- Year built
- 1913
- Type
- Condominium
- Landmark
- No
Every recorded sale at this building, 2005–2026
Price-per-square-foot over time, the line- and floor-premium curves, and every recorded sale.
- Median $/sf
- $1,342
- Listing discount
- 3.2%
- Recorded sales
- 134
- On record
- 2005–2026
263 Ninth Avenue — The Heywood — is one of Chelsea's standout loft conversions: a 1913 Beaux-Arts commercial building, built to house heavy printing equipment, transformed in 2005–2006 into a 50-unit condominium. The industrial origins are the whole point. Because the structure was engineered for machinery, it carries the thick concrete floor slabs, soaring 12.5-foot ceilings, and 8-foot windows that make a true loft — proportions that contemporary construction simply does not deliver. The conversion preserved that drama while adding full-service amenities.
For buyers, The Heywood is the Chelsea loft ideal in condominium form: real industrial bones, ceiling heights and window scale that flood the homes with light, and standout layouts including ground-floor duplexes and duplex penthouses. It sits at the corner of West 26th Street, steps from the High Line, the West Chelsea gallery district, and Hudson Yards — the heart of the neighborhood's transformation.
Architecture and unit composition
The building is Beaux-Arts commercial architecture from 1913 — a substantial masonry loft with the ornament and proportion of its era, originally built as printing space. That heritage defines the interiors: thick concrete between floors (excellent for sound), 12.5-foot ceilings, and the 8-foot windows that give the homes their light. The 2005–2006 conversion turned the building into 50 residences while keeping the loft character intact.
The unit mix is unusually interesting for a building this size. Alongside conventional loft floors, The Heywood includes four ground-floor duplexes and four duplex penthouses, with homes ranging from roughly 1,200 to 3,150 square feet. That gives the building genuine range — from efficient loft one- and two-bedrooms to dramatic duplex homes — and the duplexes and penthouses are the trophy inventory. As with any conversion, finishes vary unit to unit, but the underlying volume is the constant.
Building operations
The Heywood runs as a full-service loft condominium: a 24-hour doorman, a common roof deck, and basement storage. As a condominium, ownership carries the flexibility the form is known for — financing latitude, pied-à-terre and investor ownership, and a purchase that clears through a right-of-first-refusal rather than a co-op board package and interview. Subletting and resale are governed by the condominium's bylaws; buyers should review the bylaws and house rules for specifics, but the structural advantages of condominium ownership apply.
Local Law 97
- 2024–2029 annual penalty
- $0 (under cap)
- 2030–2034 annual penalty
- $27,212/yr
- Per unit / month range
- $0 – $45
Facade safety — Local Law 11
The latest available FISP filing classified the facade as Safe — no repairs were required at that inspection. Facade inspections run on a fixed five-year cycle; future inspection, repair, and any assessment decisions remain building-specific.
QEWI = Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector — the licensed engineer the city requires to sign the report (the independent expert, not the managing agent). Source: NYC DOB facade filings (FISP) · The Roebling Research Library.
See the full facade history →Management & transfer contacts
- Sublet policy
- Allowed; annual sublease fee $2,500/year; short-term not allowed
- Pied-à-terre
- Allowed; co-purchasing, parents buying, diplomat allowed
- Notable fees
- Buyer change of ownership fee $5,000; app processing $725; move-in/out $500 each + $1,000 deposit; no dogs for leases
Recent sales
Recent closings at this building, curated by The Roebling Team research desk. Apartment-level facts are independently verified before publishing; sale prices reflect the recorded transfer amount at the NYC Department of Finance.
| Date | Unit | Apartment | Price | PPSF | vs. Ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 2026 | 8E | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,701 sf | $2,450,000 | $1,440/sf | off-mkt |
| Apr 23, 2026 | 8D | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,489 sf | $1,999,000 | $1,343/sf | -7.0% |
| Mar 27, 2026 | 5B | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,536 sf | $2,235,000 | $1,455/sf | -1.8% |
| Feb 9, 2026 | 3E | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,701 sf | $2,100,000 | $1,235/sf | -12.5% |
| Aug 12, 2025 | 4A | 1 BR · 2 BA · 1,264 sf | $1,925,000 | $1,523/sf | -1.3% |
| Mar 28, 2025 | 7E | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,701 sf | $2,575,000 | $1,514/sf | -1.0% |
| Dec 16, 2024 | 2E | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,701 sf | $2,350,000 | $1,382/sf | -2.1% |
| Oct 11, 2024 | 8C | 3 BR · 3 BA · 2,124 sf | $3,400,000 | $1,601/sf | -2.7% |
Market read. Most recent trades (2026) cleared a median $1,342/sf across 4 sales. Median listing discount 3.2% from the last ask — a recurring negotiation gap worth pricing into any offer or listing strategy.
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 1-00723-7501) and verified listing data. Apartment-level facts (line, condition, asking-price context) curated and cross-verified by The Roebling Team research desk. 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.
What to know if you’re buying
The condominium structure is the practical advantage — flexible financing, pied-à-terre and entity ownership, and a lighter purchase than a co-op. Within the building, ceiling height and natural light are the defining features; the 12.5-foot ceilings and 8-foot windows are what set The Heywood apart, so prioritize the homes and floors that maximize them. The duplexes and penthouses are the scarce, trophy inventory and price accordingly. The location is the long-term anchor: the High Line, the West Chelsea galleries, Hudson Yards, and a deep restaurant scene are all within a short walk, and Chelsea's loft stock holds its appeal across cycles.
What to know if you’re selling
A resale here markets on the things new construction cannot replicate: authentic Beaux-Arts industrial bones, 12.5-foot ceilings, 8-foot windows, and standout duplex layouts, all in a full-service building at the heart of West Chelsea. Benchmark to other premier Chelsea loft conversions, not to glass-tower product — the buyer for The Heywood wants character and volume. The condominium closing path is faster and more predictable than a co-op's, which is itself a selling point. Present the home to its loft strengths — ceiling height, light, and layout — and price it against the active Chelsea loft comparison set.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering 263 Ninth Avenue, also evaluate these Chelsea and West Side loft and condominium peers:
- 212 Ninth Avenue — Chelsea boutique condominium nearby
- 177 Ninth Avenue — a 2010 condominium
- 245 Tenth Avenue — West Chelsea condominium near the High Line
- 515 West 23rd Street — West Chelsea condominium near the High Line
- 438 West 37th Street — The Glass Farmhouse loft conversion near Hudson Yards
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, schools, transit, and pricing across Chelsea — read The Roebling Team Guide to Chelsea.
Considering a move at The Heywood?
Request a private building brief with the relevant comparable sales, current and off-market availability, and an apartment-specific view of value.
Own an apartment here? See what it would sell for.
A Private Pricing Opinion — what your apartment at The Heywood 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.