When night falls, this well-appointed apartment in New York City‘s historic Potter Building truly shines.

As workers in the surrounding skyscrapers of the Financial District head home and the sun goes down, the imposing building from 1886 takes on a certain glow.

“It looks like you’re on a Hollywood set, with the dramatic lighting shining up on the building,” says listing agent Richard Rothbloom.

And Apartment 2D, owned by John Berry, former President Barack Obama‘s ambassador to Australia, provides a front-row seat to the evening show. On the market for $2,895,000, this two-bedroom corner loft on the second floor stands apart—in a good way.

Berry has been living in the apartment with his husband, Curtis Yee, and pet labradoodle Hapa since 2016.

Not only is the building known colloquially as “Little Australia” among its tenants—this particular unit counts astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson among the neighbors on the floor.

Rothbloom politely laughed when asked how the unit compares with others in the building.

“Some of the apartments in the Potter don’t have the original architectural details that [2D] offers,” he says. “And when you combine those original details with a complete gut renovation, there’s nothing like it.”

Full renovation is fabulous

The renovation took a number of months and yielded spectacular results, according to Rothbloom.

Guests enter via an entry foyer with a picture gallery wall and arrive at a dining area right off the kitchen. For less formal meals, there’s bar seating at the kitchen island.

That brand-new open kitchen features an 11-foot-long Carrara marble island, cherry cabinetry, and stainless-steel appliances. The area faces the spacious great room with a double-height ceiling and windows that give the 2,470-square-foot unit an extremely spacious feel.

Rothbloom adds that he loves the apartment’s flow and the dramatic views from the grand living room.

Ten 11-foot-tall windows bathe the space in natural light and offer stellar views of Park Row. Custom-designed window treatments and hardwood floors add warmth and elegance.

The lovely primary bedroom features a whopping five closets, double-height windows, and a peek-a-boo glimpse of the loft area. The adjacent bathroom boasts a soaking tub as well as an original stone vanity.

That loft area is considered the home’s mezzanine level, which is accessible via the marble and cast-iron staircase. The 570-square-foot space is an ideal spot to chill when not entertaining guests on the main floor. While the ceiling isn’t nearly as high in this spot, the mezzanine does offer space for a home office, a library, a sleeping area, and a half-bath.

Architectural preservation

“They’ve done incredible work on the space,” Rothbloom says of Berry and his husband. “And they’ve recovered and restored a number of details that were hidden by previous owners.”

Some of the details dating back over 100 years include four enormous cast-iron Corinthian columns, ornate plaster cornices, and 15-foot-high ceilings.

Potential suitors

Homebuyers are interested in this area for its proximity to transportation, shops, and restaurants, the agent says. It’s also adjacent to the buzzy Tribeca neighborhood. He believes buyers priced out of Tribeca might be intrigued by this opportunity.

After the apartment’s remarkable renovation, it’s only a matter of time before a new owner feels the glow.

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