Live in a new Upper East Side rental tower, from $1,655/month

Here’s a chance to live affordably in one of New York City’s most desirable neighborhoods. A housing lottery opened at 300 East 83rd Street in the Yorkville section of the Upper East Side. The 22-story luxury rental, dubbed the Duchess, offers apartments with high-end finishes and amenities like a fitness center, rooftop terrace, and more. New Yorkers earning 70 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for the units, priced from $1,655/month for studios to $4,020/month for two bedrooms.

Developed by Lalezarian Properties and designed by SLCE Architects, the 235-foot-tall building contains a total of 70 condo units, as well as cellar and ground-floor retail space, according to Yimby. The property is alternatively addressed as 1594-1598 Second Avenue.

Amenities include bike storage lockers, a shared laundry room, a gym, a recreation room, a children’s playroom, a rooftop terrace, and pet-friendly policies. Residents must pay a $100 monthly fee to use the amenities, as well as an additional fee for bike storage.

Apartments feature in-unit washers and dryers, air conditioning, smart controls for cooling and heating, intercoms, and high-end finishes throughout.

Demolition permits for the building were filed in June 2020, according to Yimby. In September 2021, Lalezarian filed a lawsuit against the owners of the neighboring building at 1592 Second Avenue, Lemle & Sons, alleging that their refusal to provide access to their property was delaying demolition work, according to Patch.

The developers were legally required to install protective coverings over the Lemle & Sons-owned property before beginning demolition. Lalezarian claimed that their neighbors refused to grant the necessary access. Lalezarian owns 1594-1598 Second Avenue, which they demolished to make way for a new rental tower. The properties previously contained three five-story buildings constructed in 1920, which housed restaurants until their demolition.

In October 2021, permits were filed for the 22-story building, and excavation took place in May 2021. In July 2023, Lalezarian re-filed plans with the city, detailing a reduction of 126 square feet of commercial space and over 2,000 square feet of residential space for a total building size of 93,862 square feet, according to Patch.

Nearest transit options include the N, Q, and R subway lines and the M15, M101, M102, and M103 buses.

Qualifying New Yorkers can apply for the apartments until September 30, 2024. Complete details on how to apply are available here. Preference for 20 percent of the units will be given to residents of Manhattan Community District 8.

Questions regarding this offer must be referred to NYC’s Housing Connect department by dialing 311.

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