By Holly Dutton
Alchemy Properties sales and marketing manager, Jill Preschel, has seen her career follow a similar arc to that of her employer.
The firm has gone from the do-right developer of some of the city’s most successful new apartment buildings, to the pinnacle of building history with a conversion of the upper stories of the iconic Woolworth Building.
Preschel followed her big sister into the residential marketing world at Corcoran Sunshine and has climbed the ranks following the philosophy “don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Now she’s gearing up to bring Alchemy’s most prestigious project ever to the market and says she couldn’t be more thrilled.
“I constantly need stimulation,” she said. “Meeting new people constantly, working with the architects, interior designers, brokers, purchasers — it’s a big puzzle trying to please everyone and I love that challenge.”
The New Jersey native studied writing and media studies at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland before moving to New York City.
After starting her career with the Corcoran Sunshine sales team on-site at The Lucida, a condo on the Upper East Side, Preschel “loved it,” and followed that project by moving to the company’s main offices and working under the managing director in charge of the entire Extell portfolio.
Those projects include 212 East 47th Street, 995 5th Avenue, as well as Ariel East and Ariel West. Following those “beautiful developments,” Preschel began working on-site at The Rushmore condominium in Lincoln Square.
“My skills in sales really started to grow there,” she said. “After that, I joined Alchemy and helped them launch Griffin Court in Hell’s Kitchen.”
Last year, Preschel worked on Sackett Union, a 32-unit condo building in Carroll Gardens that also had 11 townhomes, and sold out in four months.
Currently, Preschel is sales manager at 35XV, a glass and stone luxury condo building at 35 West 15th Street in Flatiron.
“It’s really exciting for Alchemy, I’m helping usher them into a new market where we’re breaking the price per square foot level that Alchemy has previously been involved with,” she said. “We’re showing the versatility of the company and that it can develop homes from $1,100 per square foot or $3,000 per square foot.”
The ultra-luxury 35XV is nearly 60 percent sold and is expected to be occupied next summer. The 25-story building has 55 units that range from one-to four-bedroom homes and feature 10 ft. ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, automated shades and oak hardwood flooring.
Preschel’s next project for Alchemy could blow that $3,000 psf number away. Some predict prices at the Woolworth Building will be much higher when sales open there next year.
Last summer, Alchemy led an investment group that purchased the top 30 floors of the famous skyscraper for $68 million from the Witkoff Group and Cammeby’s International.
The company has been working with the Landmarks Preservation Commission on its plans for the conversion of those floors to luxury apartments.
“It’s going to be incredible — it received landmarks approval,” said Preschel.
The LPC approved the addition of two pavilions above the 29th floor as part of Alchemy’s development, which will be known as the Woolworth Tower Residences.
The penthouse condo, at the pinnacle of the building, will be five stories high.
“I love that each building that I work on is in a different neighborhood, I think each neighborhood is so interesting and has its own culture and vibe. Each neighborhood has its own experience and its own story.
“I’ve been really fortunate,” she said. “I’ve worked under some of the best and brightest in the industry. I hope to continue to grow and learn professionally.”
