Midtown East

June 14, 2022

This $7.25M Sutton Place co-op was Greta Garbo’s home for 40 years

This elegant fifth-floor co-op at 450 East 52nd Street has a rare level of star cachet; Swedish-born Hollywood screen legend Greta Garbo called the pre-war apartment home for 40 years, from 1954 until her death in 1990. The three-bedroom Sutton Place co-op last changed hands in 2017, when it was purchased by John and Marjorie McGraw. John is the former chairman of the publishing house McGraw-Hill. The couple is a fan of Garbo, which may be the reason they purchased the apartment for $8.5 million–$2.5 million over its $5.95 million ask. The east side aerie is now back on the market for $7.25 million.
Step into the Hollywood legend's former home
June 9, 2022

The Morgan Library unveils $13M exterior restoration and new garden with public access

The Morgan Library and Museum will unveil the recently restored exterior of the Morgan Library and the new Morgan Garden to the public this month. The six-year-long, $13 million project marks the first-ever comprehensive restoration of the historic 115-year-old library’s exterior. Designed by architect Charles Follen McKim for J.Pierpont Morgan, the library was completed in 1906 and later became a public institution. The project restores one of the nation's finest examples of Neoclassical architecture, enhances the surrounding grounds, improves the building's lighting, and enables public access to the grounds of the 36th street site for the first time ever.
Stroll the garden, this way
June 1, 2022

MTA’s East Side Access project renamed ‘Grand Central Madison’

Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday announced that the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's long-awaited 700,000-square-foot East Side Access Project will be renamed "Grand Central Madison." The project, which brings Long Island Rail Road service to Grand Central Terminal, will increase LIRR service systemwide by 40 percent during morning peak service and significantly increase reverse peak service. Grand Central Madison is expected to open in December.
See more here
May 23, 2022

This $2.9M Sutton Place co-op has finishes–and furniture–courtesy of an AD100 designer

This two-bedroom, 1,400-square-foot Sutton Place co-op at 435 East 57th Street is the home of Caleb Anderson, partner in the AD top 100 interior design firm Drake/Anderson. Anderson has listed the home for $2,895,000, furniture included, so the next owner can instantly benefit from an impeccable NYC design pedigree. The elegant pre-war apartment underwent a thorough renovation, with top-tier materials and craftsmanship–from Venetian plaster walls and custom hardware to hand-painted wall coverings–evident at every turn.
Take the tour
May 13, 2022

East Village speakeasy PDT opens pop-up on 86th floor of the Empire State Building

One of New York City's favorite speakeasies has opened at one of the world's most famous buildings. PDT (Please Don't Tell)--the cocktail bar hidden behind a phone booth in the East Village hot dog joint Crif Dogs--is operating a pop-up on the 86th-floor of the Empire State Building this month. In addition to enjoying sweeping city views and stellar signature drinks, guests can chow down on hot dogs from Crif Dogs.
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April 20, 2022

In the middle of Midtown, this $3.2M co-op feels like a house with a yard

Tucked into the garden floor of a classic Midtown East co-op at 240 East 55th Street, this four-bedroom home has more space than you'd usually find in a Manhattan apartment, with a lower level rec room, a den, and that covetable urban dream: a beautiful, landscaped private back yard. Asking $3,195,000, the spacious residence is freshly renovated with luxury details and high-tech amenities like wire-brushed wide plank oak floors, a Lutron lighting system, and a zoned A/C system.
More East Midtown co-op, this way
April 14, 2022

JPMorgan’s 60-story Midtown East tower will be NYC’s largest all-electric skyscraper

JPMorgan Chase on Thursday unveiled the design for its massive new global headquarters in Midtown East, set to become one of New York City's tallest buildings. Roughly three years after the project was approved by the city and a year after construction began, fresh renderings show off the Foster + Partners-designed tower at 270 Park Avenue, which will soar nearly 1,400 feet and be all-electric. The building, which will house up to 14,000 employees, boasts a unique "fan-column" structure that is lifted about 80 feet above street level as well as a new public plaza on Madison Avenue.
See the supertall
March 28, 2022

Lever Club will bring a new dining and lounge option to Lever House tenants after renovation

In January, 6sqft reported the $100 million renovation of the landmarked Midtown Lever House skyscraper, led by the building's original architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), had begun. On Monday it was announced the redeveloped Manhattan icon will be home to Lever Club, an exclusive restaurant and lounge for tenants. The new venue will span the building's entire third floor and have 15,000 square feet of outdoor terrace space.
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March 9, 2022

First skyline-view sleepover at Top of the Rock will be an all-night celebration of spring

As we slowly make our way toward spending time out there among our fellow New Yorkers, Rockefeller Center is hosting a new way to celebrate spring. Star Party at Top of the Rock will be the first-ever overnight musical experience at the famous skyline-view venue, held in celebration of the spring equinox as the evening of March 19 becomes March 20. The first of a new quarterly series offers a small audience the opportunity to experience all-night meditation and ambient sound against the sparkle of the city skyline.
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February 17, 2022

In the exclusive enclave of Sutton Place, an elegant co-op with extra space asks $1.9M

Here's an opportunity to live in a Manhattan neighborhood that offers a small-town feel with big-city perks. Asking $1,895,000, this stylish high-floor co-op at 419 East 57th Street in Sutton Place has been renovated but successfully maintains its elegant pre-war aura. Currently set up as a two-bedroom, with the flexibility to make a third, the apartment also comes with a coveted office/staff room on the first floor of the building.
Get the tour
January 25, 2022

$100M restoration of Midtown’s iconic Lever House skyscraper has begun

Park Avenue's iconic Lever House tower is being redeveloped under the architectural guidance of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the building's original architects, according to an announcement by the building's owners, WatermanClark and Brookfield Properties. The Midtown architectural landmark was completed in 1952 as soap company Lever Brothers' U.S. headquarters. SOM will be helming the restoration seven decades after they first designed the building at 390 Park Avenue.
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January 19, 2022

New plans announced for Park Avenue traffic median redesign

New York City Council Member Keith Powers announced this week the next steps in a plan to bring new life to Midtown's Park Avenue traffic medians. The newly-revealed plan will transform the avenue's current malls into "new, world-class, active open space," according to a press release. A landscape architect will be hired by the Department of Transportation to create a master plan according to a request for proposal, to be issued in the spring.
New life for Midtown streets, this way
December 16, 2021

City Council approves massive Grand Hyatt redevelopment project at 175 Park Avenue

The New York City Council voted on Wednesday to allow the proposed development at the site currently occupied by the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 175 Park Avenue. New Greater East Midtown zoning rules permit developers to construct supersized towers if they are accompanied by hefty contributions to transit and public amenities. In addition to the construction of a 2.1-million-square-foot, 1,575-foot-high building with retail and office space, a new 500-room hotel, a sky lobby, a lounge, and a restaurant, the site will include 25,000 square feet of elevated, publicly accessible terraces that will host cultural and arts events. The project also promises to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in transit improvements.
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December 7, 2021

Turtle Bay two-bedroom with pair of enclosed terraces asks $1.9M

Next to the East River and just blocks to the United Nations, a recently renovated two-bedroom condo at 345 East 50th Street is available for $1,895,000. The Turtle Bay digs has a comfortable layout, with the two largest rooms, the living area and the primary bedroom, each benefiting from unique glass-enclosed terraces that stretch into balconies. While the building was constructed in 1900, the home, outfitted with modern conveniences like a built-in espresso machine and central air conditioning, very much meets a 21st-century standard of living.
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December 6, 2021

$5M penthouse is a Manhattan classic with 360-degree views and wraparound terraces

This 5,000-square-foot penthouse at 303 East 57th Street in the Excelsior co-op tower is the sort of apartment you see in your favorite 20th-century New York City films. Asking $4,995,000, the duplex is wrapped by 2,500 square feet of terrace and offers 360-degree views from four exposures including Central Park and the East River.
Take the grand tour
November 4, 2021

New food hall The Hugh opens in Midtown’s Citigroup Center, with 17 restaurants under one roof

The Hugh, Midtown's new food hall at 157 East 53rd Street in the Citigroup Center opened its doors last month, adding a host of delicious new dining options to the neighborhood. Developed by Boston Properties and Local Culture Management, the food hall offers diverse dining options and was inspired by New York City neighborhoods, from Greenpoint to Harlem. The Hugh also has a full calendar of cultural events and live music curated by Seth Abramson of Jazz Standard.
Meet the new Midtown food hall
November 1, 2021

New LIRR concourse at Grand Central unveiled as part of long-awaited East Side Access project

The project that will bring direct Long Island Rail Road service to Grand Central Terminal hit a major milestone this weekend. Gov. Kathy Hochul on Sunday rode the first passenger LIRR train into the new concourse at the Midtown East transit hub and gave the public a first look at the terminal. Expected to officially open in December 2022, the East Side Access project will provide direct service to Manhattan's east side for Long Island and Queens commuters, while also reducing crowds at Penn Station.
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November 1, 2021

Grammy winner Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds’ former Midtown townhouse asks $5.7M

The four-story townhouse at 241 East 52nd Street on a classic Midtown Manhattan block is the former residence of 12-time Grammy winner Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. Inside, the 2,728-square-foot home is a study in baby blue. Asking $5,695,000, the slender 1899 townhouse has been renovated with every modern luxury.
Take the tour
October 22, 2021

NYC’s newest observation deck Summit One Vanderbilt officially opens

Midtown's tallest office tower opened its observation deck this week, adding to the city's ever-growing list of sky-high, for-sale spectacles. Designed by Snøhetta, One Vanderbilt's Summit stretches across floors 91 through 93 at the 1,401-foot-tall tower and offers incredible views across a 65,000-square-foot multi-level entertainment venue about 1,000 feet in the air. Tickets start at $39 for general admission and climb to $83 for evening admission that comes with a cocktail.
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September 30, 2021

A 24-ton stone sphere is hanging in the lobby of Philip Johnson’s 550 Madison Avenue tower

A massive blue spherical stone now hangs in the lobby of the landmarked office building 550 Madison Avenue, part of a broader project to revitalize Philip Johnson's postmodern gem. The Olayan Group on Wednesday unveiled the renovated space, a project which included preserving the 110-foot arched entry, adding a multi-story window across from the entrance with views through to the new garden, still under construction, and the centerpiece art commission. Designed by artist Alicja Kwade, who had a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art's roof garden in 2019, the art installation includes a 24-ton Azul Macaubas stone sphere hanging from ten polished stainless steel chains only 12 feet above the floor.
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September 28, 2021

Waldorf Astoria launches 90th anniversary oral history project

October 1 marks 90 years since the Waldorf Astoria opened its doors on Park Avenue. It was the world's tallest hotel for 32 years and became perhaps the most famous hotel on the globe, too, attracting Hollywood’s elite, world leaders, and famed cultural events and galas. Since 2016, the landmark has been closed for a restoration and reimagination that will bring 375 hotel rooms and suites, along with 375 luxury condos as part of The Towers of the Waldorf Astoria. In anticipation of the reopening in early 2023, and to mark its nine-decade-long history, a new website called Waldorf Stories will "honor, document, and preserve the oral history of the world’s most famous hotel through stories told by the people that lived them."
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September 14, 2021

Summit One Vanderbilt reveals 1,000-foot-high mirrored art experience

Tickets officially go on sale today for Summit One Vanderbilt, the Midtown East tower's 1,000+ foot observation deck. Previously, we got a look at the two skyboxes that allow guests to stand on completely transparent glass 1,063 feet above Madison Avenue, and now developer SL Green has revealed even more of the sky-high attractions, including an all-glass outdoor elevator (yes, even the floor!) that travels up the side of the building to over 1,200 feet. But perhaps most mesmerizing is an art installation called Air created by Kenzo Digital. Covered on three sides, along with the floor and ceiling, in mirrors, the multisensory experience challenges one's perception of space and immerses the guest within the fabric of the skyline. 
See it all here
September 9, 2021

I.M. Pei’s Sutton Place townhouse sells for $8.6M

The New York City home where the late renowned architect I.M. Pei lived for 45 years has found a buyer. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal and confirmed by property records, the four-story home at 11 Sutton Place sold for $8,600,000, an increase from the initial 2019 asking price of $8,000,000. Pei, the mastermind behind the Louvre's glass pyramid and countless other projects, bought the home in the early 1970s with his wife, Eileen, for just $215,000, according to the newspaper.
More here
September 8, 2021

Gloria Vanderbilt’s Beekman Place apartment finds a buyer in just a month

Listed a little over a month ago, Gloria Vanderbilt's former Midtown East apartment is now in contract. As reported by the New York Post, the two-bedroom home at 30 Beekman Place was asking $1,125,000, with monthly maintenance fees of $4,311. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, the son of the late heiress/businesswoman/artist, put his mom's apartment on the market in early August.
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August 27, 2021

Olivier Sarkozy’s historic Turtle Bay townhouse comes back on the market for $11.5M

Olivier Sarkozy, banker and half-brother of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy, has listed his Turtle Bay Gardens townhouse for $11,500,000, as the New York Times first reported. Sarkozy's five-year marriage to Mary-Kate Olsen ended earlier this year, and according to Vanity Fair, the "sticking point" of the divorce was this house. That's not really surprising, considering the home at 226 East 49th Street is a whopping 8,700 square feet and has historic and opulent features such as a grand ballroom, 22-foot coffered ceilings, and backyard art studio. Sarkozy bought the house in 2014 for $13.5 million from painter David Deutsch.
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August 24, 2021

The Grand Central Oyster Bar will reopen after 17-month closure

The subterranean, century-old oyster bar in Grand Central Terminal will finally reopen next month after nearly a year and a half. The historic Grand Central Oyster Bar announced it will open its doors on September 7 at 100 percent capacity, as Gothamist first reported. After a temporary Covid-related closure last March, the Midtown East restaurant and bar resumed indoor dining that September, only to close again less than two weeks later.
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August 20, 2021

$500K studio is a stylish starter pad with Midtown convenience

Living in Midtown South might not be every New Yorker's dream, but for a Manhattan newbie who works nearby and is looking to buy a starter pad, this $500,000 studio is perfect. Located at 159 Madison Avenue, between East 32nd and 33rd Streets, the apartment is within walking distance to almost all of Midtown. Plus, it's got a huge arched window that brings in tons of lights, as well as very good closet space.
Get a look