Midtown East

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

By Devin Gannon

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

By Devin Gannon

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.
Find out more

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

By Devin Gannon

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.
Find out more

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.
See more here

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

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

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

This two-bedroom home at the classic pre-war co-op 2 Sutton Place is asking $1,395,000. Its most distinguishable feature is the black lacquered closet doors that were purchased at auction from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. It also has classic details like coffered ceilings, built-ins, moldings, herringbone wood floors, and a marble wood-burning fireplace.
Look around

Distinctive Homes

Get a sneak peek of the Waldorf Astoria’s restored Grand Ballroom

Rendering courtesy of Waldorf Astoria New York

March 26, 2021

Get a sneak peek of the Waldorf Astoria’s restored Grand Ballroom

It's been four years since the Waldorf Astoria closed its doors for a restoration and reimagination that will bring 375 luxury condos to the storied landmark. And since then, the team has been teasing out renderings of what we can expect when the Waldorf finally reopens in early 2023. The latest is a look at the Grand Ballroom, one of the largest in NYC (it can accommodate more than 1,000 people) that's hosted the likes of JFK, Queen Elizabeth II, and Grace Kelly. The Art Deco space is an interior landmark, and the restoration will return it to its 1931 splendor.
More details and views here

European sophistication meets Midtown living at this $1.6M loft

Listing photos by Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

March 8, 2021

European sophistication meets Midtown living at this $1.6M loft

You may not think of Midtown East as a neighborhood to buy a historic loft, but this two-bedroom co-op at 351 East 50th Street feels like a downtown pad with all of Midtown's convenience. The full-floor apartment underwent a two-year "floor-to-ceiling renovation down to the studs," according to the listing, and the resulting product is a truly unique home that is reminiscent of a Parisian flat but with plenty of modern conveniences.
Look around

Distinctive Homes

For $895K, this Sutton Place penthouse has amazing views of the 59th Street bridge

Listing photos courtesy Douglas Elliman

February 8, 2021

For $895K, this Sutton Place penthouse has amazing views of the 59th Street bridge

This Sutton Place condo has some of the most unique views we've seen in a long time. One of the penthouse units at 40 Sutton Place, the 1,100-square-foot, one-bedroom apartment is almost entirely encased in solarium windows. From the balcony, it's as if you can reach out and touch the Queensboro Bridge! And all of this can be yours for just $895,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Norman Foster’s splashy new office tower at 425 Park Avenue nears completion

Trading floor rendering courtesy of L&L Holding

January 20, 2021

Norman Foster’s splashy new office tower at 425 Park Avenue nears completion

It's been more than five years since L&L Holding Company broke ground on the 47-story Norman Foster-designed office tower at 425 Park Avenue, but it's finally nearing the finish line. The 897-foot building is notable for its triple-height diagrid floors and the set of three ornamental fins at the crown that will be illuminated at night. It will be the first full-block tower along this stretch of Park Avenue in half a century, joining the likes of the Seagram Building and Lever House.
More info here

Joan Collins’ Midtown pied-a-terre with 16 closets lists for $2.1M

Listing photos and staging images courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

January 19, 2021

Joan Collins’ Midtown pied-a-terre with 16 closets lists for $2.1M

Actress, author, philanthropist, and all-around icon Dame Joan Collins has put her Midtown East pied-a-terre on the market for $2,095,000. The "Dynasty" star and her husband, producer Percy Gibson, purchased the three-bedroom co-op in 2002, shortly after getting married, according to the Times, which also reports that the couple hosted celebrities like musicians Michael Feinstein and Neil Sedaka and actress Diahann Carroll here. Located at the Dorchester at 110 East 57th Street, the home was appealing to Ms. Collins for its spacious layout and 16 closets, reports the Times.
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Sutton Place studio is a retro retreat for $450K

Photo Credit: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

January 6, 2021

Sutton Place studio is a retro retreat for $450K

The current owner of this Sutton Place studio really wanted to harken back to the building's 1950s origins. Located at the 40 Sutton Place condominium, the 461-square-foot abode is full of mid-century furnishings, pop-art decor, and a very convenient Murphy bed. Add three closets, a high-end open kitchen, and a lovely foyer, and the $450,000 price tag feels just right.
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Distinctive Homes

Tulip columns and marble floors complete the mid-century look at this $2M Midtown East co-op

Listing photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

January 4, 2021

Tulip columns and marble floors complete the mid-century look at this $2M Midtown East co-op

This two-bedroom apartment is located at the Ritz Tower at 465 Park Avenue in Midtown East. Though this is a classic pre-war co-op, designed by Emery Roth nonetheless, this particular high-floor unit has been transformed into a groovy mid-century home, complete with tulip columns, white marble floors, and period-specific decor. Asking $1,995,000, it also boasts incredible northern, southern, and western views through its 14 windows, along with two outdoor terraces.
Look around

Distinctive Homes

For $349K, this Beekman studio is a tiny charmer

Listing photos courtesy of Warburg

December 1, 2020

For $349K, this Beekman studio is a tiny charmer

This Beekman apartment may be small, but it's nothing if not charming. Located at the prestigious Southgate co-op at 434 East 52nd Street, the studio has plenty of pre-war details like beamed ceilings, oak floors, classic moldings, and an exposed brick wood-burning fireplace. It also has a foyer, two generous closets, a separate full kitchen, and a dressing nook outside the bathroom. And it's asking just $349,000.
Look around

Distinctive Homes

Tired of roommates? Here are 5 studios in NYC renting for under $2,500/month

November 11, 2020

Tired of roommates? Here are 5 studios in NYC renting for under $2,500/month

By Devin Gannon

Sharing space with roommates in a small New York City apartment has never been easy. But doing so during a pandemic while many are still working from home? Almost impossible. As winter approaches and takes safe outdoor activities with it, now may be a good time to look for your own apartment. And with average rents still down compared to the same period last year, you're more likely to scoop up a decent deal. For those ready to ditch the roommates, we've found five studio apartments perfect for one, from a sunny Sutton Place rental for $1,538/month to a $2,479/month junior one-bedroom with amenities in Gramercy Park.
Details this way

Distinctive Homes

NYC’s landmarked Roosevelt Hotel will close after 96 years due to pandemic

Photo by Billy Hathorn via Wikimedia Commons

October 13, 2020

NYC’s landmarked Roosevelt Hotel will close after 96 years due to pandemic

When the Roosevelt Hotel opened on East 45th Street in 1924, it was connected to Grand Central via an underground tunnel, signaling its prominence among New York's Jazz Age society. But nearly 100 years later, the Midtown hotel will shut it doors for good on October 31. As CNN first reported, owner Pakistan International Airlines said in a statement that the decision stems from "the current, unprecedented environment and the continued uncertain impact from COVID-19."
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Grand Central’s historic Oyster Bar closes again

Photo by Jazz Guy on Flickr

October 12, 2020

Grand Central’s historic Oyster Bar closes again

By Devin Gannon

Less than two weeks after reopening for the first time in over six months, Grand Central Oyster Bar has temporarily closed again. The Midtown East restaurant resumed indoor service at its iconic dining room on September 30, the day indoor dining was permitted again in New York City. But with indoor dining capped at 25 percent capacity in the city, the Oyster Bar, which normally relies on commuters and tourists, could not do enough business to stay open.
More here

Food & Dining

16 middle-income apartments up for grabs at luxury rental near Grand Central, from $1,949/month

Photos: Left by Noble Construction Group; Right by Lester Ali

October 5, 2020

16 middle-income apartments up for grabs at luxury rental near Grand Central, from $1,949/month

Twenty percent of the 429 apartments at 222 East 44th Street is reserved as affordable housing. Two-and-a-half years ago, a lottery opened for 109 units for those earning 40, 60, and 130 percent of the area median income, and it looks like some of those on the higher end of the spectrum are newly available, as another lottery is open for 16 middle-income units. The glass tower in Midtown East was designed by Handel Architects and is a quick walk to Grand Central, the UN, and Midtown. Plus, it's got a ton of great amenities.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

John Lennon’s former ‘Lost Weekend’ penthouse in Manhattan asks $5.5M

Photo Credit: James Smolka/ Brown Harris Stevens

September 24, 2020

John Lennon’s former ‘Lost Weekend’ penthouse in Manhattan asks $5.5M

By Devin Gannon

One of New York City's most storied apartments has just hit the market. John Lennon's former penthouse at 434 East 52nd Street, where he briefly lived with his mistress May Pang during the 1970s and famously spotted a UFO, is asking $5.5 million. The 4,000-square-foot triplex in the Southgate co-op, located where Sutton Place, Beekman, and Midtown East meet, was also where the iconic photos of Lennon wearing a tank top that said "New York City" were taken.
Take the tour

In Union Square, a massive ‘climate clock’ counts down to Earth’s deadline

Photo by Zack Winestine

September 21, 2020

In Union Square, a massive ‘climate clock’ counts down to Earth’s deadline

By Devin Gannon

The massive electronic clock in Union Square that has puzzled New Yorkers for over two decades has been repurposed as a count down to climate disaster. Created by Gan Golan and Andrew Boyd, the "Climate Clock" displays the years, days, hours, minutes, and seconds the world has left to make significant changes before the effects of global warming become permanent. The new installation comes as Climate Week NYC kicks off this week, alongside the United Nations General Assembly.
Details this way

Uncategorized

In Midtown, 1,401-foot One Vanderbilt is officially open

Photo courtesy of SL Green

September 14, 2020

In Midtown, 1,401-foot One Vanderbilt is officially open

It's been nearly four years since One Vanderbilt broke ground next to Grand Central, and after topping out one year ago at 1,401 feet, NYC's fourth-tallest tower is officially open to office tenants. Developer SL Green, Manhattan's largest office landlord, held an opening ceremony this morning in which they also unveiled a $220 million package of public open space and transit infrastructure improvements.
Find out more here

New Developments

You can win a private session at Grand Central Terminal’s ‘hidden’ tennis courts

Photo courtesy of Grand Central Terminal

September 9, 2020

You can win a private session at Grand Central Terminal’s ‘hidden’ tennis courts

By Devin Gannon

A contest launched on Tuesday that is tailor-made for lovers of tennis and quirky New York City history. Grand Central Terminal's "Game, Set, & Match" contest will provide one winner and a partner an hour to play tennis at the iconic transit hub's Vanderbilt Tennis Club, located in a hard-to-find location on the terminal's fourth floor. In addition to the free match, the winner will receive $300 in gift cards for Grand Central Terminal vendors.
Get the details

City Living

This $8M penthouse near the UN has some killer views

Photo credit: Sean Hemmerle

August 14, 2020

This $8M penthouse near the UN has some killer views

Not only does this penthouse at One United Nations Park have the title "United Nations" in its address, but the sprawling duplex residence has incredible views of the landmark, along with those of Queens, Brooklyn, Midtown Manhattan, the East River, and more. Located at 695 First Avenue, between East 39th and East 40th Streets, the four-bedroom home is nearly 3,000 square feet, with a wrap-around terrace amounting to another 460 square feet.
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Distinctive Homes

There’s 8 closets and room to sleep 3 at this $495K Midtown studio

Listing images courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 14, 2020

There’s 8 closets and room to sleep 3 at this $495K Midtown studio

This Midtown East studio may be compact, but it certainly has a lot of storage space and room for guests (if you don't mind getting a little cozy). Located at 235 East 49th Street, just a stone's throw from the UN, the co-op was designed by award-winning architect Robert Garneau, who specializes in small-space layouts. Not only are there a whopping eight closets, but a Murphy bed plus sleeping loft means that three people can spend the night. Other perks include a gas fireplace and pocket doors for added privacy.
A lot more to see in this little place

Distinctive Homes

Opulent Beekman Place mansion closes for $38M less than original listing price

Photo credit: Rise Media, Courtesy of Compass

August 12, 2020

Opulent Beekman Place mansion closes for $38M less than original listing price

More than six years ago, this opulent, eight-story mansion at 29 Beekman Place listed for $49.9 million. Just one year later, it dropped to $37.5 million, with another major price chop this April to $11.45 million. First spotted by Crain's, city property records show that the controversial home near the UN has finally closed for $11.5 million. Crain's explains that it was owned by the former princess of Iran, and was the center of a legal battle involving her sister since 2016. It also went into contract three times and fell through.
See the whole place

Real Estate Trends

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One Domino Square

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Williamsburg

Spectacular living on the Williamsburg waterfront

1 beds starting at $1,925,000
2 beds starting at $2,055,000
3 beds starting at $3,030,000