Take a pretty little park, a bustling greenmarket, and some fashionable shops, and you have a perfect recipe for Flatiron, one of New York City’s hottest neighborhoods for co-ops and condos.

More The center of the Flatiron District, and where the neighborhood takes its name, is the triangular turn-of-the-century building at Fifth Avenue and 23rd Street. The Met Life building, with its distinctive clocktower, is another notable historic skyscraper. In addition, there are new luxury condo buildings like One Madison Park and 240 Park Avenue South, which boasts a sauna and massage rooms in addition to the standard doorman and fitness center. But the Flatiron neighborhood isn’t just about the new. High-ceilinged lofts, many with modern chef’s kitchens and other designer features, often lie behind the façades of low-slung industrial buildings. Prewar co-op apartments are in Flatiron too, some on quiet blocks which serve as a refuge from the city – but boast great designer shopping just around the corner. Pet owners should check out the dog run at Madison Square Park, which has a long and colorful history – it’s where the torch of the Statue of Liberty was displayed for years! If you’re a cook, an apartment in the Flatiron area is tough to beat, with access to a Trader Joe’s grocery and wine store near Union Square, a large and bustling Whole Foods Market, and, in season , the Union Square Greenmarket, where you can purchase flavorful produce from all over New York State. When you want time off from the kitchen, world-class restaurants like Gramercy Tavern and Union Square Café are right here at your doorstep. Less