Inside the Most Expensive Condo Ever Sold in Downtown Manhattan

The downtown Manhattan real estate scene just hit a new high—literally. A jaw-dropping $60 million deal for a sprawling duplex at 150 Charles Street has officially set a new record for the priciest apartment ever sold south of 14th Street. 

The off-market transaction, which closed last month, nudged past the previous record, a $59 million penthouse at the Getty, snagged by private-equity mogul Robert F. Smith in 2018. The sellers? Financier Harsh Padia and his wife, interior designer Purvi Padia, who picked up the place in 2016 for $29.1 million from developer Alex Witkoff, The Wall Street Journal reported. That means they more than doubled their money in just eight years, a very good return on their investment.

The 5,840-square-foot waterfront residence is a rare West Village find, thanks to its sweeping Hudson River views and two landscaped terraces. “A turn-key waterfront property with significant outdoor space is incredibly hard to find,” Eric Brown of Elevated at Compass, who repped the mystery buyer, told the Journal. “There are only a handful.” 

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While the interiors haven’t been widely publicized, they exude an airy, sun-drenched aesthetic that comprises five bedrooms and five and a half bathrooms. The nearly 600-square-foot living room is adjoined by a more intimate library with a gas fireplace, while the eat-in chef’s kitchen is decked out with veined marble countertops and backsplashes, and a sculptural spiral staircase adds a dose of architectural drama to the double-height dining room.  

Each of the bedrooms has ample storage and a private bath, while the homeowner’s retreat occupies a wing of its own on the upper level and incorporates a private study along with two humongous walk-in closets and a spa bath.

Compass agents Jim St. André and Peter Zaitzeff of Serhant co-listed the property, while Brown and his Elevated Team colleague, Zeve Salman, represented the unidentified buyer. The sale underscores a striking shift in Manhattan’s ultra-luxury market. “We’re seeing prices downtown that we used to only see in Midtown on Billionaires’ Row,” Zaitzeff explained to the newspaper. 

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Since its completion in 2013, 150 Charles Street has been a magnet for high-profile buyers, including Bon Jovi, Ben Stiller, and Ryan Seacrest. The 15-story, 91-unit condominium was designed by Cook + Fox Architects and offers full-service luxury, including concierge amenities, a private courtyard, and a state-of-the-art fitness center. 

While this transaction sets a new high for downtown Manhattan, it remains far from the city’s overall record. That distinction belongs to hedge-fund titan Ken Griffin, whose $238 million purchase at 220 Central Park South in 2019 remains the most expensive home ever sold in the United States.

Click here to see more photos of the downtown New York condo.