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nce the backdrop of Carrie Bradshaw and the Friends crew, Manhattan’s West Village now blends bohemian allure with billionaire luxury. Cobblestone streets witness record‑breaking sales, with penthouses topping $85 million and buyers ranging from tech moguls to crypto magnates. For Compass broker Jim St. André, the neighborhood’s resurgence is “reinvention,” not a comeback.

    “People love the West Village for what it is—an almost village‑like enclave amid the city,” St. André told Fox News Digital. “There are only a handful of great apartments, townhouses, and buildings in prime locations, which drives prices to unprecedented levels.”

    125 Perry Street’s Penthouse East, the largest of seven units in a boutique building, is priced at $85 million. Tucked into a restored century‑old parking garage, the listing showcases how historic preservation fuels exclusivity and sky‑high pricing. St. André, representing the sale, highlights the serenity of West Village living: low density, quiet luxury, and a private environment that appeals to buyers seeking peace amid the city’s bustle.

    The penthouse spans 7,700 sq ft, with six bedrooms, eight full baths, two half baths, and three private terraces. A glass‑wrapped great room opens onto a terrace offering sweeping views from Lower Manhattan to Hudson Yards and Midtown. Amenities and services rival those of larger buildings, yet the building’s seven‑unit size ensures privacy.

    St. André notes that demand comes from tech, private equity, hedge funds, cryptocurrency, and other high‑net‑worth sectors. “We see buyers from all those categories looking for a West Village property that fits their lifestyle,” he says. With inventory scarce, every apartment attracts multiple buyers, and he dismisses the bubble narrative. “There is true demand from people who live in the city, from newcomers, and from overseas. It’s blue‑chip globally and in the U.S.”

    While “Sex and the City” and “Friends” put the West Village on the map, St. André argues nostalgia is only a small factor. “The neighborhood’s appeal has always been its character, its film and literary references, but today’s buyers are drawn by the evolution of the area and its backdrop,” he explains.

    From a broader perspective, St. André frames the West Village’s growth as reinvention rather than rebirth. The historic district’s protection has prevented large‑scale developments that would have eroded the area’s charm. “The evolution is a repurposing of what has existed for a long time, used in a different way,” he says.

    He remains confident that the West Village will retain its identity in five to ten years. “There’s room for projects like 125 Perry, but not too many,” he notes. “It will become more interesting over time, unless a major macroeconomic event intervenes.”

    St. André observes that many buyers are active members of the New York City community, living in the neighborhood and contributing to its vibrancy. “Opportunity abounds in New York, and when you stand in a penthouse overlooking the city, everything feels real and poignant,” he concludes.