Long Island City's Murano Attains Sales Milestone

By Jeffrey Steele, Contributing Writer

New York—The Murano, a luxury condominium located at 519 Borden Ave., Long Island City, is already 80 percent sold.

The 76-unit building, with Modern Spaces as its exclusive sales and marketing agent, is the first condominium to feature a hitherto-unseen LED lighting effect.

Developed by Hudson Equities JV and developer Jim Plotkin, Murano owes its name to the Italian island made legendary by its distinctive colored glass. That theme plays out in the all-glass façade and innovative water feature that are hallmarks of the Murano’s head-turning architectural design.

The pedestrian-friendly feel of the Murano has been a key to its success. “It’s a block away from the riverfront,” Modern Spaces CEO and president Eric Benaim tells MHN. “Walk a block the other way, and you’re at the subway station for the 7 train, which takes you to Grand Central [Station] in four minutes. That is convenience. It’s also a block from Vernon Blvd., the main drag, where there are a lot of restaurants and shops. Everything’s pretty much walkable.”

The Murano’s homes features such high-end finishes as eye-catching oak pearl hardwood flooring and floor-to-ceiling glass walls that permit the entry of abundant natural light. Other features include video intercom systems, low-emissivity glass windows and, on selected homes, balconies/terraces offering both breathtaking skyline views and a welcome measure of privacy.

“The building is very modern and very sleek,” Benaim says. “The finishes are very modern. The bathrooms are extremely large, and they include wet rooms, large, glassed-in eight-by-eight-foot rooms with tub and showers. The wet room effectively separates the bathing area from the rest of the bathroom.”
Common area amenities include a relaxing rooftop deck with barbecue grills, outdoor furniture and intriguing landscape features, billiards room, children’s playroom and 24-hour doorman. The Murano utilizes green finishes throughout, and eco-friendly materials within its structure.

“It’s a bit like Miami Beach in New York,” Benaim says. “It has a white lobby, there’s a blue tint to the glass, and the LED element lights the building’s exterior with a sweep of different color—blue, orange, yellow, red, green—every hour on the hour throughout the night time hours.”

Available for immediate occupancy, the Murano offers a range of home sizes, from 781-square-foot one-bedroom homes to 1,298-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominiums. Prices range from $580,000 to $1,015,000.

With just 17 units remaining, Modern Spaces is hoping to have the Murano completely sold out by the end of summer, Benaim says.

“The Murano has been uniquely designed to provide residents with spacious, top-of-the-line homes, which has been a huge draw for buyers,” he adds.

“We are excited about the building’s success, and we hope to continue welcoming new residents.”