A co-op building with a well-run board and lots of amenities in a sought-after neighborhood
New York City co-op boards are known for their especially rigorous vetting process and their stringent resident policies. According to a 2002 New York Times article on Lenox Hill living, buildings between Third Avenue and the FDR are often more flexible than their counterparts on the west end of the neighborhood, and that seems to hold at The Amherst. For those who yearn to buy into a New York City co-op but with an accommodating, well-run board, The Amherst on the southern corner of East 74th Street and First Avenue could be a great option. “The people that are on the board understand how difficult it is to actually save up 20% for a downpayment,” says Richard Pino, a real estate agent and resident of the Lenox Hill building. “Everybody has a unique situation and they treat each potential buyer independently.” And, in testament to Pino’s adamance that the building “is properly run by an excellent board” the agent says he’s “been in the building 18 years and never once had an assessment” (or additions to the building’s common charges to pay for repairs).
The 21-story, red-brick building permits pets, pied-a-terres, subletting (two out of every five years), gifting and co-purchasing, policies that may be frowned upon in other co-ops. Being a post-war building, floor plans are generous and many units have been converted, adding an extra room, or have the potential to do so. The building’s full suite of amenities is thoughtful, and the lobby and first-floor common rooms recently received an upgrade so their aesthetics are contemporary. And, being conscious of the cost of energy, the building installed a cogeneration system that generates low-cost energy for everyone, reduces carbon emissions and provides a generator in the event of a power outage. Apart from the building’s observable benefits, residents get the advantage of living in a section of Lenox Hill that is family-oriented and within walking distance to many of Manhattan’s acclaimed private and public schools.
Spacious post-war layouts that are easy to convert
The Amherst was originally configured with generously sized studio- to two-bedroom units. There are a few three-bedrooms and above, in addition to duplexes, but “anybody who has those, did a combination,” says Pino. Units vary in their state of renovation. Original finishes in the 1961-built building include parquet floors, colored tiles and galley kitchens, but most apartments for sale or rent reflect modern paint jobs, flooring and finishes. Balconies are limited to corner units, and terraces created by setbacks are reserved for penthouse-level apartments. Many original one-bedrooms clock in at over 900 square feet and original two-bedrooms can start at 1,200 square feet. A 1,275-square-foot, two-bedroom went for $1.2 million in September of 2024 and a 940-square-foot one-bedroom was sold for $844,800 that summer. Earlier in the year, an alcove studio went for $570,000. A rare six-bedroom duplex on the 20th floor with over 4,700 square feet of living space, plus a terrace, sold in October for $4.2 million.
A full suite of amenities plus two outdoor spaces
The lobby at The Amherst was renovated about five years ago so the soft gray-and-beige color palette, the furniture and lighting are all modern. Much of the staff has been around for over or almost two decades, including the 24-hour doormen and two part-time porters. Two outdoor spaces exist: a shady courtyard with its many benches, trees and planters, and a finished rooftop complete with garden (maintained by volunteers), pergolas and an outdoor shower for those blazing hot summer days. The fully-equipped gym and common room are both on the first floor “so we always have natural light coming through,” says Pino. A section of the common room is furnished with toys and children’s books, and is well-used by the nannies and kids in the building. The rest of the room is sectioned into a small kitchen and a flex space with a dining table. “Somebody rented it for Thanksgiving last year,” Pino says about the room. “They brought in an extra table, which was nice.” Laundry is not allowed in units but machines are available in the basement. There is also a bike room and storage units available, although there is currently a waiting list. An attached garage is available with resident-only access to the building through the basement; guests may park here but must check in at the front desk in order to enter the building. Two resident elevators and one service elevator are available. A window washer comes every Saturday, and an exterminator is available every second Thursday of the month. The building is also wired for TimeWarner, RCN, and FIOS cable.
Lots of local fare and parks to enjoy
This side of Lenox Hill is occupied more by local shops and chains, like supermarkets Morton Williams on 71st Street and First Avenue, and Gristedes on 76th and Second. “I’ve been working with my laundromat for over 25 years,” says Pino. “It’s things like that that are important.” Small restaurants serving a variety of international foods like Thai and Indian are within walking distance. And just across the street on 74th is Campagnola’s, an “old-school Italian eatery” that’s been a fixture in the neighborhood for over 40 years serving residents, local leaders and a fair share of celebs like Eli Manning and President Biden (who made a stop to dine with his family in September of 2024). And just a few doors down, residents enjoy coffee during the day at Inès, then wine and beer when the cafe makes the switch at 5 p.m. “On Saturday, the music is cranked,” says Pino. “She plays old-school ’80s music and gets a real crowd in there.” John Jay Park, which borders the FDR between 76th and 78th streets, is quite popular with locals; its pool, ball courts and playgrounds are a draw in the summer. The courts, play structures and fitness equipment are also popular at St. Catherine’s Park down on First Avenue and 66th. Potential buyers should note that New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and Lenox Hospital are close by, so sirens can often be heard.
Excellent schools, both public and private, abound
Many families live on the Upper East Side because of the high number of excellent public and private schools from which to choose. Eleanor Roosevelt High School is number six on Niche.com’s list of Best College Prep Public High Schools in New York; it is only a three-minute walk from The Amherst. Elementary schools P.S. 158 and P.S. 267, and Robert F. Wagner and Yorkville East Middle Schools all earn a grade “A” on Niche.com and are only a short walking distance away. Some of the city’s top-rated private schools are within the area and include Lycée Français De New York, The Town School, Hewitt School, Buckley School and Saint Stephen of Hungary School, among many others.
Trains, Buses and the FDR
The completion of the Second Avenue Subway’s phase one extension in 2017 brought train service to the east of Lexington Avenue on the Upper East Side, so residents of The Amherst need only walk six minutes to catch the Q at 72nd Street. Before the Q, residents relied heavily on buses for transportation and as a result, many bus lines crisscross the neighborhood, including the M15, M31, M72 and M79. Residents also traditionally have depended on their cars to get around, and the FDR is only three minutes away.
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Quantarium
Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Low Crime
Crime Score®
2/ 10
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
85/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
98/ 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
St. Catherine's Park
6 min walk
Basketball
Picnic Area
Soccer
John Jay Park
6 min walk
Basketball
Picnic Area
Pool
Andrew Haswell Green Park
14 min walk
Bike Trails
Dog Park
Picnic Area
Twenty-Four Sycamores Park
15 min walk
Basketball
Picnic Area
Playground
Honey Locust Park
2 min drive
Picnic Area
Trails
Tramway Plaza
3 min drive
Picnic Area
Sutton Place Park
6 min drive
Trails
Playground
Rainey Park
9 min drive
Baseball/Softball
Dog Park
Playground
Capobianco Field
11 min drive
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Tennis
Schools
Source:
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
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