Ruppert Yorkville Towers

Two canopied public spaces enhance the condominium’s grounds

While the identity of the Ruppert Yorkville Towers has shifted over the years, very little has changed about the physical complex. The Ruppert and Yorkville towers line 90th and 92nd Street, respectively. Between the two, 91st Street is pedestrian-only and closed to traffic. “There are only two physical structures, each with one lobby, but both towers are divided into two sections for address purposes,” Nier-McDermott explains. “There are a bunch of benches on the street, which isn’t necessarily the usual on a cross street, so it's a little bit more of a hangout spot.” At the corner of 90th Street and Second Avenue, Ruppert Park is a one-acre green space with a shaded playground. While both 91st Street and the park are open to the public(but not dogs), residents see them as two of the towers’ best amenities.

Each tower has low-key outdoor spaces and its own parking garage

As for private spaces, both buildings have three additional common areas. On the third floor, there’s a laundry room, which, according to Nier-McDermott, got new machines within the last few years. “Off the laundry rooms, each building has a terrace with a barbecue pit and some plantings,” he says. “Plus there are private children’s playgrounds attached to each building that can only be accessed through the lobby. They’re relatively small, but they have swings, little castles and fun things for kids.” Two separate parking garages are also available through each of the lobbies, and unlike many other condos, Nier-McDermott says that availability isn’t a concern for those who wish to lease a space and utilize the valet. There are numerous commercial spaces within the complex, as well, including a post office, several doctors and a New York Sports Club, which typically offers a discount to residents. The income produced by commercial units (as well as the ongoing rentals) has perks for the condo owners, too. “The fact that these units are paying for a large portion of building expenses keeps the common charges unusually low for owners. It’s been a good income producer,” Nier-McDermott says.

Investors and owners often modernize their unit’s floor plans

Customization is the recurring theme throughout Ruppert Yorkville Towers’ units. Original residents were allowed to apply their own style to the units, but full-on renovations became more common with the 2003 condo conversion. “A lot of people open up the kitchens and add an island, as they used to be pass-through galley kitchens,” Nier-McDermott says. “It's also fairly common to convert the one-bedroom units into two-bedrooms, especially among investor owners.” To do so, residents put a wall across the alcove dining nook to create a small second room. Even without renovations, the original layouts have some nice qualities, including great closet space and spacious floor plans. “And the windows are unusually large,” Nier-McDermott adds. “I mean, they’re like person-sized windows, so you get very good light through those.”

Studios typically range from $535,000 to $649,000, while one-bedroom units are priced between $765,000 and $960,000. In recent years, two-bedroom condos have sold for anywhere from $825,000 to $1.49 million. Larger residences, sometimes the result of unit combinations, are usually between $1.4 million and $2.6 million in price. “From an investor perspective, these condos are really popular,” Nier-McDermott says. “Management makes it very easy to get [renters] through. The application fees come out to around 650 bucks, which is low for condos this size.”

A growing number of businesses have sprouted in the neighborhood

Yorkville has a reputation for being a bit slower-paced, but Nier-McDermott has seen a shift, especially post-pandemic. “I've been here for a long time, so I've seen the neighborhood change a lot,” Nier-McDermott says. “This area is benefitting from work-from-home and people not being so firm on having to be downtown. That’s brought more cool places, more vibes and more nightlife. Streets are more crowded on a Friday night than they had traditionally been.” Nearby favorites include Korali Estiatorio for upscale Greek food, Bangrak for Thai and Bread N Wine for American fare. Key Food Supermarket is right outside the complex, and Whole Foods Market and Fairway Market are also within walking distance. “Park-wise, this is a good location because you're several blocks from Central Park, Carl Schurz Park and the [East] River Esplanade,” Nier-McDermott says. Right outside Central Park, locals can visit the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum on 91st Street or the Guggenheim Museum on 88th Street. Subway accessibility has improved residents’ quality of life Transportation in the neighborhood improved when the Q line was extended in 2017. Now, residents can catch the train along Second Avenue from the 86th Street or 96th Street stations. The 4, 5 and 6 trains are also available along Lexington Avenue. A Citi Bike dock is stationed at the end of 91st Street’s pedestrian-only corridor, and five buses operate close by.