322 East 57th Street

Overview of 322 East 57th Street

322 East 57th Street stands as one of Manhattan's most distinguished prewar cooperatives, designed by architect Harry M. Clawson of Caughey & Evans and completed in 1929. This neo-classical limestone edifice contains just 19 apartments across 21 stories, making it one of the city's most exclusive residential addresses. The building represents a rare architectural type in New York: a "studio" apartment building featuring soaring double-height living rooms with ceilings reaching 18 to 20 feet, originally conceived for artists who required dramatic spaces with abundant natural light.

The building's roster of residents reads like a cultural hall of fame, having housed legendary figures including Orson Welles, Senator Jacob Javits and his wife Marion, Clay Felker (founder of New York Magazine) and author Gail Sheehy, Art Deco painter Tamara de Lempicka, opera star Lily Pons and conductor Andre Kostelanetz, renowned book collector John Fleming, and restaurateurs Michael and Tina Chow. This prestigious lineage reflects the building's longstanding appeal to prominent figures in arts, literature, politics, and design.

The apartments themselves are architectural marvels, with most configured as duplexes that maximize the dramatic double-height spaces. Common features include grand living rooms measuring up to 30 by 32 feet with 18 to 19 foot ceilings, oversized casement windows reaching 12 to 14 feet in height, and multiple wood burning fireplaces with original stone mantels. Many units feature private elevator access, formal dining rooms that overlook the soaring living spaces, windowed eat in kitchens with marble countertops, and luxurious primary suites with extensive closet space. The apartments typically offer 2 to 4 bedrooms, with some featuring libraries, media rooms, and staff quarters.

A unique amenity of the building is its relationship with Mr. Chow restaurant, which occupies a double-height space accessible from the street, and residents enjoy exclusive catering and dining privileges. The building maintains its prewar elegance while offering modern conveniences, including central air conditioning in renovated units, storage space, and a full service staff with doorman. The co-op is both pet and pied-à-terre friendly, allows financing up to 50%, and charges a 3% flip tax.

Located in the prestigious Sutton Place area near Billionaire's Row, 322 East 57th Street offers convenient access to Whole Foods, the East River Promenade, and Manhattan's finest dining and shopping. Despite its proximity to the Queensboro Bridge entrance, the building's superior prewar construction ensures quiet living spaces. The combination of architectural significance, celebrity pedigree, and prime location has established this limestone gem as one of Manhattan's most coveted residential addresses, often cited among the city's top 10 apartment buildings.