Robot valets to park cars in two Manhattan luxury towers

Two luxury residential towers under construction in Manhattan will feature robotic parking systems that use artificial intelligence to store and retrieve vehicles, marking a significant deployment of automation technology in high-end real estate.

Legion Investment Group is equipping both properties—38 Gramercy Park East and 550 West 21st Street—with systems from Denver-based Volley Automation, according to CoStar News, which first reported the installations.

The technology works through a straightforward process: drivers pull onto a metal tray embedded in the floor, exit their vehicle, and let the system take over. A camera scans the license plate for tracking, then a flat, rectangular robot lifts the tray and transports the car to an available spot selected by AI software. Residents use a mobile app to request their vehicle, which typically arrives in two minutes or less.

Why it matters

Robotic parking solves a critical problem for developers in space-constrained urban markets. By eliminating the need for driving lanes, ramps, and maneuvering room, these systems pack more vehicles into smaller footprints—freeing up square footage that can be converted into rentable or sellable residential space. For projects where traditional parking makes financing difficult, the technology can be the difference between a viable deal and an abandoned plan.

Space efficiency drives adoption

The core advantage is density. Volley Automation CEO Sam Richardson told CoStar News the system targets developers who "can't make a deal pencil" because conventional parking requirements consume too much valuable real estate.

A Philadelphia example illustrates the impact: developer Phillip Zhao initially calculated his student housing project could accommodate only 33 units due to parking constraints. After installing a Westfalia Technologies robotic system, the garage capacity increased from 11 spaces to 30, enabling the project to expand to 90 residential units.

Competing systems use different approaches. Utron, based in Hackensack, New Jersey, offers a "rack-and-rail" design that lifts vehicles vertically onto different levels. Klaus Multiparking of Germany manufactures both fully automated systems and semi-automated pallet configurations that require driver participation. Other players in the market include Hyundai, Lödige, ParkPlus, and Westfalia Technologies.

Manhattan installations on track

The 38 Gramercy Park East project is a 20-story condominium tower with 57 units scheduled to receive its robotic parking system in December 2027, with building completion expected in mid-to-late 2028. The 550 West 21st Street development—a 22-story, 83-unit building in Chelsea—will get its system installed in May 2027 and open in late 2027 or early 2028.

Volley Automation partners with Hito Robotics for the physical robots and Otis Worldwide for vertical lift components. The company has completed one U.S. installation at a parking garage on Fulton Street in San Francisco.

Nick Broz, chief sales officer at Volley Automation, said in a company statement that the technology transforms parking from a "necessary evil" into a "design opportunity and amenity," giving architects more flexibility in building layouts.

Details of the Manhattan installations were first reported by CoStar News.