Midtown East

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

Architecture And Design

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

Rendering by Ekoomedia, Inc. / Courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

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

All photos by Rise-Media

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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Distinctive Homes

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

Photo Credit: Warburg Realty

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

Distinctive Homes

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

Photo courtesy of The Hugh

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

Food & Dining

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

Governor Kathy Hochul rode a test train from Jamaica to the East Side Access complex at Grand Central Terminal on Sun., October 31, 2021. (Marc A. Hermann / MTA) Flickr

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

Image credit: Evan Joseph Photography.

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

NYC’s newest observation deck Summit One Vanderbilt officially opens

Photos courtesy of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

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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POPULAR Midtown East BUILDINGS

432 Park Avenue 432 Park Avenue

303 Park Avenue 303 Park Avenue

100 East 53rd Street 100 East 53rd Street

252 East 57th Street 252 East 57th Street

50 United Nations Plaza 50 United Nations Plaza

5 Tudor City Place 5 Tudor City Place

139 East 56th Street 139 East 56th Street

25 Tudor City Place 25 Tudor City Place

310 East 46th Street 310 East 46th Street

110 East 57th Street 110 East 57th Street

360 East 55th Street 360 East 55th Street

200 East 59th Street 200 East 59th Street

45 Tudor City Place 45 Tudor City Place

300 East 59th Street 300 East 59th Street

305 East 44th Street 305 East 44th Street

135 East 47th Street 135 East 47th Street

1065 Second Avenue 1065 Second Avenue

316 East 59th Street 316 East 59th Street

246 East 58th Street 246 East 58th Street

52 Third Avenue 52 Third Avenue

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

Photos: ©Fred Charles courtesy of Gensler

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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Waldorf Astoria launches 90th anniversary oral history project

Photo via Wikimedia Commons

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

All photos courtesy of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

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

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

Photos courtesy of Christie’s International Real Estate

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

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

All photos courtesy of Anastassios Mentis/Brown Harris Stevens

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

Listing photos by Spotless for Sotheby’s International Realty

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

Photo by Jazz Guy on Flickr

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.
Get the details

Food & Dining

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

Listing photos by Amanda James / DDReps

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

Distinctive Homes

Gloria Vanderbilt’s Midtown East apartment lists for $1.1M

All photos courtesy of Anastassios Mentis/Brown Harris Stevens

August 3, 2021

Gloria Vanderbilt’s Midtown East apartment lists for $1.1M

The apartment in Midtown East where Gloria Vanderbilt lived for nearly 25 years is for sale. CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, the son of the late heiress-businesswoman-artist, is selling the three-bedroom, two-bath residence at 30 Beekman Place for $1,125,000, as first reported by the New York Times. Filled with artwork and family treasures, much of the apartment has remained the same since Vanderbilt's death in 2019 at the age of 95.
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Grand Tudor City penthouse from ‘Spider-Man’ movies returns for $1.99M

Listings photos by Yale Wagner

July 30, 2021

Grand Tudor City penthouse from ‘Spider-Man’ movies returns for $1.99M

The grand apartment that served as "the Green Goblin's lair" in all three Spider-Man movies is back on the market for $1,999,000. In addition to the Hollywood cache, the triplex penthouse at 5 Tudor City Place has 18-foot ceilings, views of the Chrysler Building and One Vanderbilt, a wrapping cast-iron staircase, and a private roof terrace.
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Distinctive Homes

40 middle-income apartments available at luxury high-rise in Midtown East, from $1,281/month

All renderings courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

June 30, 2021

40 middle-income apartments available at luxury high-rise in Midtown East, from $1,281/month

Here's an opportunity to live in a luxury Manhattan rental for cheap (relatively). The Gilroy, a new 40-story tower at 232 East 54th Street, is currently accepting housing lottery applications for 40 middle-income apartments, set aside for New Yorkers earning 70 and 130 percent of the area median income. Available apartments start at $1,281/month for a studio, $1,375/month for a one-bedroom, and $1,660/month for a two-bedroom.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Public art and cultural events planned for elevated terraces at revamped Grand Hyatt

Arts programming on 175 Park Avenue’s Graybar Terrace. Image credit: James Corner Field Operations. The artwork shown for illustrative purposes is “The Roses” by Will Ryman

June 2, 2021

Public art and cultural events planned for elevated terraces at revamped Grand Hyatt

The developers behind the huge tower that will replace the existing Grand Hyatt New York announced last week plans to open up its elevated terraces to the public for events. The Public Art Fund and Lord Cultural Resources will develop a cultural program that will bring art installations, community events, and other programs to 175 Park Avenue, the 83-story mixed-use building proposed by TF Cornerstone and RXR Realty.
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Asking $2.1M, author E.L. Doctorow’s former Sutton Place home is perfect for any aspiring writer

Photos by Erickson Jaquez, Empire Optix for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 26, 2021

Asking $2.1M, author E.L. Doctorow’s former Sutton Place home is perfect for any aspiring writer

With a library, built-in bookshelves, and views that could cure writer's block, this Sutton Place home is perfect for any aspiring novelist. It worked for the apartment's former owner, the late author E.L. Doctorow, who penned The March, Homer & Langley, and Andrew's Brain here. Located at 333 East 57th Street, the 3,000-square-foot co-op is now on the market for $2,100,000.
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Daniel Boulud’s Le Pavillon opens at One Vanderbilt with lush greenery and city views

All photos courtesy of SL Green Realty

May 19, 2021

Daniel Boulud’s Le Pavillon opens at One Vanderbilt with lush greenery and city views

Chef Daniel Boulud this week officially opened Le Pavillon, a new restaurant in the Midtown office tower One Vanderbilt. Located directly across from Grand Central with views of the Chrysler Building, Le Pavillon boasts soaring, 57-foot ceilings and a nature-inspired design by Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld that includes lots of greenery and natural elements.
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Food & Dining

New renderings revealed for the 1,646-foot tower that may rise next to Grand Central

175 Park Avenue, looking northeast. Rendering by Ekoomedia, Inc. / Courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

May 18, 2021

New renderings revealed for the 1,646-foot tower that may rise next to Grand Central

In February, we got our first look at the 1,646-foot tower proposed for the Grand Hyatt site next to Grand Central. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the sustainable mixed-use building would rise 83 stories and become the second-tallest tower in NYC behind One World Trade Center. Though 175 Park Avenue takes advantage of the Midtown East Rezoning, developers RXR Realty and TF Cornerstone are still seeking several special zoning permits, including those for hotel use and added height in exchange for transit and infrastructure improvements. To obtain these variances, the project has now entered the city's Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP), and with it, has revealed several new renderings.
All the details here

Photo of Levitation courtesy of SL Green Realty Corp.

May 11, 2021

Pre-register now for tickets to One Vanderbilt’s 1,000+ foot observation deck and glass skyboxes

This fall, you'll be able to ride an all-glass elevator up more than 1,000 feet to experience Summit One Vanderbilt, the Midtown tower's new observation deck that features two glass-floored overhangs. The attraction doesn't open until October 21, but you can pre-register on its website now for priority access to tickets. Also opening will be an outdoor bar, the highest urban outdoor alpine meadow in the world, and an immersive art installation.
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Events & Things To Do

This compact and clever studio near Tudor City is asking just $319K

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

May 5, 2021

This compact and clever studio near Tudor City is asking just $319K

Located in the Art Deco Woodstock Tower at 320 East 42nd Street, this studio co-op is small but mighty. A 3/4 full-sized Murphy bed frees up space during the day, while four generously sized closets help keep things clean and open. The compact kitchen doesn't sacrifice functionality, and two large south-facing windows bring in plenty of light. The apartment is asking $319,000.
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Distinctive Homes

$1.4M Sutton Place co-op comes with doors from the Waldorf Astoria

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

April 5, 2021

$1.4M Sutton Place co-op comes with doors from the Waldorf Astoria