The Promenade, 530 East 76th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 530 East 76th Street by Carter Horsley

One of the luxurious high-rise towers that sprouted near the East River in the wake of Sotheby's surprising move from Madison Avenue to 72nd Street and York Avenue, the Promenade is a good-looking, dark-glass-gray-brick monolith. 

Designed by Costas Kondylis of Philip Birnbaum & Associates for Jeffrey, Reuben and Daniel Glick, the large, 38-story condominium benefits from its location a few blocks above those clustered around Sotheby's by having more open vistas. It and the other nearby competing East River towers such as the Belaire on 72nd Street are impressive additions to the neighborhood.

Clearly, they appeal to those who admire river vistas and don't mind less than magnificent surroundings like those people who also flock to Sutton Place for the same reasons. The added advantage at The Promenade is that it offers excellent views in all directions above its lowest floors. 

To gain its bulk, the air rights of the Town School were acquired and the building wraps around the school.

Bottom Line

A slick and distinctive tower overlooking the East River with many amenities and numerous multi-level layouts.

It is a few blocks to the north of another large dark-glass apartment tower, East River Place, a rental building that faces the river with a large plaza between 72nd and 73rd Streets. East River Place is a more luxurious building, and it benefits from being close to the 72nd Street cross-town bus service.

The building is about a block south of a very tall, mid-block chimney.

Description

While not quite “The Man in the Gray Suit” tower, this building has many small curved balconies that cascade horizontally, giving it a rather bespoke appearance.

Amenities

For those who are willing to venture this far east, the rewards are a health club, pool and solarium, 24-hour doormen and concierges, a live-in superintendent, valet services, an oval rooftop running track, a party room with kitchen and a garage. 

Apartments

Apartment 33H is a two-bedroom unit that has a foyer that leads to a 30-foot-long living room with a curved bay window and an 11-foot-long dining room across from an enclosed kitchen. 

Apartment 31AB is a three-bedroom unit with an 18-foot-long entrance gallery that leads to a 25-foot-wide living room and a 9-foot-long pass-through kitchen.  The unit has a 12-foot-long curved corner balcony. 

Apartment 3536H is a three bedroom duplex with a 30-foot-long living room that is partially double-height, a formal 11-foot-long dining room next to an enclosed kitchen and one 18-foot-long bedroom on the lower level and a curved 10-foot-wide gallery on the upper level with two bedrooms. 

Apartment 3637E is a four-bedroom unit with a 13-foot-long foyer on the lower vel that opens onto a 24-foot-long living room and a 18-foot-long dining room next to a 18-foot-long kitchen.  The lower level has a 23-foot-long bedroom with a curved bay window.  The upper level has three bedrooms, two with curved bay windows. 

Apartment 28AHK is a three-bedroom unit with three curved balconies and a large, open living/dining/sitting area.  The apartment also has a home office and a maid’s room.

History

An article by Anthony DePalma in the October 12^, 1986 edition of The New York Times quoted developer Jeffrey R. Glick as stating that he believed that “the shrinking apartment has become as small as it ever will be,” adding that “from now on things will start to get bigger.”  

Location

It is a few blocks to the north of another large dark-glass apartment tower, East River Place, a rental building that faces the river with a large plaza between 72nd and 73rd Streets. East River Place is a more luxurious building, and it benefits from being close to the 72nd Street cross-town bus service.

The building is about a block south of a very tall, mid-block chimney.