Three condos. Two conductors. One decision.

Hector Stravinsky and Fanny Chaminade are renowned classical music conductors. 

They met during a chance encounter while Chaminade was serving as the concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam. Stravinsky was in town visiting an old friend, one of the orchestra's first violinists, and had come to hear him perform the celebrated solo passages in Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade — among the most technically demanding and expressive first violin solos in the orchestral repertoire.

Before the performance, Stravinsky toured the Concertgebouw, Before the performance, admiring the soaring barrel-vaulted ceiling, gilded plasterwork, and crystal chandeliers of the Grote Zaal (Great Hall). It was here that he was introduced to Chaminade. 

He was so captivated that he missed his friend's solo entirely, devoting his full attention to Chaminade. She conducted with obvious authority, confidently gesturing every downbeat and sculpting each phrase in the air about her. He could not stop watching the path of her baton. 

Little did he know, she was performing for him, having recognized Stravinsky immediately for his work with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.

Five years later, the couple are married and have been invited to co-lead the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center — an unprecedented experiment. 

As visitors with an openness to exploring citizenship, the couple wishes to live in one of New York’s most historic neighborhoods housing immigrants: the Lower East Side. 

On account of their rare talents, the pair have job security — whether in New York or elsewhere — but limited cash savings. Accordingly, they want to purchase for the long-term but have flexibility in the event that they need to depart for a period and rent. 

They’ve set a budget of $2.5 million, of which they’re prepared to put 20% down on a 30-year fixed mortgage. Assuming good credit, rates are presently quoted at 6.77%. (Ouch.)

Here’s what they found:

204 Forsyth Street / #4S

List Price: $2,500,000
Listed: July 22, 2026

Bedrooms / Bathrooms: 2 BR / 2 BA
Approx. Size: 1,542 SF

Monthly Common Charges: $2,746
Monthly Real Estate Taxes: $2,705
Monthly Mortgage Payment: $12,999
Monthly Overhead: $18,450

Details: A 1,542 sq ft two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo featuring 10-foot ceilings, Belgian windows, 6-inch-wide plank wood floors, a private outdoor terrace, and a chef's kitchen with a marble waterfall island, Wolf 5-burner cooktop, Sub-Zero refrigerator, and Miele dishwasher. Includes in-unit washer/dryer.

Building: 204 Forsyth Street is a boutique 8-story condominium with 11 residences built in 2016, featuring a 24-hour attended lobby, fitness center, bicycle storage, and private storage.

Commentary: 204 Forsyth is a compelling option. As a relatively new condominium, it offers high-end appliances, modern finishes, and a thoughtful layout. The second bedroom could easily serve as a shared office or studio for composing and rehearsing, while the spacious living room is well suited for entertaining fellow musicians and patrons of the arts. 

The apartment also overlooks Sara D. Roosevelt Park, which is one of the less inviting in Lower Manhattan, often frequented by unhoused individuals and occasional drug activity. That said, it is not inherently unsafe. One item that merits clarification is the floor plan, which appears to omit an entrance to what seems to be an en-suite bathroom. (Let’s chalk this up to a drafting oversight.)

175 East Broadway / #5D

List Price: $2,495,000
Listed: July 20, 2026

Bedrooms / Bathrooms: 2 BR / 2 BA
Approx. Size: 1,360 SF

Monthly Common Charges: $1,784
Monthly Real Estate Taxes: $2,227
Monthly Mortgage Payment: $12,973
Monthly Overhead: $16,984

Details: A 1,360 sq ft loft with 11'7" ceilings, central air, hardwood floors, an in-unit LG washer/dryer, and 8 oversized windows. Kitchen equipped with Miele oven, 4-burner cooktop, self-venting system, integrated Sub-Zero refrigerator, dishwasher, and pantry.

Building: The Forward Building is an historic 1912 Beaux Arts 10-story condominium with 30 units, featuring a 24-hour doorman, live-in super, roof deck, storage, cold storage, bike room, central laundry, and pet-friendly policies.

Commentary: 175 East Broadway #5D is a beautiful loft overlooking Seward Park, with high ceilings, oversized windows, and abundant natural light. (If you missed our earlier profile of The Forward Building, you can read it here.) 

While the expansive, open layout is one of the apartment's greatest strengths, it also presents a challenge for this particular couple. As celebrated conductors, each would likely benefit from a private space to work, study scores, or rehearse independently. Beyond the shared bedroom, the apartment offers little separation or privacy, making it less than ideal for hosting overnight guests or maintaining distinct workspaces. 

Fortunately, the generous footprint provides flexibility. A portion of the living area could be enclosed to create an office, guest room, or even a sound-insulated rehearsal studio, though doing so would require some renovation. 

252 South Street / #22H

List Price: $2,235,000
Listed: July 2, 2026

Monthly Common Charges: $1,456
Monthly Real Estate Taxes: $21 (421a Tax Abatement)
Monthly Mortgage Payment: $11,621
Monthly Overhead: $13,098

Bedrooms / Bathrooms: 2 BR / 2 BA
Approx. Size: 1,156 SF

Details: A 1,156 sq ft two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo featuring an open gourmet kitchen with a breakfast bar, imported stone, Miele appliance package, 5-inch wide stained oak flooring, and primary bathroom with marble tile walls, mosaic floors with radiant heat, Wetstyle sink, Dornbracht polished chrome faucets, and in-unit washer/dryer.

Building: One Manhattan Square is an 80-story waterfront residential condominium building featuring 100,000+ sq ft of indoor and outdoor amenities, over an acre of private outdoor gardens, a 24-hour doorman and concierge, and a 20-year tax abatement.

Commentary: 252 South Street #22H offers the lowest monthly carrying costs of the three options, thanks in large part to its 421-a tax abatement, which remains in effect through 2039. We profiled One Manhattan Square last year, and we looked at value and the continual price drops since coming to market in 2018. This particular residence, listed on July 2, is no exception. 

The condominium's extensive amenity package is impressive, featuring everything from wellness facilities to sports and entertainment spaces — though whether our celebrated conductors will find time to enjoy the private basketball court is another matter. The apartment’s primary drawbacks are its relative isolation from the subway system — which will be required to commute to Midtown — and its location adjacent to the East Side Coastal Resiliency Project, where construction activity continues. 

Regardless of their preferences, Hector Stravinsky and Fanny Chaminade have an additional conundrum: At a minimum of $13,000/month in overhead, they will have to ask: If the Vienna Philharmonic calls and offer a better position to one or both of us, will we be able to rent out the apartment without losing money?

To put it musically, the chances are more O Fortuna than William Tell Overture. What do you think? Which would you choose?