Where: 250 Mercer Street, C616
Size: 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom
Asking: $695,000
Listed by: Christopher Massey

This home brings together all of the  elements of an ideal starter apartment- prime location, great layout and classic details with modern finishes.  Originally designed by Wheeler Smith in 1888 and turned into a co-op in 1986, this building sits on Mercer Street between 3^rd and 4^th Streets in the desirable NoHo neighborhood.  Take in the city views through the oversized casement windows. Additionally the home features a beautiful open kitchen and sunken living room allowing for comfortable and sleek day-to-day living.

When people think of historic cast-iron architecture in New York, SoHo is the neighborhood that immediately springs to mind. But the cast-iron style — prominent in the Industrial Revolution when iron was a cheap building material and modern steel was not yet available — pops up elsewhere around town. Above is a great example: 67 East 11th Street on the border of Greenwich Village and the East Village near Union Square. The landmarked building, built in 1869 and turned into a residential co-op in the late 1970s, even has the nickname the Cast-Iron Building, which must anger more than a few SoHo-ites. Landmarks aren’t typically associated with starter homes, but CORE’s Christopher Massey has the listing for a lovely studio apartment in the building featuring exposed brick walls and unobstructed south-facing views — a perfect introduction to this cast-iron classic.