Rita Marandino’s rental home on 39th and 2nd in Murray Hill began as a temporary situation. The artist who had transitioned from commercial work to painting in a contemporary realistic style had been casually looking to purchase a one-bedroom condominium in Manhattan where she could be close to galleries and museums to display her work.
Ms. Marandino’s initial approach was to view properties online as she waited for a transaction with a commercial property she owned in Westchester County to be completed. However, during this time her daughter accepted an internship in Manhattan. With little movement on the commercial property, she decided to secure a limited-time rental where they both could live during the internship.
Unfortunately, unexpected delays with the commercial transaction forced Ms. Marandino to spend more time renting than originally planned. When it appeared the commercial deal was getting close to completion Ms. Marandino got serious again and headed back to online searches and began attending open house. She spanned Manhattan looking at upscale condominiums in some of the City’s most posh neighborhoods. However, she quickly discovered many of the homes that fit her lifestyle needs were nearly twice her $1 million budget.
After finding homes out of her price range and with the commercial property transaction still dragging on, Ms. Marandino decided to take a step back. That is until her cousin Steven Rivellino, who owned a home in New York City, suggested she look across the Hudson River.
“I was hesitant at first and told him if I was going to look in New Jersey, he would have to come with me,” she says. “He agreed and I went back online, researching properties and setting up appointments from West New York to Jersey City.”
Ms. Marandino would end up touring new home communities on the Hudson River ‘Gold Coast, but never left feeling “like this is where I wanted to live.”
Ms. Marandino then turned her search farther south to Jersey City with her first stop being Crystal Point, the 42-story condominium building being developed by Fisher Development Associates a mere 25 feet from the Hudson River waterfront on the final piece of developable land with direct New York City views in downtown Jersey City. That’s where her odyssey to find a new home would end.
“My first thought was ‘Oh my God,” she recalls. “It was love at first sight. After our initial visit both me and Steven, who wasn’t even looking for a new home, knew we’d both be putting in offers here. I didn’t even bother to go to competitive buildings after seeing Crystal Point because I knew from the floor plans that the layouts were not as good and there was a round column in the corner of the window that takes up a lot of space and blocks the view.”
Ms. Marandino would purchase a three-bedroom home and her cousin, Steven Rivellino, would purchase a two-bedroom condominium at Crystal Point.
“If you wrapped all the attributes at Crystal Point into one Manhattan building, you’d end up paying three or four times the price,” says Ms. Marandino, who purchased her home for $1.11 million. “Here, I was able to purchase a three-bedroom home where I could use one of the bedrooms as my studio. I also received a corner residence with an enormous amount of natural light, spacious rooms, magnificent Manhattan views, 2.5 baths, beautiful finishes, private terrace and free valet parking at a price made even more affordable thanks to a great 30-year tax abatement. All in a condominium building the developer takes great pride in and strives to be the best residence in the area.
“My daughter recently remarked Crystal Point feels like a home and not a cold apartment you typically find in urban living. And I feel I’m in New York City’s best neighborhood thanks to the nearby transportation that offers a fast and efficient trip to the galleries and museums in Manhattan and ability to quickly drive to shopping centers and more.”
Mr. Marandino work, which focuses on still-life landscapes, can be seen ritamarandino.com.
Since her purchase, Ms. Marandino has been joined by many other homebuyers who’ve recognized the incredible value at this iconic building which is now over 60% sold. More than 50% of Crystal Point’s 269 elegant condominium homes have been closed.
The iconic Crystal Point building takes upscale riverfront living on the Hudson River to the next level by providing forever New York City views and a myriad of five-star recreational and social amenities to create a hotel-inspired living environment. Prices for the one, two and three-bedroom residences range start in the mid-$500,000s.
Created by the renowned New York City architectural firm Gruzen Samton LLP, the distinctive design of the landmark Crystal Point building maximizes its unrivaled waterfront location and creates homes with modern, open and furnishable living areas.
“Unlike many high-rise developments which often seem cavernous with long hallways, we split the Crystal Point plan in half with elevators positioned in the middle of the residential floors to create short corridors and provide the building a very intimate feel,” says Jordan Gruzen (FAIA) of Gruzen Samton. “We utilized multiple façade planes to break the building‘s mass up and ensure that every home had magnificent views. Each condominium was designed so from the moment the front door of each home is opened one is aware of the views and the light emanating from the water.
“The layouts of the homes themselves often create large square rooms and sprawling living spaces that are open, airy and extremely functional.”
Crystal Point’s superb amenities include the Crystal Spa with a thermal bath, sauna, steam and treatment rooms. Residents will also enjoy a yoga/aerobics room, state-of-the-art fitness center, lounge with flat screen televisions, game room with billiard and poker tables, children’s play room and a screening room within the Crystal Club.
“An outdoor deck overlooking the Hudson River will feature a sparkling pool, giant hot tub, private cabanas and lounge chair seating, as well as two BBQs and dining area, fire pits and a children’s play area,” says Adrienne Albert, CEO of The Marketing Directors, Inc., the building’s marketing and exclusive sales agent. “The building will also offer a professional concierge, valet parking and lobby level restaurant.”
Earlier this year, Crystal Point received the prestigious Gold Award for “Community of the Year” during the 2010 National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) annual International Builders’ Show. Given by the National Sales and Marketing Council (NSMC), the celebrated achievement distinguishes the building as the best new attached home community in North America.
Crystal Point features a crystalline-style glass exterior and has been designed to maximize the building’s waterfront setting and views of the ever changing Manhattan skyline. Inside, one-, two-and three bedroom homes will range from 800 to 1,817 square-feet and offer an array of premium finishes. Residents will also benefit from free on-site parking.
“Features include kitchens with Italian Pedini wood and glass cabinetry, sparkling quartzite counters, under-cabinet task lighting, full height pantries, islands with breakfast bars and a full Jenn-Air appliance suite,” says Ms. Albert.
Homes at Crystal Point are made even more attractive thanks to a 30-year tax abatement that has been granted to the building.
Crystal Point is conveniently located between the Paulus Hook and Newport sections of Jersey City and steps from PATH trains at both Exchange Place and Newport with direct access into New York City and a Light Rail station.
For additional information on Crystal Point, please call 201-433-7778 or visit www.crystalpointcondos.com.