Former New York governor and current New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo’s voter records indicate that in September, he registered his home address at The Oriana, a luxury rental building in Sutton Place. According to his spokesperson, he has lived there for nearly a year—just across the street from his mother, Matilda Cuomo, and near his sister Maria Cuomo and her husband, designer Kenneth Cole.
In the days since Mr. Cuomo announced his candidacy for mayor, Curbed and Gothamist have covered his Sutton Place residence, with Gothamist talking to 16 residents who noted that they rarely see him. They also acknowledged that his daughter, Cara Kennedy-Cuomo, recently moved out of the $8,242/month two-bedroom apartment—perhaps making room for her father and his campaign? Either way, Mr. Cuomo defended himself by saying, “I have been a lifelong New Yorker. When you're governor, you're still a New Yorker.”
In this article:
The Oriana may be strategic spot for Cuomo since it offers easy vehicular access to the governor's NYC office on 41st Street, the Midtown Tunnel, and the F.D.R. for easy trips to Westchester (where he previously lived).
The 394-unit building currently has 11 public availabilities and is offering one month of free rent on select units. Studios start at $3,900/month, one-beds from $5,424 month, and two-beds from $6,643/month. The Oriana boasts high-end amenities, including a vintage video game arcade, a library, and a rooftop deck. It also enjoys a prime, private Sutton Place address.
The 394-unit building currently has 11 public availabilities and is offering one month of free rent on select units. Studios start at $3,900/month, one-beds from $5,424 month, and two-beds from $6,643/month. The Oriana boasts high-end amenities, including a vintage video game arcade, a library, and a rooftop deck. It also enjoys a prime, private Sutton Place address.
Sutton Place: A Private Enclave
Tucked between 53rd and 59th Streets along the East River, Sutton Place has long been a haven for those seeking privacy and prestige. In 1875, Effingham B. Sutton developed brownstones overlooking Blackwell’s Island, but the area later fell into decline with the expansion of tenements near the Queensboro Bridge. The tide turned in the 1920s when elite families, including the Vanderbilts and Morgans, invested in the neighborhood, attracting renowned architect Rosario Candela and transforming Sutton Place into a bastion of old-money sophistication.Over the years, it has been home to figures like Ban Ki-moon, I.M. Pei, Arthur Miller, and Marilyn Monroe, drawn by its blend of seclusion and proximity to Midtown.
A Bridge to the Past—and the Future?
Cuomo’s mayoral campaign positions him as a link between New York’s past and future, but could he also be eyeing a bridge in the present—literally? His father, after all, has one named in his honor.This week, an Upper East Side community board committee unanimously advanced plans for a new East River bike and pedestrian bridge. The proposed “Queens Ribbon” would be a sleek suspension bridge connecting Long Island City, Roosevelt Island, and Midtown East—terminating conveniently close to Cuomo’s Sutton Place home.
On its way to Midtown East, the conceptual bridge would cut across Southpoint Park on Roosevelt Island, a plan the local community blog has criticized as a bad idea in the wrong location. However, as the city embraces ambitious projects again, a bridge connecting Midtown to the growing Long Island City could serve a practical purpose. Perhaps the proposal could be refined to be more pedestrian-friendly and less intrusive, similar to Heatherwick Studio’s shelved Garden Bridge in London.
Closing the loop
The East Midtown Waterfront project is a 1.8-acre public promenade along the East River in Sutton Place, designed by Stantec as the second phase of the three-part East Midtown Waterfront Esplanade. This initiative aims to "close the loop" of the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway, offering New Yorkers uninterrupted access to waterfront open spaces around Manhattan. The final phase, spanning East 41st to 53rd Streets, known as the UN Esplanade, remains in the design stage.Why Sutton Place?
Beyond the obvious draw of being close to his family, Cuomo’s choice of Sutton Place aligns with his preference for discretion, security, and old-school prestige. Its quiet, controlled environment provides an ideal retreat, with limited access and low foot traffic. While inconvenient for public transportation, we assume that is not of his concern as the neighborhood offers seamless access to the FDR Drive and the energy of Midtown.Perhaps, more than anything, Cuomo hopes that Sutton Place’s history and exclusivity will subtly reinforce the image of a leader once seen as political royalty—now seeking a reset in the heart of the city he aims to lead.
Select listings in Sutton Place
Southgate, #4F (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
2 Sutton Place South, #19F (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
Southgate, #11AT (Corcoran Group)
Sutton Tower, #28C (Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Contributing Writer
Michelle Sinclair Colman
Michelle writes children's books and also writes articles about architecture, design and real estate. Those two passions came together in Michelle's first children's book, "Urban Babies Wear Black." Michelle has a Master's degree in Sociology from the University of Minnesota and a Master's degree in the Cities Program from the London School of Economics.
6sqft delivers the latest on real estate, architecture, and design, straight from New York City.
