The Monterey, 175 East 96th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 175 East 96th Street by Carter Horsley

The 32-story Monterey apartment rental building at 175 East 96^th Street on the northwest corner at Third Avenue is one of Manhattan's very few buildings with a major façade curve.

It was designed by Costas Kondylis and erected in 1992. 

Its large rounded corner provides many dramatic views to the south and east especially since it is across the avenue from a large mosque designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and set in a large plaza.

Bottom Line

A handsome curved apartment building with a very fine mid-block garden with excellent public transportation at the north edge of the desirable Carnegie Hill neigbhorhood.

Description

The building's rooftop watertank is handsomely enclosed in a cylindrical form that is evocative of sleek oceanliner design and the non-curved wings of the building have broad projecting bays that help modulate the design and minimize somewhat its large mass. 

The building has 19 apartments per floor and a total of 522 units. 

This building is notable for a very large and handsome mid-block garden with barbecue facilities and intriguing topiary near its entrance.

Amenities

Erected in 1992, this building has a health club and pool, a doorman, a 24-hour concierge, a bicycle room, a children's room, a private garden, a sundeck, a 24-hour attended garage, valet service, video security and an impressive lobby.

Apartments

Kitchens have granite counters with white cabinetry and bathrooms have white tile and marble-top vanities with tri-view mirrors.

Apartment 15S has a foyer next to a pass-through kitchen and a 17-foot-living room with a 10-foot sleeping alcove.

Apartment 8G has a foyer next to an enclosed kitchen and a 22-foot-long living room with a dining area and a 15-foot-long bedroom.

Apartment 11E is a two-bedroom unit with an enclosed kitchen next to the angled foyer that leads to a 20-foot-long angular living room.

Location

The building is close to several playgrounds and not too far from a major entrance to the FDR Drive. It is very convenient to public transportation and is on the northern fringe of the popular Carnegie Hill neighborhood to the west and south that has many fine private schools and cultural and religious institutions. 

The building is also as 162 East 97th Street and 1710 Third Avenue.

This major cross-street has traditionally been the northern boundary of the Upper East Side and the southern boundary of East Harlem and this project was important for the long-term development of this important corridor and several new residential buildings to the north began to be built about a decade after this was finished. 

East 96^th Street leads into the FDR Drive along the East River. 

At Lexington Avenue, there is a subway station and at 92^nd Street there is the famous “Y,” one of the city’s most important educational and cultural venues. 

On the north side of Park Avenue, trains going to and from Grand Central Station enter/exit a tunnel.