View of Carl Schurz Park and East End Avenue from 170 East End Avenue (Corcoran)
Due to its remote location, the elegant and staid East End Avenue is often overlooked in Manhattan apartment searches. The boulevard burst into the spotlight with the “Obamas are coming” rumors in 2018. Once the Obamas’ rumored interest in 10 Gracie Square was dispelled, the bright light that shone on the short avenue revealed some rare new developments in a neighborhood steeped in history.
Most recently, 20 East End Avenue, a resplendent 2019 condominium designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects shattered the avenue's apartment records with a $30.3 million penthouse sale by an anonymous buyer. The five-bedroom, 5.5-bath duplex sprawls 6,292 square feet, comes with plenty of outdoor space, and has invigorating views of the East River and the Upper East Side skyline. Directly across East 81st Street is its more approachably-priced competitor 40 East End Avenue. With remaining availabilities priced from $4.2M, the 29-unit building was designed by Deborah Berke, the dean of the Yale School of Architecture who happens to live next door, and Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel.
In this article:
East End Avenue aerial with future skyline (via Ondel at CityRealty)
East End Avenue is an 11-block avenue that runs from East 79th to East 90th streets between York Avenue and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive. Due to almost no vehicular access eastward, the avenue has a vibe of a cul-de-sac or gated community than a typical bustling Manhattan Avenue. As Gothamites deal with the pandemic-related stresses of increased car congestion, noise from illegally-altered vehicles, and an unpredictable public school system; the tranquility of East End Avenue
This tiny enclave is chockablock with old world residential buildings of various architectural styles lining Carl Schurz Park. Although less remote than it has ever been (due to the Second Avenue Subway opening), East End Avenue is still an extremely quiet section of Manhattan. So much so that it has been referred to as “the suburb of the Upper East Side.” For some because of this, and others, despite this, East End Avenue draws buyers looking to own luxurious and homes with river and/or park views in this prestigious community.
Looking down East End Avenue with 20 East End in center (CityRealty)
Famous Residents
Past and current residents of East End Avenue: L to R: Gloria Vanderbilt, Johan Santanta, Ricky Martin, Robert Moses, Walter Cronkite, Soong Mei-Ling
Some of the famous past and current residents of East End Avenue are Club Monaco founder Joseph Mimram, singer Ricky Martin, baseball player Johan Santana, hedge-funder Arvind Sanger, Walter Cronkite and Harriet the Spy.
Carl Schurz Park
No, the park is not named after the Peanuts creator (on first glance, did you not think that too?) but rather the German-born Secretary of the Interior, Carl Schurz. Schurz was a soldier, a statesman and a journalist who was a strong advocate of abolishing slavery and, at one time, editor of the New York Post. In 1910, when the park was named after Schurz, Yorkville had a large population of German-Americans.
Carl Schurz Park is a 15-acre park that overlooks the part of the Hudson River referred to as “Hell Gate.” Despite originally being named “Hellegat,” the Dutch word for “bright passage” and “beautiful strait,” the turbulent waters and anglicized version, unfortunately, became “Hell Gate.”
Carl Schurz Park is a 15-acre park that overlooks the part of the Hudson River referred to as “Hell Gate.” Despite originally being named “Hellegat,” the Dutch word for “bright passage” and “beautiful strait,” the turbulent waters and anglicized version, unfortunately, became “Hell Gate.”
In 1798, after the war, the land was bought by Archibald Gracie, a Scottish shipping magnate. In 1799, Gracie built the mansion which still currently stands. In 1819, the city bought the mansion. Gracie Mansion was first home to the Museum of the City of New York (1924-32). In 1942, NYC mayor Fiorello LaGuardia moved there and it has since served as the official residence of New York's mayors since.
East End Avenue from Carl Schrz Park (CityRealty)
East End Avenue Real Estate
View looking south at Carl Schurz Park with 10 Gracie Square(CityRealty)
Before the Second Avenue subway opened, 10 Gracie Square was honored with the distinction as being the furthest building from the subway in Manhattan.
Built in 1930, the pre-war 10 Gracie Square the white-glove, full-service building with 15 floors and 43 apartments and an elaborate rooftop. Beside almost housing the Obamas, Gloria Vanderbilt, conductor André Kostelanetz and New Yorker critic Alexander Woollcott, exiled former first lady of China Madame Chiang Kai-shek, media mogul Steve Ross, and socialite Brooke Astor have all lived in 10 Gracie Square.
Amenities at 10 Gracie Square include a gym, an indoor basketball court, an underground drive-in garage, and a squash court that was formerly a private club that opened onto a yacht mooring but was demolished for the construction of FDR Drive.
Built in 1930, the pre-war 10 Gracie Square the white-glove, full-service building with 15 floors and 43 apartments and an elaborate rooftop. Beside almost housing the Obamas, Gloria Vanderbilt, conductor André Kostelanetz and New Yorker critic Alexander Woollcott, exiled former first lady of China Madame Chiang Kai-shek, media mogul Steve Ross, and socialite Brooke Astor have all lived in 10 Gracie Square.
Amenities at 10 Gracie Square include a gym, an indoor basketball court, an underground drive-in garage, and a squash court that was formerly a private club that opened onto a yacht mooring but was demolished for the construction of FDR Drive.
20 East End Avenue
20 East End Avenue (Robert A.M. Stern Architects)
Inspired by the Yorkville neighborhood, Robert A.M. Stern designed 20 East End Avenue to reinterpret classic pre-war apartment buildings. At street level, there is a two-story handset pale Indiana limestone base echoing the New York tradition of stone and brick façades.
Stern said, “I like to learn from that past. I like to climb on the shoulders of what went before. This building is modern and traditional at the same time. Today’s buildings are more about lifestyle than they used to be. When you come into the lobby, you see a welcoming stair like a house. The building becomes like a club. This will be a signature building, there is no question about that.”
Stern said, “I like to learn from that past. I like to climb on the shoulders of what went before. This building is modern and traditional at the same time. Today’s buildings are more about lifestyle than they used to be. When you come into the lobby, you see a welcoming stair like a house. The building becomes like a club. This will be a signature building, there is no question about that.”
Looking up at 20 East End Avenue (CityRealty)
Beth Benalloul, the Corcoran broker representing 20 East End Avenue says, “the market on East End Avenue tends to be a little slower than other neighborhoods in New York but because 20 East End is a Stern project, we get above average attention with people specifically seeking it out.”
Benalloul describes the building as “being new construction so it has all the 'bells and whistles' but it also has a prewar feeling with high ceilings and tall doors but central air, the nicest possible kitchens you could want but all the rooms feel large-scale and historic with features like casement moldings.”
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Falling right in line with his 15 Central Park West exclusive luxury residence, this RAMSA building has all the top amenities to attract the well-to-do crowd: a porte-cochere, motor court, private dining room, wine cellar, spa and fitness center, billiard and game room and a junior lounge.
And to top it off, literally, the penthouse rooftop is otherworldly.
And to top it off, literally, the penthouse rooftop is otherworldly.
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40 East End Avenue
40 East End Avenue renderings courtesy of Binyan
Deborah Berke, who happened to be Robert A.M. Stern’s replacement as Dean of the Yale Architecture School, is also designing a building on East End Avenue. Berke has lived in the neighborhood for more than 20 years and comments, “The area has changed since we moved here but it’s changing more slowly than the rest of the city. It’s a real family-based neighborhood with schools and a park. It’s a ‘neighborhood neighborhood.’ Because of that, the project is very family-focused in terms of layout. It’s modern but contextual.”
40 East End Avenue is an architectural collaboration between Deborah Berke Partners and Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel Architects (GKV). It is a 100,000-square foot, 18-story luxury condominium developed by Lightstone. Current availabilities start at $4.2 million.
40 East End Avenue is an architectural collaboration between Deborah Berke Partners and Gerner Kronick + Valcarcel Architects (GKV). It is a 100,000-square foot, 18-story luxury condominium developed by Lightstone. Current availabilities start at $4.2 million.
According to Lightstone President Mitchell Hochberg. “Every home at 40 East End has been meticulously designed with all the interior finishes privately sourced and handpicked. 40 East End is a special building, one that showcases the highest design and with a true focus on finish details.”
According to Lightstone President Mitchell Hochberg. “Every home at 40 East End has been meticulously designed with all the interior finishes privately sourced and handpicked. 40 East End is a special building, one that showcases the highest design and with a true focus on finish details.” Among its most envious residences is a townhouse-style maisonette unit, the only one of its kind in the building. The three-floor home can be accessed through a private entrance on 81st Street or via the building's attended lobby. The home boasts nearly 5,000 square feet of interior space and a two-tier landscaped garden.
According to Lightstone President Mitchell Hochberg. “Every home at 40 East End has been meticulously designed with all the interior finishes privately sourced and handpicked. 40 East End is a special building, one that showcases the highest design and with a true focus on finish details.” Among its most envious residences is a townhouse-style maisonette unit, the only one of its kind in the building. The three-floor home can be accessed through a private entrance on 81st Street or via the building's attended lobby. The home boasts nearly 5,000 square feet of interior space and a two-tier landscaped garden.
Rendering by Binyan Studios
↓ Welcoming you into the home is a formal entry foyer and gallery, lined with marble floors, leading to an oversized living/formal dining room which overlooks the private garden.
↓ A grand staircase connects all three levels of the home. Downstairs on the garden level is an open chef’s kitchen and Great Room with direct garden access.
↓ The chef’s kitchen features high-gloss lacquer painted Italian cabinetry complemented by hand-selected Italian Arabescato Cervaiole marble slabs and a gracious kitchen island for entertaining.
↓ Surrounded by trees and plantings is a private urban oasis. The two-level garden is lushly landscaped and has a signature water feature, an irrigation system, and a built-in gas grill and outdoor kitchen.
Prestigious Schools
Chapin School for girl's 3-story expansion underway at 100 East End Avenue
In general, Benalloul summarized those most interested in the neighborhood as families wanting to be in close proximity of the prestigious schools in the area and people moving from the suburbs who “don’t want to walk out of their front door and get hit by a bus. It’s a great place for people who want a ‘neighborhood’ and within a couple of blocks, you can get everything you want.”
Top private schools in the neighborhood include two for girls: Brearley, on 83rd Street, and Chapin, on East End Avenue at 84th. Eleanor Roosevelt High School is on East 76th Street and their SAT averages were 572 in reading, 594 in math and 592 in writing, versus 434, 461 and 430 citywide.
Come and Stay
East End Avenue is quiet, remote, and overlooking water and a park, three things that are hard to come by in New York City.
Deborah Berke absolutely loves her East End Avenue neighborhood and has no plan of going anywhere, “Our daughter went to Brearley and she’s all grown up and graduated and we’re still here.” Soon many others will be following her lead.
Deborah Berke absolutely loves her East End Avenue neighborhood and has no plan of going anywhere, “Our daughter went to Brearley and she’s all grown up and graduated and we’re still here.” Soon many others will be following her lead.
View from 170 East End over Carl Schurz Park
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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.
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