Midtown East

SOM to lead $200M redevelopment of 460 Park Avenue

Renderings credit: VMI

July 28, 2026

SOM to lead $200M redevelopment of 460 Park Avenue

By Aaron Ginsburg

An aging Park Avenue office building will undergo a $200 million renovation to turn the property into a state-of-the-art modern workplace. The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on Monday began the redevelopment of 460 Park Avenue, which involves stripping the mid-20th-century structure down to its steel frame before rebuilding it with cutting-edge infrastructure and 350,000 square feet of premier office space. Led by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the project will include a new lobby, modern elevators, and a floor-to-ceiling glass facade, with completion scheduled for the second quarter of 2028.
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Lottery opens for 51 low-income units at Midtown East supportive housing project, from $1,122/month

Credit: NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

May 5, 2026

Lottery opens for 51 low-income units at Midtown East supportive housing project, from $1,122/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new 21-story Midtown East building combining affordable and supportive housing for unhoused women launched a lottery this week for 51 low-income apartments. Located at 225 East 45th Street, in between Grand Central and the United Nations headquarters, Willow Tree Residences has 130 residential apartments and shares the building with the New Providence Women’s Shelter, a 170-bed facility that offers on-site services. New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for the studio apartments, priced at $1,122/month.
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Affordable Housing

NYC wants your feedback on Park Avenue redesign

Photo by Leslie Cross via Unsplash

April 29, 2026

NYC wants your feedback on Park Avenue redesign

By Aaron Ginsburg

The proposed redesign of Park Avenue could bring back lush green spaces to the iconic corridor's medians. The city's Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled two potential plans to overhaul an 11-block stretch from East 46th to East 57th Streets, both of which would widen the medians and remove one traffic lane in each direction to create pedestrian space. Renderings released on Wednesday show expanded sidewalks, additional trees, benches, and bike lanes in one of the proposals. To gain feedback from New Yorkers, DOT released an online survey seeking public feedback for both design concepts.
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Work on Madison Avenue bus lane redesign begins

Credit: NYC DOT

April 24, 2026

Work on Madison Avenue bus lane redesign begins

By Aaron Ginsburg

Work finally began this week on long-delayed dedicated bus lanes along a congested stretch of Madison Avenue. On Friday, the city's Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn announced that work has started on extending double bus lanes along the avenue from 23rd to 42nd Streets, a project aimed at improving commutes for about 92,000 daily riders who often deal with bus speeds as low as 4.5 miles per hour. The agency expects the project to be finished over the next several weeks.
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Midtown East penthouse seen in ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ lists for $4.95M

Photos courtesy of Evan Joseph Studios

April 21, 2026

Midtown East penthouse seen in ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ lists for $4.95M

By Devin Gannon

The New York City penthouse that acted as the fictional home of financial fraudster Jordan Belfort in the 2013 film "The Wolf of Wall Street" is back on the market. Located on the 32nd floor of the Midtown East condo building Milan at 300 East 55th Street, the luxurious, 2,700-square-foot penthouse serves as the setting of a pivotal scene with Belfort, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, and an associate who dangles a butler over the balcony. The scene shows off the very real sweeping city views, especially of the Chrysler Building, from the three-bedroom home, which just hit the market for $4,950,000.
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RXR files plans for 95-story supertall next to Grand Central

Renderings courtesy of SOM

April 7, 2026

RXR files plans for 95-story supertall next to Grand Central

By Aaron Ginsburg

After receiving approval five years ago, a plan to build a supertall next to Grand Central Terminal is moving forward. Last week, RXR Realty filed the first permits for a 95-story tower at 175 Park Avenue, the site of the former Grand Hyatt Hotel, which the City Council approved in 2021 as part of the hotel’s redevelopment. The project is 12 stories taller than previously reported and would include office space and hotel rooms spanning nearly 3 million square feet. The tower had appeared stalled but was revived last month after RXR met with JPMorgan clients to gauge interest in funding the project, which the firm says is expected to cost $6.5 billion, according to Crain’s. Construction could begin in June.
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Meta to open first NYC flagship store on Fifth Avenue

Images courtesy of Meta

March 18, 2026

Meta to open first NYC flagship store on Fifth Avenue

By Aaron Ginsburg

Meta will open its first flagship store in New York City. Vornado Realty Trust on Wednesday announced retail store Meta Lab will occupy the five-story townhouse at 697 Fifth Avenue, next to the St. Regis Hotel. Last November, the company opened a pop-up shop at the building, which was painted bright blue and offered Meta's AI glasses and virtual-reality headsets to test. With existing office space at The Farley Building, Meta's 10-year agreement with Vornado adds to its NYC footprint.
details here

For $595K, this Turtle Bay pre-war co-op elegantly maximizes every square inch of space

All photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

March 5, 2026

For $595K, this Turtle Bay pre-war co-op elegantly maximizes every square inch of space

By Michelle Cohen

This corner one-bedroom at 320 East 42nd Street represents classic Manhattan living in Tudor-style Woodstock Tower, a former hotel built in 1929. Asking $595,000, the compact apartment has retained its pre-war elegance in the form of high ceilings, original hardwood floors, and dramatic casement windows, while optimizing living space and storage with cleverly-designed built-ins throughout.
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Distinctive Homes

Trump partners with Pakistan in strange plan to redevelop NYC’s Roosevelt Hotel

Image via WikiCommons

February 27, 2026

Trump partners with Pakistan in strange plan to redevelop NYC’s Roosevelt Hotel

By Aaron Ginsburg

An unlikely player has entered Midtown’s Roosevelt Hotel redevelopment: President Donald Trump and the federal government. As first reported by Reuters last week, the United States government's General Services Administration (GSA) signed an agreement with Pakistan, which owns the iconic but shuttered hotel at 45 East 45th Street, to jointly redevelop, renovate, operate, and maintain the property. The pact, negotiated by New York real estate developer and Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff, marks a surprising turnaround for the project, which returned to the drawing board last week after Pakistan restarted its search for a broker and financial advisor, according to The Real Deal.
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Policy

This $15M penthouse is a 9,000-square-foot mansion in the Midtown sky

Photo credit: Tim Waltman – Evan Joseph Photography

February 12, 2026

This $15M penthouse is a 9,000-square-foot mansion in the Midtown sky

By Michelle Cohen

If you're thinking a townhouse is too small, this dazzling duplex high above Manhattan's east side at 500 Park Avenue, asking $15 million, might do. With over 9,000 square feet of living space, it's easy to get lost among the rooms that span two floors of this Midtown condo with four exposures, panoramic views, and a massive terrace. Currently owned by architect Wendy Evans Joseph, who has designed projects for noted museums and cultural institutions, including the new Canarsie Library, NYC's first public mass timber building, the home's interiors reflect a level of design sophistication not found in the average Manhattan penthouse.
limitless space, dazzling views, this way

Distinctive Homes

MetroCard artwork on view at new Grand Central exhibition

Nina Boesch, courtesy of the New York Transit Museum

February 11, 2026

MetroCard artwork on view at new Grand Central exhibition

By Aaron Ginsburg

While you can no longer swipe them to ride, New York City’s iconic MetroCard will once again be in the spotlight as part of a new exhibition at Grand Central Terminal next month. Opening March 16 at the New York Transit Museum's Grand Central Gallery and Store, "Inspired by MetroCard" shows how artists and designers have transformed the retired transit card into an artistic medium over its three-decade history. Drawing from the museum’s collections and contemporary works, the exhibition features fashion, sculpture, painting, and collage, along with limited-edition collector cards decorated with original artwork.
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NYC to complete delayed Madison Avenue bus lane redesign

Credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 15, 2026

NYC to complete delayed Madison Avenue bus lane redesign

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City is moving forward with a long-delayed project to give buses a dedicated lane along a busy stretch of Madison Avenue. Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Mike Flynn on Sunday announced that the agency will complete the stalled redesign of Madison Avenue, extending double bus lanes from 23rd to 42nd Streets. The upgrades aim to improve the commutes of the avenue’s 92,000 daily riders, a stretch where buses often crawl at speeds as low as 4.5 miles per hour, according to a press release.
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This $4.5M Sutton Place penthouse has a wraparound terrace and a literary pedigree

All photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

October 27, 2025

This $4.5M Sutton Place penthouse has a wraparound terrace and a literary pedigree

By Michelle Cohen

On the top floors of a pre-war co-op at 444 East 52nd Street, on a quiet cul-de-sac between Beekman and Sutton Place, this duplex penthouse is Manhattan living at its most iconic. A sun-drenched terrace wraps the home on all sides; from the windows, there are Manhattan skyline and East River views. Within is a rich literary history: F. Scott Fitzgerald and Dorothy Parker once called this elegant residence, now available for $4,500,000, home.
repeat the past in this literary refuge

Distinctive Homes

JPMorgan opens soaring 60-story NYC headquarters at 270 Park Avenue

Skyline view of JPMorganChase’s world headquarters in New York City. Photo credit: Max Touhey for JPMorganChase.

October 21, 2025

JPMorgan opens soaring 60-story NYC headquarters at 270 Park Avenue

By Aaron Ginsburg

JPMorganChase’s massive Midtown East headquarters, the tallest all-electric skyscraper in New York City, is now open. Designed by Norman Foster's Foster + Partners, the 1,400-foot-tall building at 270 Park Avenue can accommodate 10,000 employees across 2.5 million square feet of workspace. Rising 60 stories, the $3 billion skyscraper features a striking “fan-column” design that rises about 80 feet above street level and provides 2.5 times more outdoor space than its predecessor.
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Architecture And Design

Sky mansion with dramatic curves on Billionaires’ Row asks $10M

All photos courtesy of Tim Waltman (Evan Joseph photography)

October 20, 2025

Sky mansion with dramatic curves on Billionaires’ Row asks $10M

By Michelle Cohen

If you're aiming for a condo high above Midtown's famous Billionaires' Row at 252 East 57th Street, you'll already be expecting a certain level of living; this four-bedroom home delivers, with dazzling views, top-tier amenities (like a pool and spa), and room for memorable events. There's even a terrace tucked away off the living room, so you and your guests can experience Manhattan's iconic skyline beneath the open sky. Asking $9,995,000, the sprawling residence adds some unexpected curves for standout appeal.
check out the view from here

Distinctive Homes

‘Humans of New York’ photo exhibit takes over Grand Central

All photos courtesy of Ahmed Gaber for Dear New York

October 8, 2025

‘Humans of New York’ photo exhibit takes over Grand Central

By Aaron Ginsburg

One of the most famous photography projects in the world has taken over Grand Central Terminal. This week, Brandon Stanton of "Humans of New York," the long-running online portrait series featuring the stories of everyday New Yorkers, opened the installation "Dear New York," a sweeping "love letter" to the city. The exhibit includes 50-foot-tall photographs from the Humans of New York portfolio displayed across the terminal, including the main concourse, the subway station, Vanderbilt Hall, and 150 digital screens. The two-week installation is on view through October 19.
see it here

Latest Midtown office conversion to bring nearly 450 apartments near Bryant Park

Photo by Jim.henderson on Wikimedia

October 7, 2025

Latest Midtown office conversion to bring nearly 450 apartments near Bryant Park

By Devin Gannon

Midtown's office-to-residential conversion boom continues. Developer Vanbarton Group announced last week it had acquired the building at 6 East 43rd Street after securing a $300 million loan from Brookfield. Vanbarton plans to convert the 27-story tower, known as the Emigrant Savings Bank building, into 441 apartments, including 111 affordable units.
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1,600-foot-tall office tower 350 Park Avenue gets unanimous City Council approval

350 Park Avenue © DBOX for Foster + Partners

October 2, 2025

1,600-foot-tall office tower 350 Park Avenue gets unanimous City Council approval

By Aaron Ginsburg

Billionaire Ken Griffin’s proposed 1,600-foot office tower at 350 Park Avenue will be built after the City Council unanimously approved the building last week. The Council voted 48-0 to approve the 62-story supertall building developed by Vornado Realty Trust, Citadel, and Rudin Management and designed by Norman Foster's Foster + Partners. The tower will deliver 1.8 million square feet of office space anchored by Griffin’s Citadel and Citadel Securities, plus a new public concourse. The huge building will rise 200 feet taller than JPMorgan Chase’s headquarters at 270 Park Avenue, also designed by Foster + Partners.
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Casino next to the United Nations will not move forward

Freedom Plaza river view looking east. Courtesy of Negativ

September 22, 2025

Casino next to the United Nations will not move forward

By Devin Gannon

Freedom Plaza, the Soloviev Group's plan to bring a mixed-use development with a gaming facility on a vacant lot next to the United Nations, was rejected by the community advisory committee (CAC) on Monday. Since casinos pitched for Hell's Kitchen and Times Square also failed to advance last week, Manhattan won't be getting a casino after all, with the five bids remaining for the three downstate licenses are in the outer boroughs and Westchester.
details here

Policy

Asking $5.5M, this dramatic duplex in Sutton Place feels like a museum

All photos courtesy of Coldwell Banker Warburg

September 10, 2025

Asking $5.5M, this dramatic duplex in Sutton Place feels like a museum

By Devin Gannon

Coffered ceilings, columns, and casement windows add dramatic elegance to this Sutton Place duplex co-op. On the market for $5,495,000, the three-bedroom home at 322 East 57th Street, one of Manhattan's most coveted pre-war co-ops, has a grand living space that feels like a museum, with gilded furniture and decor, 18-foot ceilings, and a marble fireplace.
take a look around

Distinctive Homes

ODA’s pixelating concrete condo near Billionaires’ Row prepares to launch sales, studios from $1.4M

Renderings courtesy of Brick Visual

September 4, 2025

ODA’s pixelating concrete condo near Billionaires’ Row prepares to launch sales, studios from $1.4M

By Devin Gannon

A new condo in Midtown East wants to humanize Billionaires' Row living. Designed by ODA, the Malabar Residences at 126 East 57th Street rises 28 stories in cascading cast-in-place concrete tiers, described by CityRealty as a "playfully pixelated totem of apartments." The architects integrate the building with the streetscape with two entrances and public-facing retail, while promoting the idea of "vertical living" for residents by dispersing shared spaces throughout the tower. Sales are set to launch for the Malabar's 145 residences, with initial pricing starting at $1.4 million for a studio and going up to $12.5 million for a three-bedroom penthouse.
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Waldorf Astoria New York reopens for the first time since 2017

All images courtesy of the Waldorf Astoria New York, unless noted otherwise

July 22, 2025

Waldorf Astoria New York reopens for the first time since 2017

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City's legendary Waldorf Astoria has finally reopened after a major restoration project that transformed the 1,400-room hotel into 375 luxury condos and 375 hotel rooms. The landmarked Art Deco icon closed in 2017 and was originally scheduled for completion in 2021. Led by the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the restoration refreshed many of the hotel’s most iconic fixtures while introducing new elements that reflect the original vision of architects Schultze & Weaver, as the New York Times reported.
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Surround yourself with greenery on the terrace of this colorful $2.4M Midtown condo

All photos courtesy of Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

July 21, 2025

Surround yourself with greenery on the terrace of this colorful $2.4M Midtown condo

By Michelle Cohen

A Midtown Manhattan apartment has its advantages, but it's likely not the first neighborhood you'd choose if you're looking for a home with tree-shaded outdoor space. Asking $2,380,000, this two-bedroom condominium at the notably narrow "sliver" building known as Number 5 at 5 East 44th Street offers the surprise of a south-facing terrace that runs the length of the apartment, which itself is somewhat of a colorful surprise. The building, instantly recognizable by its bold façade of white metal panels and striking red and yellow accent columns, was designed by Alan Ritchie of Philip Johnson Alan Ritchie Architects.
take the tour

Distinctive Homes

NYC taps landscape architect to reimagine Park Avenue

Credit: Leslie Cross on Unsplash

June 27, 2025

NYC taps landscape architect to reimagine Park Avenue

By Aaron Ginsburg

New York City has selected a landscape architect to lead the pedestrian-focused transformation of Park Avenue. Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez on Thursday announced that an 18-month contract has been awarded to Starr Whitehouse Landscape Architects and Planners to redesign a portion of the iconic corridor between East 46th and East 57th Streets. The project will widen the median and install pedestrian upgrades, new seating, landscaping, and innovative streetscape amenities.
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59 apartments available at Midtown East luxury rental, from $1,644/month

Renderings courtesy of Anagram Turtle Bay

June 23, 2025

59 apartments available at Midtown East luxury rental, from $1,644/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new luxury residential tower in Midtown East just launched a lottery for 59 mixed-income apartments. Located at 300 East 50th Street, Anagram Turtle Bay is a 23-story residential building providing tenants a hotel-inspired lifestyle with luxurious amenities and spacious residences. New Yorkers earning 70 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $1,644/month studios to $4,415/month two-bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Valentino co-founder Giancarlo Giammetti’s $17.5M Sutton Place penthouse embodies Manhattan elegance

Photo by Yoo Jean Han

May 21, 2025

Valentino co-founder Giancarlo Giammetti’s $17.5M Sutton Place penthouse embodies Manhattan elegance

By Michelle Cohen

The building itself is a modern icon, designed by architect César Pelli, and this 3,700 square-foot penthouse on the 54th floor of One Beacon Court at 151 East 58th Street is the picture of classically modern Manhattan glamor. Asking $17,500,000, the condo's seller is Giancarlo Giammetti, co-founder, with Valentino Garavani, of fashion house Valentino. Interiors are the work of noted interior designer Jacques Grange; the dazzling cityscapes visible from every window are 100 percent New York City.
check out the view from up here

Distinctive Homes

New public art exhibition in Midtown East explores what it means to be American

All photos courtesy of The Soloviev Group, unless noted otherwise

May 13, 2025

New public art exhibition in Midtown East explores what it means to be American

By Aaron Ginsburg

A new public art installation in Midtown East celebrates the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States with stories of veterans, farmers, activists, and other everyday heroes. Designed by C&G Partners, the nearly 7-acre exhibition, "Path of Liberty: That Which Unites US," immerses visitors in 55 personal stories brought to life through striking visuals and interactive elements. Opening on May 15, the installation is located at the site of the Soloviev Group's proposed Freedom Plaza casino on First Avenue between 38th and 41st Streets.
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255 East 77th Street

Lenox Hill

Upper East Side condos with Central Park views

3 beds starting at $5,300,000
4 beds starting at $7,400,000
5 beds starting at $8,750,000