Midtown East

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."
READ MORE

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

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

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

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

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.
See more

Distinctive Homes

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

Waldorf Astoria reveals new looks and virtual tours

All renderings by Noë & Associates / The Boundary

May 19, 2020

Waldorf Astoria reveals new looks and virtual tours

After launching condo sales in March, the Waldorf Astoria is making the most of the current times by releasing new renderings and 3-D tours that let you walk through the sales gallery and model residence virtually. In addition to getting a look inside the luxury condos, there are new views of the outdoor terrace that extend off the uber-glamorous residents-only pool.
See more here

Eight-story Beekman Place mansion lowers price yet again to $11.45M

Photo credit: Rise Media, Courtesy of Compass

April 28, 2020

Eight-story Beekman Place mansion lowers price yet again to $11.45M

It's been more than six years since this stately home at 29 Beekman Place first listed for $37.5 million, and it's now back on the market for less than a third of that price. Built in 1934 as the largest of all the mansions along the exclusive enclave, the home is eight stories and has 10 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, two terraces, and amazing East River views. It's only had three owners in its lifetime, starting with its first resident, CBS founder William S. Paley.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

April 2, 2020

Deal reached to redevelop MTA’s former Midtown East headquarters, making way for new tower

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New York City reached an agreement to redevelop the agency's former headquarters in Midtown as part of a revenue-generating plan, officials announced on Thursday. The redevelopment of the site at 341-347 Madison Avenue is expected to create more than $1 billion for the cash-strapped agency's capital program. The deal, delayed due to a prior dispute between city and state officials, comes nearly a decade after the MTA first announced plans to sell or lease its three-building complex.
Get the details

Sales launch for Waldorf Astoria’s luxury condos, starting at $1.7M studios

Rendering by Noë & Associates/The Boundary

March 4, 2020

Sales launch for Waldorf Astoria’s luxury condos, starting at $1.7M studios

By Michelle Cohen

Residential condo sales have launched at the newly-imagined Waldorf Astoria, which has been closed for renovations since 2017. The launch, complete with a new website offering a sneak peek inside the iconic building, comes at a time when ultra-luxe apartments have become a tougher sell in a market loaded with competition and unsold units, as The Real Deal reports. The residential portion of the building sits above the renovated hotel, with 375 condos and 50,000 square feet of amenities including private bars, a 25-meter pool and a fitness center.
Get a closer look

See the Waldorf Astoria’s glamorous, residents-only pool

Image credit: Noe & Associates/The Boundary

March 2, 2020

See the Waldorf Astoria’s glamorous, residents-only pool

The Waldorf Astoria is still closed for a major renovation, but it appears on track to becoming more luxurious than ever. The latest rendering to be released (which we spotted over on The Post) shows the skylit pool that will be available to residents of the recently branded Towers of the Waldorf Astoria, where 375 condos will be sold for the first time in the history of the storied property.
READ MORE

See the car-free pedestrian plaza opening outside of Grand Central and One Vanderbilt this summer

Aerial rendering of Vanderbilt Plaza courtesy of SL Green

February 4, 2020

See the car-free pedestrian plaza opening outside of Grand Central and One Vanderbilt this summer

A car-free public space will open this summer between Grand Central Terminal and Midtown's newest, tallest office building, One Vanderbilt. Renderings released this week, which were first spotted by the New York Post, show a new plaza on a strip of Vanderbilt Avenue between East 42nd Street to East 43rd Street, situated at the southern end of the iconic terminal. The open space, dubbed "Vanderbilt Plaza," is part of SL Green's commitment to invest $220 million in transit improvements in exchange for zoning changes agreed to by the city in 2014.
See the plaza

New Developments

This Sunday, get access to Grand Central’s secret glass catwalk

View from the catwalk, photo via Wikimedia Commons

January 29, 2020

This Sunday, get access to Grand Central’s secret glass catwalk

Grand Central Terminal's upcoming 107th anniversary isn't the round number typical of big celebrations, but nevertheless, the NYC icon is marking the occasion with a "major treat" that will appeal to all architecture and history buffs. The catwalk above the Main Concourse—normally closed off to the public—will be opened up for one day only on Sunday, February 2. To take advantage of the rare bird's eye perspective, you'll have to register for one of three showings that will take place that day. If this piques your interest, you'll want to hurry: only 45 spots are available and registration ends at 5 p.m. today.
More info

Events & Things To Do

Midtown East’s newest cocktail bar was designed by SHoP Architects with a nod to old New York glamour

Photos of Bergamo’s by Rachel Vanni

January 13, 2020

Midtown East’s newest cocktail bar was designed by SHoP Architects with a nod to old New York glamour

Busy but relatively dry Midtown East got a new cocktail bar last week with Bergamo’s at 26 Vanderbilt Avenue. Located on the ground floor of the Company building—a tech incubator designed by SHoP Architects—the sprawling 8,530-square-foot lounge was inspired by old New York glamour and features a vaulted ceiling with custom tiles that nod to the historic Guastavino vaults at nearby Grand Central Terminal.
More details

Food & Dining

For $1.9M, this spacious Midtown East condo has two bedrooms and a huge roof terrace

Listing images by Bernadett Pava; courtesy of Compass

January 6, 2020

For $1.9M, this spacious Midtown East condo has two bedrooms and a huge roof terrace

This Midtown East condo ticks all the (right) boxes: it's located in a Rosario Candela-designed building at 135 East 54th Street, comes with an expansive roof terrace bigger than most people's apartments, and is only a short walk away from the Museum of Modern Art and Central Park. The approximately 1,200-square-foot, two-bedroom is now on the market seeking $1.895 million.
Look inside

Distinctive Homes

Sweeping views and a sculptural staircase stand out in this $8M Sutton Place duplex

Listing images by Evan Joseph; courtesy of Compass

January 2, 2020

Sweeping views and a sculptural staircase stand out in this $8M Sutton Place duplex

This Sutton Place duplex co-op is a corner unit on the 37th of 47 floors so it boasts sweeping views of the Midtown skyline and East River in every room. The five-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom residence spans over 6,300 square feet in the Emery Roth-designed tower at 425 East 58th Street, also known as The Sovereign. It's now on the market for $7,995,000, with a minimum 50 percent down payment required.
Get the full tour

Distinctive Homes

December 11, 2019

One Vanderbilt’s observation deck named the Summit, will have two glass-floored overhangs

After attending a presentation by One Vanderbilt's developer SL Green, the Post was able to share some juicy new details on the office building's observation deck, which will be the second-highest outdoor deck in the city and is being designed by Snøhetta. Now known as The Summit at One Vanderbilt, the 59th-floor deck will have "two step-out, glass floor ledges that overhang Madison Avenue." Also on this floor will be food and beverage options, and on the floor below will be an "'infinity room' with 40-foot-high ceilings." The building is set to open in August 2020, while the Summit will begin welcoming guests (who will pay $35 for the experience) at the end of 2021.
More details right here

Lord & Taylor is returning to NYC as a Soho pop-up

Photo courtesy of Lord & Taylor

December 3, 2019

Lord & Taylor is returning to NYC as a Soho pop-up

By Michelle Cohen

After closing its iconic Fifth Avenue flagship at the start of 2019, department store Lord & Taylor will be popping up again as a Manhattan shopping address, sources told Bloomberg. The department store brand, which was sold by former owner Hudson's Bay to clothing rental company Le Tote for $100 million in cash in August, is reportedly opening a 2,400-square-foot shop for just two weeks in mid-December. The pop-up shop will be located on Wooster Street in Soho–a neighborhood whose current streetscape boasts as many empty storefronts and seasonal pop-ups as high-end designer fashion shops.
Find out more

Real Estate Trends

Empire State Building opens 80th-floor observatory, completing $165M redevelopment

Photo by Evan Joseph for Empire State Realty Trust

December 2, 2019

Empire State Building opens 80th-floor observatory, completing $165M redevelopment

With the opening of the 80th-floor observatory last week, the $165 million, four-year redevelopment of the Empire State Building is now complete. In partnership with the city's tourism agency, NYC & Company, Empire State Realty Trust created an interactive, visitor-focused experience, which includes personalized digital itineraries, the building's classic viewfinders, film, original artwork, and more. The Trust unveiled the 102nd-floor observatory to the public in October, with the second-floor museum opening earlier in the summer.
See it here

Architecture And Design

East Midtown Greenway, $100M link in a connected Manhattan waterfront loop, breaks ground

Rendering courtesy of Stantec

November 25, 2019

East Midtown Greenway, $100M link in a connected Manhattan waterfront loop, breaks ground

By Michelle Cohen

The creation of the East Midtown Greenway (EMG), a 1.5-acre public space stretching from East 53rd to 61st Streets along the waterfront, got underway Friday. The project, to be completed by 2022, is part of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway initiative to wrap the entire perimeter of Manhattan with accessible public spaces and safe bicycle paths. The midtown space will close one of the largest remaining gaps in the $250 million city initiative, announced by Mayor de Blasio in 2018, to connect 32 miles of Manhattan waterfront esplanade.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

A first look inside the Waldorf Astoria’s historic conversion

Renderings by Noë & Associates/The Boundary

November 14, 2019

A first look inside the Waldorf Astoria’s historic conversion