The developers of an East Side condo tower conceived as one of the country's first "spa living" residences said Wednesday that they were forming a partnership with a new spa operator, American Leisure, after severing ties in October with Miraval, the resort based in Tucson, according to an article in yesterday's edition of The New York Times by Sarah Kershaw.

The spa was to be based in the 41-story apartment building at 515 East72nd Street that was erected by The Macklowe Organization in 1986. The building was sold in 2005 to to C & K Properties, of which Meir Cohen and Ben Korman are principals, for more than $360 million and was converted to a residential condominium the following year when it was renamed Miraval Living because the spa planned to open a branch in the building.

The article said that "a dispute over payments and delays over opening the building's spa led the developer, River Terrace Apartments, and Miraval to end the partnership, leaving residents of the 365-unit building, which is now called 515 East 72, with a shuttered, unfinished spa."

The article also said that "about 50 percent of the apartments have been sold since it went on the market in 2007."

"American Leisure," the article continued, "operates spa and fitness facilities at the Setai Fifth Avenue, a new hotel-condo in Midtown, and the Biltmore, a rental tower on West 47th Street, among dozens of day and residential spas in the New York area. James W. Sheehan, the project manager for River Terrace Apartments, said that under the terms of the deal the monthly charges that residents pay for access to the fitness center and spa - and are calculated depending on the size of the apartments - would be reduced by 40 percent. The previous average monthly spa fee was about $250 for a one-bedroom apartment and about $400 for a two-bedroom. The spa, which is part of 40,000 square feet of space devoted to amenities that include a fitness center and an indoor swimming pool, is now expected to open in early March, Mr. Sheehan said."

In a October 15, 2010 article in The New York Post, Steve Cuozzo wrote that "Om has turned to ugh at the celebrity-studded Upper East Side apartment tower that was touted as the city's first 'spa-dominium,' adding that "The ultra-luxury Miraval Living spa, boasting a heavily hyped 'wellness center' and elaborate yoga facilities, has pulled - or been booted - out of 515 E. 72nd St. before the long-delayed massage and meditation palace even opens.

The article said that "stunned residents received letters under their doors from Miraval stating it had "had a difficult time" with the building's owner and that "due to their continual default on a contractual agreement, we can no longer manage the spa" and related amenities. "But hours later," the article continued, "the residents got a note from the building's manager stating that the owners were fed up with Miraval, saying its 'refusal to agree on a spa opening date . . . ultimately was a breaking point.'"

When it first opened, the red-brick building was known as River Terrace and had more than 400 apartments and was distinguished by large clocks high up on its north and south facades and many large balconies. The clocks were recently removed.

It was designed by Schuman, Lichtenstein, Claman & Efron.

This block dead-ends in a pleasant, curved overlook of the East River and there is a rather charming group of black-painted, low-rise buildings with red entrance doors further to the east of this tower.

David C. Acheson of Acheson Doyle Partners Architects, which designed a new rooftop dining facility for the Metropolitan Club on Fifth Avenue at 60th Street and has overseen the renovation of The Ritz Tower on the northeast corner of 57th Street and Park Avenue, was the architect for the conversion.

This building also has a garage, doorman, concierge, valet service, recreation room, bicycle room, private garden and storage space. It permits pets.