The Phillips Club Takes Manhattan
The Phillips Club, in Manhattan, NY

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Having a membership at The Phillips Club makes you feel like a person of considerable privilege. After all, the handsomely contemporary 10-story club commands a prime address at Lincoln Square, arguably the most desirable neighborhood in the world's greatest city. Given the fact that Manhattan is as famous for its exorbitantly priced real estate as it is for its vibrant culture and commerce, the comparatively affordable Phillips Club seemed destined to succeed.

Indeed, it has. Manhattan's first private residence club closed $45 million in sales during its first three years of operation. Even more remarkably, first-year sales were accomplished without a scrap of advertising, according to Christopher M. Jeffries, a principal and founding partner of Millennium Partners, developer of The Phillips Club. "The Phillips Club has been the ultimate word of mouth sale - there is a huge pool of people desiring residence in New York but who don't want to deal with owning, financing or maintaining a co-op or condo in the city," he notes.

While private residence clubs had enjoyed considerable success at beach, golf, and mountain resorts around North America, the concept of a metropolitan residence club was untried until The Phillips Club opened its doors. Frequent visitors to the Big Apple quickly embraced the idea of joining a club that gave them equity ownership in a luxurious, full-service residence on the Upper West Side.

Luxury Homecomings at the Ready
Designed and furnished to feel like stylish Uptown apartments, The Phillips Club residences range from 484 to 2,086 square feet, with the largest comprising three bedroom suites. Each has an office area with a desk and Herman Miller chairs. Karl Bossfeldt black and white photographs grace the walls, and fresh flowers, thoughtfully placed by the staff, brighten the living area. Frette linens and matelasse coverlets impart elegant comfort to the bedrooms, while the bathrooms are replete with luxurious appointments, including marble counters and exquisite fixtures.

The fully equipped kitchen is outfitted with granite countertops, a gas stove and Villeroy & Bosch china. If requested, the kitchen is stocked prior to a member's arrival, including gourmet groceries from Balducci's, the first floor resident of The Phillips Club.

Your Own Private Multiplex
Additional pampering runs from in-room massage, to year-round clothing storage, to traditional hotel services - housekeeping, concierge for securing theater tickets, car service and restaurant reservations; newspaper delivery; and same-day dry cleaning and laundry. Members have access to the Club's business services and boardroom, as well as to the 75-person Broadway Suite at Reebok Sports Club/NY, and a 200-seat theater within the Loews Multiplex at Lincoln Square (another Millennium Partners project). For some members, the biggest incentive is the availability of Club parking at the Lincoln Center garage across the street.

Long a magnet for world-class music, theater, dance, and film, Lincoln Square has lately become one of New York's hottest neighborhoods, in large part a result of the mixed-use development undertaken by Millennium Partners over the past decade. Barnes & Noble, Victoria's Secret, Eddie Bauer, Pottery Barn, Reebok, Tower Records, Disney/ABC and Sony Theaters have all taken major stakes in the area, alongside the restaurants and boutiques that keep the streets packed day and night. The eight-story complex on Broadway is the highest-grossing theater in the entire Loews chain.

"The Phillips Club could work in a number of New York settings, but it is ideally suited to Lincoln Square - easily accessible to Midtown, while also marking the start of the Upper West Side in the heart of one of the world's greatest cultural communities," said Pamela Malkani, the Millennium Partners executive who oversees the Club's operations.

Ms. Malkini noted that virtually all Phillips Club members make good use of their privileges at Reebok Sports Club/NY on Columbus Ave. The Sports Club offers an unparalleled range of fitness facilities in its 140,000-square foot space, including a 40-foot rock climbing wall, rooftop running track, Junior Olympic-sized swimming pool, NBA-caliber basketball courts, and complete gym and weight training equipment, plus group classes and personal trainers. The club operates the world-renowned Paul Labrecque Salon & Spa, and an acclaimed restaurant developed by Drew Nieporent of Nobu and Tribeca Grill.

The Sensible Way to Own Manhattan's Very Best
In pioneering a fractional ownership property in an urban market, Millennium Partners borrowed from a proven model in vacation real estate from Hilton Head to Telluride - however, instead of a guaranteed tee time or ski lesson, Phillips Club members are assured of a luxury New York City apartment.

"The real difference we have from a classic resort timeshare is that there is no limit to the amount of use our members can enjoy, subject to space availability," explained Ed Schnatterly, membership director at The Phillips Club. He noted that some members plan their reservations well in advance, while others travel to the city with a week's notice or less. Several members exceeded 75 nights in residence during the past year.

For more information, contact The Phillips Club, 155 West 66th Street, New York, NY 10023. Phone: (877) 644-8900; email: info@phillipsclub.com. Visit the Club online at www.phillipsclub.com.