There are some blocks in New York City which are thought to be, quite simply, better than the rest. We’ve seen this phenomenon of sorts along locations like Central Park West, where the presence of 15 Central Park West has added an almost incomparable sheen to the Upper West Side neighborhood. It happens all the time downtown too, where real estate is more expensive than ever. But now, it is the Midtown West section of Manhattan that is getting its time in the sun, with the area becoming the location of choice for some of the most fascinating new developments in the city that are currently the talk of the town.

When a residential building has got the reputation of being the tallest of its kind in New York, one would imagine that the building would be content to rest on that title’s laurels alone. But that is hardly the case with One57, the 1,004-foot tower rising like a behemoth in Midtown Manhattan. With magnificently large, full-floor apartments offering residents 360-degree views that include the striking Empire State Building, the lush greenery of Central Park and the stunning Statue of Liberty, these ultra-luxury homes near the top of the building are now being known for attracting the richest from around the world.

Last week, newsfeeds were flooded with speculation that the $100 million NYC apartment sale barrier had been broken, as Manhattan real estate has yet to see a transaction like this occur. New Construction Manhattan has been forecasting the most expensive sale of a New York City residential unit to transpire at the yet-to-be finished One57, a new Manhattan condominium that has already accumulated hundreds of millions of dollars in apartment sales. Reports indicated Qatar’s powerful prime minister, Sheik Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, would shell out $250 million to purchase the city’s most expensive penthouse, along with four separate full-floor condos in the 90-story building.

That didn't take long. It’s only been a few months since the $88 million transaction at 15 Central Park West, but a recently purchased property at Midtown West's One57 has already taken its place as the most expensive condominium sale in New York City. Initially listed at $98.5 million, the 10,923 square foot penthouse at the Manhattan high-rise was bought three months ago for more than $90 million, and news of the sale was kept under wraps until yesterday.

In retrospect, One57’s introduction to the Manhattan luxury real estate world was no different than a young aristocratic woman’s entrance at her débutante ball. In both instances, the occasion marked the party’s admission as an established member of an elite community. While One57 in Midtown West isn’t formally expected to open until sometime in 2013, the 90-story mixed-use tower atop the future site of the Park Hyatt Hotel is already the name on everybody’s lips. Upon completion, One57 will boast over 135 residential units for sale and layout options ranging from one to six bedrooms. The flexibility offered at One57 will cater to the lifestyle of the most independent New Yorkers and to the needs of growing Manhattan families.