All renderings courtesy of Visualisation One, unless noted otherwise
Here’s a first look at the new condo rising on one of the largest last undeveloped waterfront sites in West Chelsea. Developer Legion Investment Group last week announced Thomas Juul-Hansen as the architect of 550 West 21st Street, a 22-story, limestone-clad tower situated between Hudson River Park and the High Line. The development includes 83 residences, starting at $2.5 million. Sales will launch this year, and construction is expected to wrap up late 2027.
Legion paid $87.4 million for the 200,000-square-foot site in 2024 and later filed plans for a residential tower, as Crain’s reported. The developer reportedly added another 11,000 square feet in exchange for a donation to the West Chelsea Affordable Housing Fund.
Designed by Juul-Hansen, the Copenhagen-born architect who has designed many residential buildings in New York, including the 62-story Sutton Tower and the interiors of the supertall One57, 550 West 21st Street will feature a hand-laid Italian brick and limestone base that runs the full length of the ground floor. The project will offer unobstructed Hudson River views and direct access to Hudson River Park.
“Our goal was to create a building defined by integrity—where the highest quality materials and construction meet a deeply considered functionality, resulting in a timeless presence in West Chelsea,” Juul-Hansen said.
A trellis along the sidewalk adjacent to the motor court gate is visible from both the street and inside as residents pass through on the eastern side. At the western edge, a pedestrian entrance features an alabaster awning, while cerused stone art panels add a subtle layer of craftsmanship that runs the full length of the base, as a press release describes.
Inside, the motor court opens onto a landscaped courtyard anchored by a central grove of birch trees and tiered planting beds that rise along the perimeter.
As it rises, the building features a series of setbacks that carve out private loggias and terraces for a majority of residences. The facade steps back with each level, softening the building’s profile and framing views in three directions. The brick and limestone exterior continues up to the crown.
From the upper floors, residents can take in sweeping, uninterrupted views of the Hudson River stretching south to New York Harbor, as well as Little Island, Hudson River Park below, and the New Jersey Palisades. Glass railings on the private outdoor spaces preserve the views.
Legion’s portfolio includes several ground-up condo developments, including 1122 Madison Avenue on the Upper East Side and 38 Gramercy Park East in Gramercy Park. The developer is also behind the tallest building in Greenwich Village, a 30-story condo at 11 West 13th Street that recently secured construction financing.
“At 550 West 21st Street, we set out to create a building aligned with the creative spirit of West Chelsea while designing for the level of livability and precision that today’s most discerning buyers expect,” Victor Sigoura, founder and CEO of Legion Investment Group, said.
“More than 75 percent of residences will have private outdoor space and two thirds of the homes feature views of the Hudson River. The remaining residences will enjoy equally compelling views to the northeast over the historic district and the Midtown skyline, and to the southwest down the length of the river.”
Sales are expected to launch this year and will be exclusively managed by Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group. Residences will start at $2.5 million, with completion slated for late 2027.
The building joins several other architecturally notable buildings to pop up in West Chelsea in recent years, like One High Line, Lantern House, 520 West 28th Street, and The Cortland.
As 6sqft reported in February, Toll Brothers picked up a vacant lot at 118 10th Avenue with plans to build an 85,000-square-foot condo building.
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