Flatiron Building opens its doors to residents for the first time after historic conversion
Credit: Astra Studios
New York City’s famed Flatiron Building has officially welcomed its first residents in its 124-year history, following a historic conversion into condos. The Brodsky Organization announced last week that closings have begun at the distinctive triangular building at 175 Fifth Avenue, with residents starting to move into the landmark for the first time following its transformation from offices to 36 homes. The property underwent an extensive, multi-year restoration, including the replacement of all its windows and the careful restoration of thousands of terra-cotta fixtures.
“For more than a century, the Flatiron Building has been part of the fabric of NYC and a beloved icon for locals and visitors to the Flatiron District,” Daniel Brodsky, managing principal of the Brodsky Organization, said.
“Welcoming its first residents is an extraordinary moment and the culmination of years of work by an incredibly talented team to preserve this landmark while preparing it for its next century.”
Shaped by the Flatiron Building’s signature triangular architecture, apartments feature huge great rooms and unique layouts. Designed by AD100 designer William Sofield’s Studio Sofield, interiors draw upon materials and architectural details uncovered throughout the restoration, including historic ironwork, railings, and marble mosaics.
Each home features a private elevator-entry vestibule with marble mosaic flooring and stone finishes, as well as a large kitchen outfitted with metal cabinetry and Gaggenau appliances. Residences also include a Ketra lighting system by Lutron, which allows residents to adjust light temperature and brightness and program settings to align with their circadian rhythms.
North-facing residences boast views of Madison Square Park, Fifth Avenue, and Broadway, while south-facing homes feature exposures to the south, east, and west, bringing in natural light throughout the day.
Residents also have access to a range of private amenities, including a double-height, attended lobby anchored by a custom Studio Sofield-designed chandelier inspired by a historic Madison Square Park lamppost. Other amenities include a 60-foot lap pool, fitness center, sauna, cold plunge, golf simulator, game room, and lounges overlooking Madison Square Park.
Private storage units and wine cellars are also available for purchase. The building is slated to welcome Bar Pisellino in 2027, a new restaurant from established restaurateurs Rita Sodi and Jody Williams, who are known for their popular West Village restaurants.
First designed by architect Daniel Burnham and completed in 1902 as the Fuller Building, the Flatiron has become one of NYC’s most recognizable landmarks. Known for its unique shape, Beaux-Arts facade, and steel-frame construction, it was one of the world’s first skyscrapers, as 6sqft previously reported.
Over the years, the building has housed a wide variety of commercial tenants, including two basement restaurants, clothing and toy companies, and magazine and publishing houses, but has never been used for residential purposes.
In 2021, the Flatiron was at the center of a contentious legal battle between its former owners—GFP Real Estate, Newmark, Sorgente Group, ABS Real Estate Partners, and Nathan Silverstein. The four partners sued Silverstein, who held a 25 percent stake, seeking a partition sale.
They claimed he made poor business decisions after the building’s sole tenant, Macmillan Publishers, moved out in 2019 after 60 years, as 6sqft previously reported.
To settle the dispute, the building went to auction that March. After the winning bidder failed to meet the down payment deadline, the property returned to auction and was ultimately sold to Jeff Gural of GFP Real Estate for $165.1 million, effectively acquiring Silverstein’s 25 percent stake.
Sorgente Group and the Brodsky Organization then began redeveloping the building, converting its former office and commercial space into luxury condominiums. More than 1,000 windows were replaced, while thousands of terra-cotta fixtures were meticulously restored, with each piece hand-replicated by a California manufacturer. The project also included a detailed restoration of the Flatiron’s six-foot-tall cornice.
The structure is also now illuminated at night for the first time in its history. As part of the restoration, lighting design firm L’Observatoire International received approval from the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission to install an LED system.
The illumination is most prominent across the five floors beneath the building’s cornice, then cascades downward to highlight the structure’s architectural details.
James Beard Award-winning duo Rita Sodi and Jody Williams will open Bar Pisellino at the base of the building. As 6sqft reported, the new restaurant marks the first outside of the West Village for Sodi and Williams, who are behind downtown restaurants Via Carota, I Sodi, Buvette, and The Commerce Inn.
Prices for the remaining three- and four-bedroom residences start at $14.85 million. A newly available full-floor residence on the 20th floor is listed for $53.5 million. Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group is handling exclusive sales and marketing for the Flatiron Building.
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