Midtown East

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

By Michelle Cohen

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.
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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

By Devin Gannon

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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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

By Devin Gannon

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

By Devin Gannon

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

By Devin Gannon

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

By Devin Gannon

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.
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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

By Devin Gannon

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

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.
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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

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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Distinctive Homes

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201 East 74th Street

Lenox Hill

Gracious Upper East Side condos with Central Park and skyline views

2 beds starting at $3,380,000
3 beds starting at $4,850,000
5 beds starting at $11,950,000