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51 West 81st Street
Last updated on Mar 6, 2026

Galaxy 51,
51 West 81st Street

The Galaxy is a pre-war cooperative built in 1905 with 100 homes, located in the Upper West Side and featuring amenities like 24-hour doorman and laundry on each floor. Situated across from the American Museum of Natural History and close to Central Park, the building offers easy access to dining, shopping, and public transportation options.

51 West 81st Street Location Map
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Overview of Galaxy 51 at 51 West 81st Street

The Galaxy, constructed in 1905, is a distinguished pre-war cooperative building located in a prime Upper West Side location. The building houses 100 residential units and maintains its historic character while offering modern conveniences.

Residents benefit from full-service amenities including a 24-hour doorman, a live-in superintendent, and the practical convenience of laundry facilities on each floor. The building's maintenance and security are well-managed through these services.

The location is particularly noteworthy, situated directly across from the American Museum of Natural History and within moments of Central Park. The building's immediate surroundings include Theodore Roosevelt Park and the Diana Ross Playground, providing abundant outdoor spaces.

The neighborhood offers exceptional access to some of the Upper West Side's most beloved institutions, including the iconic Zabar's and the weekly 77th/79th Street Farmers Market. The area is known for its rich cultural offerings and diverse dining and shopping options.

Transportation access is comprehensive, with the B and C subway lines nearby, along with the 1 train. The 79th Street crosstown bus provides convenient east-west transit options across Manhattan.

Doorman
Full Time
Type
Co-op
Year Built
1903
Converted: 1979
Apartments
Floors
13
Neighborhood
Min Down
25%

Amenities

  • Attended Lobby
  • FT Doorman
  • Elevator
  • Laundry Room
  • Live-In Superintendent
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  1. B
  2. C
at Central Park West 0.17 miles
  1. 1
at Broadway 0.31 miles

Pros & Cons

  • Concierge
  • Handsome pre-war building
  • One block from Central Park
  • Protruding air-conditioners
  • Excellent public transportation
  • Across from American Museum of Natural History
  • Nice lobby
  • Close to Subway
  • Laundry facilities on each floor
  • Near Zabar's and weekly farmers market
  • Adjacent to Theodore Roosevelt Park
  • Prime Upper West Side location
  • Missing its cornice
  • 100 residential units
  • Considerable traffic
  • Two-step-up entrance
  • No health club

CityRealty Rating

22
/44
Architecture
+
28
/36
Location
+
11
/39
Features
+
8
Editor’s Points
=
69
CITYREALTY
RATING
  • How is the CityRealty Rating calculated?

    Architecture
    • 30+ remarkable
    • 20-29 distinguished
    • 11-19 average
    • < 11 below average
    Location
    • 27+ remarkable
    • 18-26 distinguished
    • 9-17 average
    • < 9 below average
    Features
    • 22+ remarkable
    • 16-21 distinguished
    • 9-15 average
    • < 9 below average

Broker & Buyer Comments

This "gracious" pre-war gem boasts an "impeccably maintained" lobby with "friendly" door staff and sits in a "prime" Upper West Side location "directly across" from the Museum of Natural History. Residents rave about the "spectacular" planted roof deck offering "unbeatable views" and appreciate modern touches like updated elevators and convenient bike storage. The "ideal" location provides easy access to multiple subway lines (C,D,1) and crosstown bus, while the "vibrant" neighborhood offers everything from wine shops to boutiques steps away.

Sales History

Price/Room (Est)

Why are we displaying the estimated price per room?

For some co-ops, instead of price per square foot, we use an estimate of the number of rooms for each sold apartment to chart price changes over time. This is because many co-op listings do not include square footage information, and this makes it challenging to calculate accurate square-foot averages.

By displaying the price per estimated room count, we are able to provide a more reliable and consistent metric for comparing sales in the building. While we hope that this gives you a clearer sense of price trends in the building, all data should be independently verified. All data provided are only estimates and should not be used to make any purchase or sale decision.

Price/Ft2 (Est)
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Sales Summary

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Sales History by Apartment Size

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Pricing Comparison of Similar Buildings

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