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ew Manhattan saunas and spas have surged, with Lore opening last month in Noho as a “bathing club.” Othership’s Flatiron spot now hosts classes and raves, while its Williamsburg branch follows suit. Williamsburg’s Bathhouse, powered by crypto‑mining heat, opened its Flatiron location a year ago and claims its water is safe. Kith Ivy, a street‑wear brand’s padel club, plans a cold plunge, sauna, and jacuzzi between the Erewhon bar and an Armani‑branded locker room. Remedy Place, a “social wellness club” that began in West Hollywood, added a Soho location in November. Saint, a sauna concept, will debut this fall in MAG Partners’ Ruby on West 29th Street.
Manhattan already had many saunas—Koreatown spas, Russian and Turkish baths, Equinox locker rooms—and earlier, gay bathhouses that closed in the 1980s amid HIV concerns. These new venues flip the traditional quiet sauna etiquette, positioning themselves as social hubs where people meet without drinking or phones. Othership offers group sauna classes to spark connections. Cassie Durand, CBRE EVP, notes that “you’re instantly connected, you instantly feel a sense of accomplishment that’s a shared activity.” Lore, Remedy Place, and Kith Ivy emphasize a “third space” vibe; Saint counters with private studios for solitude.
Durand cites national interest in saunas and cold plunges, with home units rising among high‑end buyers. New Yorkers, accustomed to apartment living, gravitate to public options. REBNY’s Keith DeCoster links the trend to COVID‑era self‑care awareness. Building these spaces is tough: small pools, high power, and strict code. The Flatiron area attracts residential, office, and tourist traffic, making it a natural cluster for such ventures.
Private‑equity landlords have entered New York’s multifamily market, raising questions about their stewardship. A recent $12 million Times Square billboard sale shows how commercial condos can incorporate signage, while Vornado secured a $407 million loan partly backed by a six‑story billboard on the Marriott Marquis.
Political updates: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani, praising his focus on affordability. New York State Attorney General Letitia James pleaded not guilty to mortgage‑fraud charges. The city’s new 15 mph e‑bike speed limit takes effect today, upsetting CitiBike’s “White Stallion” users.
Closing time highlights: The top residential deal was $36 million for 10 East 67th Street, a 13,000‑sq‑ft Lenox Hill mansion last sold in 2006 for $28.5 million. The top commercial transaction was $6.1 million for 96 South 9th Street, a 3‑story, 3,400‑sq‑ft Williamsburg church. The newest listing hit the market at $5.8 million for 720 West End Avenue, Unit 11C, a 2,300‑sq‑ft Upper West Side condo from Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group.
