David Weinreb, the former chief executive of Howard Hughes Corp., has put his West Chelsea penthouse on the market for an eye-popping $75 million — positioning it among the most expensive properties in downtown Manhattan.
The sprawling condo, located at 551 W. 21st St., blends bespoke design with high-end finishes, including a kitchen crafted by renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and reflects a growing trend of ultra-luxury sales in the area.
It also features a large private swimming pool, considered “the largest private outdoor pool in New York City,” the listing says.
Weinreb, who took Howard Hughes public and led the company for nearly a decade before stepping down in 2019, acquired the 6,500-square-foot raw space in 2017 for $38 million, according to the Wall Street Journal, which first reported on the listing.
Now chairman and CEO of Weinreb Ventures, a real-estate investment firm, he initially listed the unfinished unit in 2021 for just below $50 million.
After 10 months without a buyer, he opted to complete the construction.
“I believed in the design and knew that completing it was the right thing for the home,” Weinreb told the Journal in an email.
“I wish I was spending more time in Manhattan,” Weinreb said of his decision to part ways with the unit.
He’s also parting ways with a splashy hangout, now perfect for the weather getting better.
“To the best of our knowledge, it’s the largest private pool in the city,” Compass listing broker Clayton Orrigo, who is marketing the property alongside Stephen Ferrara, told The Post. “It’s 61 feet long. I’ve never seen a pool nearly as big. They’re usually very difficult to build. This one is gigantic.”
In addition to its length, the pool stands 10 feet wide and 4 feet deep.
“Pools are usually half the size of that. It’s very difficult from a weight standpoint,” Orrigo added. “Basically a developer would have to build it to spec right out of the gate. It’s not something you can add on just given the weight of the water. So it was a thoughtful design from day one.”
The finished penthouse overall is a testament to meticulous craftsmanship.
The kitchen, designed by Vongerichten, a close friend of Weinreb’s, features an 87-inch Lacanche dual-oven range with brass and enamel accents, complemented by Gaggenau appliances — including an espresso machine, a steam oven and a wine cabinet.
“This is my idea of a dream kitchen,” Vongerichten said in an email to the Journal.
Elsewhere, the residence boasts “museum quality” finishes, according to Orrigo.
Notable details include 12-foot-tall, 4-inch-thick brass-clad doors to the primary suite, each weighing approximately 800 pounds, and a primary bathroom with vanities carved from Italian marble.
The penthouse offers five bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and expansive views of the Hudson River, the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building with floor-to-ceiling windows throughout.
A sculptural staircase leads to a 4,600-square-foot private rooftop terrace, complete with the swimming pool, a full bathroom, a built-in grill and soft turf.
Meanwhile, the building itself, designed by Foster + Partners, includes amenities such as a gated courtyard, a 20-foot green wall, a fitness center, a yoga room and a residents’ lounge.
The listing arrives amid a wave of high-profile transactions in downtown Manhattan. In March, a $60 million sale at 150 Charles St. set a new condo record for the area. If this home sells for its asking price, it will more than surpass that deal.
Other notable deals include a $57.5 million penthouse at a converted Perry Street garage that went into contract last year, with another unit in the same building asking roughly $85 million.
“It is a bit of a new norm,” Orrigo told the Journal. “It isn’t like, ‘Hey, there’s a one-off apartment that’s $75 million.’ There’s a whole class of these right now.”
Unlike many new developments in the neighborhood still under construction, Weinreb’s penthouse is move-in ready, a key advantage for buyers seeking immediate occupancy.
“If someone wants to transact and wants to move in immediately, there’s not a lot to buy,” Orrigo added.