By Carter B. Horsley

Chelsea Stratus is the tallest condominium tower in Chelsea and the only condominium tower in the phalanx of tall apartment buildings that sprouted in the city's former Flower District on the Avenue of the Americas above 23rd Street after a rezoning in the late 1990s.

The 491-foot-high, 40-story tower at 101 West 24th Street has been developed by LCOR and designed by SLCE Architects.

It will have 204 apartments on is on the west side of the Avenue on the former site of a parking lot that had been used by Con Edision.

The building, which was completed in 2008, has 24-hour doorman and concierge service, 16,000-square feet of retail space, a roof deck designed by Thomas Balsey that will feature a dog run, catering and entertainment facilities for the residents as well as a basketball court.

The new tower has a five-story base and many balconies. The north and south ends of the tower are gently curved and faced with a gray-tinted glass. Apartment ceilings ramge from 9.5 to 11 feet.

There is excellent public transportation in this area, which is close to the Flatiron District and Madison Square Park.

LCOR, whose corporate office is located in Berwyn, Pennsylvania, has about $8 billion in developments completed, under construction, or in pre-development and has developed more than 20,000 residential units and more than 16 million square feet of commercial space nationally. LCOR was formed in 1992 when its principals acquired the assets of the Linpro Company that has been founded in 1978.

The building has a variety of apartment layouts, most of which are 1- and 2-bedroom units. There are some 3-bedroom penthouses on the top three floors.

There are many balconies. Kitchens have Macassar ebony cabinetry and stainless-steel appliances. Bathrooms have separate showers and bathtubs and Wenge wood vanities.

The building's lobby has slate walls and a waterfall and there is a fitness center, and a lounge with a fireplace, a billiard table and a dining area with catering kitchen.

Madison Square Park is one block to the east and there is excellent public transportation in the area and very good retail to the south on the Avenue of the Americas.