P
aul and Amy Silverman retired in 2012 and, after discovering Asheville, N.C., during a medical conference, decided to settle there. They were drawn to the town’s scenery and hoped to spend their remaining years in the mountains.
The couple embraced the outdoors—hiking, kayaking, fly‑fishing—and lived in a home overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. Amy, a former teacher, volunteered, while Paul, a former oncologic radiologist, tended gardens and beehives and later turned to hand‑built ceramics.
Soon after moving, Amy developed macular degeneration. The pandemic’s restrictions made driving impossible, leaving her confined at home. A friend urged them to sell before the situation worsened, and they listed the Asheville house, which sold for $1.84 million.
Their children now live in Brooklyn—Amy’s daughter in Chelsea and Paul’s son with his wife and six‑year‑old in Prospect Heights—so the couple chose to stay close to family. They sought a condo under $2 million with two bedrooms, two baths, private outdoor space, quiet streets, ample natural light, a gym, and shared common areas.
The Silvermans narrowed their search to three buildings. Option 1 was a 2017, six‑story, 38‑unit tower on Atlantic Avenue. The two‑bedroom unit featured a 500‑sq‑ft terrace, floor‑to‑ceiling glass, a kitchen island, and amenities such as a roof terrace, gym, lounge, playroom, and library. It sold for $1.999 million with $3,300 monthly fees.
Option 2 was a newer, seven‑story, 105‑unit building. The unit had a 125‑sq‑ft balcony, south‑facing windows, a wall‑mounted kitchen with a breakfast bar, and the building offered two furnished roof decks, a private park, a game room, and a ceramics studio. The price was $2.3 million and monthly costs about $3,000.
Option 3 was a 2020, 12‑story, 32‑unit tower on Fourth Avenue. The two‑bedroom unit had a 340‑sq‑ft terrace, six triple‑pane windows overlooking Downtown Brooklyn, and the building provided a gym and a furnished roof deck. It sold for $1.85 million with nearly $3,000 in monthly charges.
Which would you choose? Which did they buy?
