With Central Park, Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in its vicinity and a full offering of transportation options, Columbus Circle has always been a standout neighborhood in Manhattan and a magnet for leading arts and entertainment companies. But today, as tenants at 250 West 57th Street can attest, the area is hotter than ever.

"The immense changes in the neighborhood since I joined the building staff 19 years ago are amazing," says George Fabian, the building manager. "These days, new restaurants and shops seem to be opening on a weekly basis."

One factor underlying these developments is the construction of the Time Warner Center, which was completed in 2004. "It has everything," says Mr. Fabian. "World-class restaurants, high-fashion, a big Borders Books and Music outlet, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and, of course, the Whole Foods market. Our tenants love it, and it's a good destination for rainy days."

The restaurants at Time Warner Center, in particular, have garnered rave reviews. In Zagat's, Masa is described as akin to "a trip to the moon" for "sushi worshippers," and Per Se as a "temporary pass to heaven." But if you want to eat at your desk, you'll be able to find a wide variety of quality take-out at the Center's Whole Foods branch, the largest supermarket in Manhattan.

The new Hearst Tower, at 57th Street and Eighth Avenue, is another welcome addition to the neighborhood. Completed in June, it is receiving many accolades, both for its architectural aesthetics and energy-efficient design. The architectural critic for Bloomberg Muse recently claimed in a headline that the "Hearst Tower Puts WTC and Freedom Towers to Shame," while a New York Times critic wrote, "In an uncertain age the Hearst Tower is deeply comforting: a building with confidence in its own values."

The openings of both the Hearst Tower and the Time Warner Center have further heightened the vibrancy of the neighborhood, and, in the process, have helped attract new kinds of companies to the area. And you only have to look at 250 West 57th Street, with its building-wide upgrade program coming to a close with the completion of the renovation of 100% of its bathrooms and corridors, to see the evidence.

"We used to be a popular home for small arts and entertainment companies, but in recent years we've leased space to larger and more successful companies and added financial firms, law firms, nonprofits, and associations – to name a few," notes Mr. Fabian. "Clearly, more and more businesses are recognizing that this is a great place to be."