

Meanwhile, as far as the amenities, the building’s residents will have access to an elegant 25-meter swimming pool, a winter garden, four private bars, a gym, and private spas. There will also be a theater with performance space and a children’s playroom.

Sales for the homes come during a widely known softening of the New York City luxury market, which has led to a glut of unsold condos. But in a statement, the developers said they are hopeful that the variety in the units’ pricing will help with sales.

Back in 2014, the developers bought the Waldorf for $2 billion, and in 2017, the hotel closed to begin renovations. Construction for the project is now underway and the developers anticipate both the hotels and residences will open in 2022.