- Year built
- 1928
- Type
- Condominium
- Floors
- 18
- Landmark status
- Individual landmark; not in a historic district
- NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission records, updated February 2026
- Leasing by owners
- Permitted with conditions
- Pied-à-terre
- Permitted
- Pets
- Pets permitted; species and limits not stated
- Maximum financing
- 90% of the purchase price
- Doorman
- Doorman (hours not stated)
Every recorded sale at this building, 2004–2026
Price-per-square-foot over time, the line- and floor-premium curves, and every recorded sale.
- Median $/sf, 2026 to date
- $1,030
- floor-adjusted, 2 sales
- Listing discount
- 0.2%
- Recorded sales
- 107
- On record
- 2004–2026
Own an apartment here? See what it would sell for.
A Private Pricing Opinion — what your apartment at The Cass Gilbert would likely sell for today, what it costs to sell, and what you’d walk away with — reviewed personally against condition, exposures, renovation quality, and the competition actually on the market.
The Cass Gilbert is the rare Manhattan condominium that is, literally, a one-of-one: an individually landmarked Assyrian Revival loft tower by the architect of the Woolworth Building, carrying winged lions, palm friezes, and chariot hunts in polychrome terra cotta up a ziggurat of setbacks. Gilbert designed it in 1927 as the S.J.M. Building — speculative showrooms and lofts for the Fur District, named for the fur merchant Salomon J. Manne — and never explained the Assyrian program beyond remarking that he liked "to develop a ziggurat in the style which seems best adapted to the purpose." The critic Christopher Gray, writing in The New York Times in 2004, called its ornamental program "one of the brightest spots in the area," and the Landmarks Preservation Commission designated it an individual landmark in November 2001.
The designation itself created the condominium. The landmarking landed days before developer Henry Justin closed on his 2000 acquisition, bringing preservation obligations the building's commercial rents could not carry — so Justin converted the upper floors to 45 residential condominiums, completed in 2003–04, and renamed the building for its architect with the blessing of Gilbert's grandson. The press at the time reported the units selling out within sixty days; the plan's fourth amendment on file in The Roebling Research Library shows the more precise picture — 30 residential closings by November 2004, with all but two units spoken for — which is still one of the faster absorption stories of that conversion cycle.
The building's third act arrived at its base: in 2011, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah — the city's flagship LGBT synagogue — purchased the commercial space for $7 million and built an Architecture Research Office-designed sanctuary behind the gold-pinstriped glass storefront, opening in 2016 to coverage in The New York Times and the architectural press. For residents, the practical result is a landmarked, institutionally anchored base.
Architecture and unit composition
The facade is the asset, and it is protected: brick elevations banded with Atlantic Terra Cotta friezes — winged lions alternating with horses' and humans' heads, palm-tree dividers, chariot-hunt panels in mirror image over the travertine-framed entrances, and corner panels bearing the Mesopotamian demon Lamashtu — wrapping setbacks above the 10th, 14th, and 17th stories. Window or terrace work may require LPC approval, with staff or hearing review depending on scope and exceptions for qualifying ordinary maintenance; confirm the permit path before scheduling work.
Inside, the 45 residences are true loft conversions in 21 different layouts — predominantly two- and three-bedrooms with roughly 11-foot ceilings, oversized multi-paned windows, washer/dryers, and unit-controlled central air, finished at conversion with Calacatta marble kitchens and premium appliances. The setback floors carry the building's distinctive units: terraced lines above the 10th-floor setback, a full-floor residence of roughly 3,850 square feet with some 900 square feet of terraces, and two duplex penthouses under 18-foot ceilings. The low police-precinct building is a nearby feature, but outlook and light vary by line and floor. Inspect the actual sight lines; open light is not protected.
Building operations
The Cass Gilbert runs as a boutique doorman condominium — attended lobby (verify current staffing hours), live elevator core, and the essential services, without an amenity floor: no gym, no garage, no common roof deck documented in current records. Compare current common charges, reserves and allocation percentages; the absence of those amenities does not establish a low-cost operating model. The commercial base is institutionally held by the synagogue rather than rotating retail, a stability factor worth noting in diligence. The offering plan and amendments are on file in The Roebling Research Library; current financial statements should be requested through the managing agent.
Application and transaction fees
Fees below are from building management's published schedule, as of September 2026. They are shown as published, item by item; no total is added because the total depends on the transaction. Deposits are listed apart from nonrefundable charges.
Purchase
8 items
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing FeeConditional | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $700 ($750 if no broker involved) | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Building Processing Fee | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $750 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Closing Document Preparation Fee | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $500 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Credit Check FeeConditional · Per applicant | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $75 per applicant and all occupants over the age of 18 (LLC required to submit additional fee for business credit check - if applicable) | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Criminal Check FeePer applicant | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $100 per applicant and all occupants over the age of 18 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Messenger Fee | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $65 | Refundable Not stated |
Deposits
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move In Deposit | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $2,500 | Refundable Refundable |
| Move Out Deposit | Paid by Seller | When With the application | Amount $2,500 | Refundable Refundable |
Rental or lease
8 items
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing FeeConditional | Paid by Landlord | When With the application | Amount $700 ($750 if no broker involved) | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Condo Lease Fee | Paid by Landlord | When With the application | Amount $750 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Credit Check FeeConditional · Per applicant | Paid by Landlord | When With the application | Amount $75 per applicant and all occupants over the age of 18 (LLC required to submit additional fee for business credit check - if applicable) | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Criminal Check FeePer applicant | Paid by Landlord | When With the application | Amount $100 per applicant and all occupants over the age of 18 | Refundable Non-refundable |
Deposits
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move Out Deposit | Paid by Landlord | When With the application | Amount $2,500 | Refundable Refundable |
| Move In Deposit | Paid by Tenant | When With the application | Amount $2,500 | Refundable Refundable |
Lease renewal
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing Fee | Paid by Landlord | When With the application | Amount $500 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Condo Lease Fee | Paid by Landlord | When With the application | Amount $250 | Refundable Not stated |
Management updates its schedule without a public filing. The date is when management last updated the page, not when a rule changed. Confirm the current schedule with management before you apply.
Considering an apartment here? Send Corey the listing to discuss the building's costs and purchase requirements.
Own an apartment here? Request an apartment-specific pricing review.
Financing and purchase requirements
- Maximum financing
- 90% of the purchase priceSource: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
- Guarantors
- PermittedSource: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
- Co-purchasing
- PermittedSource: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
Sublet and pied-à-terre policy
A condominium owner leasing a unit and a co-op shareholder subletting are different rules, and a building-wide rule is different from a restriction on one apartment. This is the building's rule; confirm it for the specific apartment.
- Leasing by owners
- Permitted with conditionsMinimum of one yearSource: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
- Pied-à-terre ownership
- PermittedSource: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
- Short-term rentals
- Not permittedSource: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
Considering an apartment here? Send Corey the listing to discuss the sublet and pied-à-terre rules for that apartment.
Pets and in-unit washer/dryer
- Pets
- Pets permitted; species and limits not statedSource: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
- In-unit washer/dryer
- Not verified
Considering an apartment here? Send Corey the listing to confirm the pet and washer/dryer rules for that apartment.
Monthly carrying charges in recent sales
- Common charges + taxes, per room
- $809 per room a monthMedian of 8 recorded sales since October 2023Source: recorded sales, refreshed October 2026
- Common charges + taxes, per square foot
- $2.70 per square foot a monthMedian of 10 recorded sales since October 2023Source: recorded sales, refreshed October 2026
- Common charges alone, per square foot
- $1.38 per square foot a monthMedian of 14 listings since October 2023 that give the annual taxSource: listing records, refreshed October 2026
- Real estate taxes alone, per square foot
- $1.34 per square foot a monthMedian of 14 listings since October 2023 that give the annual taxSource: listing records, refreshed October 2026
Common charges plus real estate taxes, combined into one monthly figure the way New York condominium listings show them. Add a mortgage payment for the monthly outlay. The split into common charges and taxes comes from the listings that also give the annual tax, a different sample, so the two lines need not add up exactly to the combined median; a tax abatement can hold taxes below the full amount until it expires. A summary of recorded sales and listings, not a current bill; charges change.
Building staffing and amenities
- Doorman
- Doorman (hours not stated)Source: The Roebling Team's building profile
- Attended lobby
- YesSource: The Roebling Team's building profile
- Elevator
- YesSource: NYC Department of Buildings elevator records
Staffing and amenities as our building profile and recent listing records describe them. A feature not listed is not confirmed absent. Outdoor space, parking and some facilities can belong to particular apartments or to a separate owner; confirm access for the specific apartment.
Local Law 97
- 2024–2029 annual penalty
- $0 (under cap)
- 2030–2034 annual penalty
- $61,824/yr
- Per unit / month range
- $0 – $114
- Modeled exposure split equally across 45 units (the residential count on the city's lot record). Not an assessed amount; condominium owners are typically charged by each unit's common-interest percentage.
Source: NYC LL84 benchmarking and PLUTO · The Roebling Research Library. City data last refreshed September 2026.
See full Local Law 97 analysis — emissions history, scenarios, methodology →Facade safety — Local Law 11
The latest available filing classified the facade as SWARMP — Safe With A Repair and Maintenance Program: the inspector (QEWI) identified conditions requiring monitoring or repair, with repairs due by the deadline stated in the filing. The scope, timeline, and how the building funds the work are building-specific — we review the filings and board materials for you.
How to read this, and where it comes from
QEWI = Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector — a licensed professional engineer or registered architect who meets DOB’s FISP qualifications and signs the report (the independent expert, not the managing agent).
Source: NYC DOB facade filings (FISP) · The Roebling Research Library. City data last refreshed September 2026.
Recent sales
Recent closings at this building, from The Roebling Research Library. Prices are the transfer amounts recorded with the NYC Department of Finance; apartment-level detail is checked against the building’s own file in The Roebling Research Library before publishing.
| Date | Unit | Apartment | Price | PPSF | vs. Ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2026 | 18A | 4 BR · 3.5 BA · 3,852 sf | $4,995,000 | $1,297/sf | +0.0% |
| Jan 21, 2026 | 4C | 3 BR · 3 BA · 2,064 sf | $1,878,215 | $910/sf | -5.9% |
| Dec 3, 2025 | 3B | 2 BR · 3 BA · 2,150 sf | $2,250,000 | $1,047/sf | -6.1% |
| Oct 23, 2025 | PHA | 3 BR · 3.5 BA · 2,988 sf | $2,999,999 | $1,004/sf | -25.0% |
| Oct 20, 2025 | C11 | 3 BR · 3 BA · 2,055 sf | $2,300,000 | $1,119/sf | -1.3% |
| Oct 10, 2025 | 5C | 3 BR · 3 BA · 2,064 sf | $1,800,000 | $872/sf | — |
| Jul 31, 2025 | 11C | 3 BR · 3 BA · 2,055 sf | $2,300,000 | $1,119/sf | — |
| May 28, 2025 | 10C | 3 BR · 3 BA · 2,055 sf | $2,240,000 | $1,090/sf | -2.4% |
Market read. Most recent trades (2026 to date) cleared a median $1,030/sf (floor-adjusted) across 2 sales. Floor-adjusted means each sale is restated to a constant mix of floors, so the figure can differ from the plain median of the sales listed above. Median listing discount 0.2% from the last ask — a recurring negotiation gap worth pricing into any offer or listing strategy.
The retrade record
Lines that have traded more than once in the public record — the building’s appreciation arc, apartment by apartment.
Full closing history with price-per-square-foot over time, the complete retrade record, and every line that has traded.
Sales sourced from NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers (BBL 1-00805-7501; each condominium apartment is its own tax lot). Apartment-level facts (line, condition, asking-price context) curated and cross-verified in The Roebling Research Library. Not all transactions cross-verify with ACRIS records — sponsor and LLC purchases sometimes record at stipulated values rather than market price; square footage from recorded condo declarations and offering plans.
Closed rents at The Cass Gilbert, last 36 months
| Size | Leases | Median / month |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bedroom | 2 | $8,300 |
| 3 bedroom | 6 | $13,500 |
8 closed leases, October 2023 to September 2026. Most recent lease May 2026. Sizes with fewer than 2 leases are not shown. Compiled by The Roebling Team at Compass from closed leases.
What would your apartment rent for?
The figures above are the building's closed leases. Enter your apartment and I'll send you what yours would rent for, from comparable leases at The Cass Gilbert and nearby.
At the recent median sale of $2.3M (9 sales in the past 24 months, since October 25, 2024), a buyer putting 25% down would pay about $96,136 to close, or 4.2% of the price.
- Mansion tax: $28,750
- Mortgage recording tax: $33,206
- Title insurance: $10,350
- Attorneys, lender, building fees, reserves and filings: $23,830
Assumes a resale (the seller pays transfer taxes), a $4,500 attorney fee and a mortgage on the rest.
Keep up with The Cass Gilbert and its market
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What to know if you’re buying
You are buying a landmark with condo mechanics. An individually designated Cass Gilbert facade with condominium ownership — no co-op board interview, financing to 90% of the purchase price, pied-à-terre permitted and leasing permitted with conditions. Confirm ownership-entity rules in the current declaration, bylaws and house rules.
Price the corridor honestly. West 30th between Sixth and Seventh is a working block — wholesale remnants of the fur and flower trades, heavy daytime traffic, and the energy (and grit) of the Penn District's ongoing redevelopment a few blocks north. Visit at multiple hours and assess any price difference from Madison Square Park using matched transactions rather than assume a compensating discount.
Landmark review shapes envelope work. DOB-permitted interior work can also require LPC approval, often a Certificate of No Effect. Windows, terraces and other exterior work may need LPC approval; some scopes qualify for staff review, while others require a public hearing, and ordinary maintenance may be exempt. Budget timeline accordingly and review the building's alteration history during diligence.
The synagogue owns the base. The congregation owns its space and invested heavily in it; expect periodic event activity at the ground floor. Buyers sensitive to ground-floor institutional use should visit on a Friday evening.
Verify the operations stack. Doorman hours, current common charges, and the flip-tax question are thinly documented publicly. We verify against the offering plan, amendments, and managing-agent records during diligence.
What to know if you’re selling
Market the provenance with precision. Cass Gilbert, 1928, Atlantic Terra Cotta, individual landmark, one of three Assyrian-ornamented buildings in the city and the only one ornamented head to toe — present these documented architectural details without ranking the narrative or assuming what every buyer values.
Match the actual layouts. The 21 layouts across 45 units do not establish which lines have a direct same-stack sale; compare current plans and the available transfer record. Anchor pricing to the unit's specific attributes — setback terraces, ceiling height, light plane — against the broader Chelsea-NoMad loft set.
Position the value case against the named conversions. Compare the apartment with dated Madison Square Park and Chelsea conversion sales, adjusting for area, layout, condition, services and exposure. The available description does not establish a 20–30 percent discount, equivalent interiors, a superior facade or a narrowing price gap from Penn District redevelopment.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering 130 West 30th Street, also evaluate:
- Chelsea Mercantile (252 Seventh Avenue) — the corridor's benchmark large-scale pre-war loft conversion, farther south on Seventh Avenue
- 212 Fifth Avenue — NoMad's trophy pre-war conversion on Madison Square Park; the prestige step-up
- The Grand Madison (225 Fifth Avenue) — park-facing NoMad conversion; the established condo alternative east
- The O'Neill Building (655 Sixth Avenue) — landmarked cast-iron conversion; the closest like-for-like landmark-condo proposition
- Walker Tower (212 West 18th Street) — Art Deco conversion for a documented, apartment-specific price comparison
- 15 Madison Square North (1107 Broadway) — Madison Square Park loft conversion; the higher-amenity alternative
- 45 East 22nd Street — Flatiron's new-construction tower; a contemporary alternative; compare actual prices using matched sales
- 15 Hudson Yards — the full-amenity new-development alternative west
More Chelsea buildings
- 130 West 16th Street — 1927 co-op
- 130 West 17th Street — 1906 condop
- 130 West 20th Street (Prima) — 2008 condominium by H. Thomas O'Hara Architects
- Chelsea House, 130 West 19th Street — 2005 condominium
- 131 West 16th Street — 1918 condominium
- 131–133 West 28th Street (Garden Lofts) — 1908 co-op
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, transit, and pricing across Chelsea — read The Roebling Team Guide to Chelsea.
How to read the facts on this page. Items attributed to an offering plan describe the building as it was offered at that filing — unit mix, square footage, the amenity program as planned. They are not a statement about how the building operates today. Tax and compliance figures are sourced separately to current City records and carry their own dates. House rules, staffing and fee policy can change by board resolution without any public filing: treat every policy line here as a starting point for diligence and confirm it with the managing agent. Where this page compares one building or neighborhood to another, that is our analysis of the recorded record — it names the measure, the period and the sample it rests on, and it is an observation about medians rather than a prediction about any particular apartment.
Considering a move at The Cass Gilbert?
Request a private building brief with the relevant comparable sales, current and off-market availability, and an apartment-specific view of value.
646.939.7375 · c.cohen@compass.com