Around the Block: Hell's Kitchen

The neighborhood goes by several names -- including Clinton and Midtown West -- but the gritty moniker Hell's Kitchen seems to have stuck, though the area is nowhere near as rough as its former self. In the late 1800s and well into the mid-20th century, it was teeming with poor immigrants and Irish-American mobsters and plenty of racial tension. (It served as the setting for the gang rivalries depicted in "West Side Story.")

Today, thanks to its proximity to Midtown's offices and the sanitized Theater District, Hell's Kitchen has been booming with tall and glassy condos and luxury rentals. (In fact, a few too many developers might have jumped on the HK bandwagon; an excess of inventory has kept prices lower than many other Manhattan nabes.) And the 'hood - which runs roughly from 39th to 58th streets, and is bounded by the Hudson River and Eighth Avenue - will see even further transformation, thanks to a massive redevelopment plan for Hudson Yards.

Back in 2006, the 550-unit, Centra Ruddy-designed Orion (350 W. 42nd St.) was one of the first luxe condos to open in Hell's Kitchen in a decade. Soon after came Atelier (635 W. 42nd St.), a 46-story, 478-unit condo that has gained a measure of fame for having celeb residents like Nick Lachey and "American Idol" Taylor Hicks. (Studios to two-bedrooms range from $685,000 to $1,415,000. Currently, a 666-square-foot one-bedroom at Atelier is going for $800,000.)

Next door, at 605 W. 42nd St., another mixed rental-condo building is slated to open in 2010. And construction has begun on the Silver Towers (600 W. 42nd St.), two 60-story residential towers created by Silverstein Properties, which already constructed the 40-story, 921-unit rental River Place down the street. With plans for 1,359 market-rate apartments, corporate housing and moderate- and low-income units, the Towers are the city's largest rental complex now in development.

On a smaller scale, the nine-story Deuce (534 W. 42nd St.) enters the market with just seven condo units - all 1,148-square-foot one-bedrooms with the exception of the 2,785-square-foot two-bedroom penthouse -that range from $2 million to $4.95 million. Luxury touches include state-of-the-art imported Italian kitchens with Sub-Zero, Miele, Wolf and Gaggenau appliances; bathrooms with custom Italian limestone tiles and Zuma soaking tubs; wide-plank maple floors, 10-foot ceilings; and fortunately, sound-insulated windows. All units have balconies, plus there's a common roof deck with river views.

Further north, off the 42nd Street corridor, is the Platinum (247 W. 46th St.), with 220 units ranging from 600-square-foot studios to a 3,500-square-foot three-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath duplex penthouse with a terrace, and prices from the $800,000s to $7.5 million. The building is about 80 percent sold, no doubt due in part to its amenities: a 6,000-square-foot space on the fifth floor called "The Zone" includes full-body massage chairs, a golf simulator, fitness center, social sauna, yoga room, tea service, huge wraparound outdoor terrace with fireplace and more.

The 109-unit 505 Condo (505 W. 47th St.) will feature a mix of studios, one- and two-bedrooms and 12 penthouses. Over half the units will have outdoor space, plus there's a landscaped courtyard garden. We like the sixth-floor, 638-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bath priced at a reasonable $760,000, but we really dig the two-bedroom penthouse with a private roof deck for $1.395 million.

And you can find new condo projects in Hell's Kitchen with prices under $1,000 per square foot. The seven-story 517 W. 46th St., which features a fitness center, storage units and private terraces in most units, has a 1,122-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bath with outdoor space that will run you just $1.085 million.

On the rental side of things, Archstone Clinton (510 W. 52nd St.) offers some pretty snazzy amenities, including two private health clubs, two roof decks and a 24-hour concierge. But the eco-friendly building's leasing policy -- no security deposit and no broker fees -- and luxury finishes make these studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments a better deal than much of the city. Currently, a 426-square-foot studio is going for $2,940, while a decent-sized one-bedroom (at 773 square feet) rents for $3,490.

Restaurant-wise, Hell's Kitchen is one of the city's most ethnically diverse areas, with just about every cuisine represented. Though there wasn't South African food until late last year's arrival of Xai Xai Wine Bar (365 W. 51st St., 212-541-9241), an intimate spot with a wood-beamed ceiling, brick walls, huge cypress logs supports and plenty of candlelight. There's only seating for about 50 people, and it fills up quickly, especially with regulars sampling the 100 or so South African wines, some organic, and many available by the quartino. Our pick: the Brampton Shiraz ($12). The small bites menu includes regional faves like a filling pastry plate of meat and vegetarian pies ($12), as well as more conventional items like an artisanal cheese platter with dried fruit ($18).

Locals also flock to Marseille (630 Ninth Ave., 212-333-2323) for dependable French bistro fare, 441/2 (626 10th Ave., 212-399-4450) for brunch, and for no-frills tasty BBQ (including the option to order a whole pig) there's Daisy May's (623 11th Ave., 212-977-1500). Free hot dogs are the draw at the dive bar Rudy's Bar & Grill (627 Ninth Ave., 212-974-9169), while Five Napkin Burger earns rave reviews for its juicy patties.

For fine dining, David Pasternack's seafood-heavy menu at Esca (402 W. 43rd St., 212-564-7272) is hard to beat, but (pictured) Crave on 42nd (650 W. 42nd St., 212-564-9588), with "Top Chef" finalist Dave Martin at the helm, is carving out its own niche on the far west fringes of the 'hood. Surrounded by high-rises (with more on the rise), the restaurant has a casual California vibe, and a truffled mac n' cheese that's inspired a devoted following (though Lindsay Lohan, who owns digs across the street at Atelier, has yet to drop by).

Posted by Jennifer Ceaser on September 29, 2008 2:37 PM

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September 29, 2008

Around the Block: Hell's Kitchen

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