Manhattan East

Manhattan East has 134 units, ranging from studios to four-bedroom residences, with one- and two-bedrooms being the most popular. Design features include hardwood floors (many have the original parquet flooring) and combined living and dining areas, some with open kitchens and bar seating. “The layouts offer significant closet space,” says George Shapiro of Douglas Elliman, who has represented properties at Manhattan East. Units can have washers and dryers installed with board approval, he adds. Because of the building’s angled facade, a number of apartments have wraparound windows or rooms with five walls. Some owners have installed banquette seating or an office nook in the unusual space. Several units also offer private balconies or terraces. Studios start at around $400,000, while one-bedrooms range from around $700,000 to $925,000. A two-bedroom with one bathroom was on the market for about $860,000 in summer 2024, but an additional bathroom increases the price to more like $1.2 million. A renovated three-bedroom with a home office and a washer and dryer has a price tag of $2.425 million. Only a few four-bedroom homes are in the building, and the last one sold in 2021 for $2.35 million.

Neighbors socialize in the backyard

The building’s backyard features Wi-Fi, a play structure, several tables and chairs and is “nicely maintained,” Shapiro notes. Cheng and her family hang out there to unwind. “Kids love it,” she says. “It’s a great place to sit in the afternoon or grab a drink with a friend. We’ve met a lot of our neighbors there, which is great, and it’s even better because a lot of the kids, essentially, grew up together.” The doorman building also has a live-in super, a bike room and storage for an additional fee. A central laundry room is located in the basement, and there’s also laundry on every other floor. “There are a lot of laundry options,” Shapiro jokes. There’s also a garage that residents can access via the basement. “If you live in the building, you do get a very good discount parking the car in the garage,” Cheng adds. “It is very convenient.” Temperatures are controlled by a building-wide HVAC system, which is set to be updated in 2025. A new boiler is also on the horizon, Cheng says. That does mean additional assessments are in place through 2028, although they are not prohibitively high, she adds.

Blocks from the East River

“There are so many things to do,” Cheng notes. “For this building, the location is the key.” Cheng and her family spend time at St. Catherine’s Park on the corner of East 67th Street and First Avenue — which has a playground, sports courts and bathrooms — and the proximity to the East River is a plus. The neighborhood has “beautiful” restaurants and bars, Cheng says. Within a few blocks of the building, there’s Maya, a Mexican restaurant and tequila bar serving bottomless brunch; Silver Star diner; and Ravagh Persian Grill, among others. For groceries, there’s a Gristedes around the corner on First Avenue. Additional options are a bit further but still within walking distance: a Trader Joe’s is on East 59th Street and First Avenue, and there’s a Whole Foods at East 57th Street between Second and Third avenues.

Convenient to subways and the Queensboro Bridge

The closest subway station is at Lexington Avenue and East 63 Street, where the F and the Q both stop. Since the Second Avenue subway line opened, residents can also find the Q train in a shiny new station at East 72nd Street. The M72 crosstown bus also stops along the latter thoroughfare. Drivers can access FDR Drive or the Queensboro Bridge in fewer than 10 minutes or get on 66th Street, providing a straight shot to the West Side. A tram provides service from 59th Street and Second Avenue to Roosevelt Island.