A rare Fifth Avenue condo in Manhattan’s Upper East Side
Spacious balconies, setbacks and Central Park views define this luxury condo in one of the most desirable areas of Manhattan’s Upper East Side neighborhood. And for some buyers, there’s another appeal to this 97-unit property: “It’s a midcentury building in an area that tends to be prewar,” says Brian Lewis, an agent with Compass. “What’s interesting about that is most buildings are co-ops, [which can be] very restrictive. The fact that it’s a condo opens the buyer pool to the world — it’s not limited to what the co-op wants. You have a lot of freedom,” he adds. Built in 1951, the 20-story building, which has a limestone base, has another aspect that makes it stand out from the surrounding prewar co-ops: “It’s white brick, which is not unusual for that era, but can be polarizing. If you’re into classic prewar [style], you might be turned off by it. But if you’re a midcentury enthusiast, you’ll love it,” Lewis says. Here, prospective buyers will find ample light within each unit, many of which have multiple exposures, upscale features like herringbone floors and white-glove services.
Light-filled units with open layouts and epic views
As with many midcentury builds, layouts at 923 Fifth Avenue are fairly open: “The layouts are very horizontal and wide, [rather than] long and skinny like in prewars,” Lewis says. “The postwar era was getting away from the traditional layouts, so it’s got a lot of light and openness and a different flow than prewars.” Another unique aspect is the positioning of the building. Even though it’s situated on Fifth Avenue, many of the surrounding buildings are low- to mid-rise, which offers residents open views to the west, north and south through large, bright windows. “They’re townhouse-level between Fifth and Madison. It almost looks Parisian. But it means there's a ton of light and sky. And of course, the Fifth Avenue apartments get epic views of the park,” Lewis remarks. “In the back, there’s a surprising level of light, particularly on the south side, because that’s facing the street on the corner.” The building itself, Lewis says, “is swimming in all day sunshine in three directions.”
When it comes to interiors, each buyer has renovated as they saw fit, but most units have herringbone floors, walk-in closets within the primary bedroom, galley kitchens and white cabinetry. Bathrooms are fairly standard, with basic tile work and tubs, but many higher-end units are clad in marble with upgraded fixtures. Most all units have washer/dryers, but there’s also a common laundry room available.
One- to five-bedroom offerings with a wide range of price tags
One-bedrooms haven’t gone on the market for over ten years, but in the mid-aughts sold for around $1.85 million. Two-bedrooms are more common, with prices starting around $3.7 million to $5.8 million for square footage ranging between 1,400 to 1,745 (some have gone for up to $6.5 million for 2,000 square feet. Three-bedrooms have sold for between $4.3 million and $7.8 million, while four- and five-bedrooms garner anywhere between $9.75 million and $15.9 million. As far as taxes, Lewis notes that they’re a bit more tolerable because it was built in the 1950s, adding that “it’s a very high tax area in general.” Monthly maintenance isn’t “notoriously high or low, but they’re incredibly tolerable for a condo today,” Lewis says. With that said, prospective buyers should be aware that upon closing on a unit, they must pay the building a “Working Capital Contribution” of 2.5 percent of the purchase price. “Boards don’t tend to care who pays it, [whether it’s the] buyer or seller. You can finance up to 90 percent, if you wish, so there are no restrictions there, and you can rent it out,” he says. Investors, co-purchasers and pied-a-terres are allowed.
Basic amenities include garage access, gym and full-time staff
In addition to the full-time doorman and live-in super, residents also have access to a gym which was renovated a few years back. “It’s not huge, but it’s efficient and well-appointed. It’s a perfect rainy day solution, but better than a hotel. You’re not going to brag about the size,” Lewis says.
There’s no common rooftop space, but there is one rare perk for the neighborhood: “There’s a garage in the building, because it was built in the ‘age of the automobile,’ not in the ‘age of horses,’ so the priorities were different,” he adds. However, the garage is independently managed and parking spaces are leased. Residents also have access to private storage in the basement.
A prime location in the Upper East Side
A building overlooking Central Park is about as good as it gets in Manhattan and residents have this large green space essentially in their front yard. The park’s large lake is also within walking distance, where New Yorkers regularly jog, walk and amble about at all hours of the day. For dining there is Come Prima, a chic Italian restaurant, one avenue away, but restaurants are fairly limited in the area overall. Transportation, too, can be a bit cumbersome outside of MTA buses, but the closest subway station is at 77th Street, where residents can access the 6 train during the day and the 4 train, which runs local only at night.
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Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
2/ 10
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
75/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
94/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100/ 100
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Powered by CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks. Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Environmental risk data is provided by First Street Foundation® and is designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios.
Parks in this Area
Central Park
7 min walk
Ancient Playground
11 min walk
Grand Army Plaza
13 min walk
Great Lawn
15 min walk
Picnic Area
Trails
Events
Tramway Plaza
3 min drive
Picnic Area
St. Catherine's Park
3 min drive
Basketball
Picnic Area
Soccer
Richard Tucker Park
4 min drive
Picnic Area
Events
Honey Locust Park
4 min drive
Picnic Area
Trails
Abraham and Joseph Spector Playground
5 min drive
Playground
Schools
Source:
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