BKREA announced it has been exclusively retained to arrange the sale of 150 West 85th Street, a vacant six‑story, 38,838 SF building on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, offering investors and users a rare opportunity for conversion or redevelopment in a prime location.
-- BKREA announced that it has been exclusively retained to arrange the sale of 150 West 85th Street, a vacant, six-story building located in the heart of Manhattan’s highly sought-after Upper West Side.
Positioned mid-block on the south side of West 85th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenues, the property sits within one of New York City’s most established and supply-constrained neighborhoods. The building totals approximately 38,838 square feet across six stories, including a full basement and mezzanine, on an irregular 6,575-square-foot lot with 75 feet of frontage.
Formerly occupied by the Manhattan Country School, the property is now delivered vacant, presenting a clean canvas for an owner-user or an investor seeking a unique redevelopment or conversion opportunity. Zoned R8B, the site allows for residential and community facility uses, offering flexibility for a wide range of potential executions including educational institutions, religious organizations, foreign government uses, and other community-oriented occupancies. The current Certificate of Occupancy is for school use, which is the most difficult use to get in New York City which is a big advantage for an educational institution.
While the existing building exceeds current allowable zoning floor area, BKREA’s Policy and Zoning SWAT Team has assembled additional analysis outlining potential paths forward for redevelopment or conversion, subject to buyer due diligence and approvals.
The property benefits from exceptional light and air due to its mid-block positioning and adjacency to the neighboring Louis D. Brandeis High School — a rare characteristic for Upper West Side assets of this scale. Its prime location provides immediate access to Central Park, Riverside Park, major retail corridors, and robust transportation options, including the 1, B, and C subway lines and multiple bus routes.
Notably, the asset is being sold by a federal court-appointed trustee, ensuring the sale will be delivered free and clear of all liens, claims, and encumbrances, offering buyers one of the cleanest title opportunities currently available in the marketplace.
“Opportunities to acquire a vacant, institutional-scale building in the core of the Upper West Side are extraordinarily rare,” said Bob Knakal, Chairman & CEO of BKREA. “150 West 85th Street offers scale, frontage, light, and location, combined with immediate usability and long-term optionality, making it one of the most compelling user opportunities we’ve seen in Manhattan in recent years.”
The offering is being led by Bob Knakal, Chairman & CEO; Ryan Candel, Senior Vice President, Transactions; Tom Brady, Managing Director; and Ana Barrie, Managing Director.
About the company: BKREA is a New York City commercial investment sales brokerage led by Bob Knakal that exclusively represents property owners, using a 7-step marketing approach, deep historical data, social media reach, and AI-driven tools to maximize exposure and achieve the highest possible sales prices.
Contact Info:
Name: Ana Barrie
Email: Send Email
Organization: BKREA
Address: 135 West 85th Street NY NY 10018
Phone: 212-888-8850
Website: https://bkrea.com
Release ID: 89182958
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