40 East 61st Street stands as a distinctive Art Deco condominium with a fascinating medical heritage. Originally built in 1927 as the LeRoy Hospital by architect Kenneth Franzheim, the building served as a private sanitarium and maternity hospital for wealthy clientele. Notable births and treatments occurred here, including Christina Onassis, daughter of Aristotle Onassis, and celebrities like Judy Garland and Nat King Cole received care at the facility. The hospital was known for its upscale service, with new mothers having meals delivered from the fashionable Colony restaurant on the same block.
The building underwent a significant transformation in 1983 when it was converted to residential use by Rose-Dorcar 61 Associates. The conversion, designed by Paul Segal and Rothzeid, Kaiserman & Thomson, expanded the original structure by adding four floors and increasing its width by about a third. Today, the 21-story building houses 36 condominium apartments on the upper 16 floors, while the bottom five floors retain medical offices, creating an interesting mixed-use environment.
Located between Park and Madison Avenues, the building offers residents prime Upper East Side living just one block from Central Park. Many apartments feature impressive outdoor space, with terraces spanning 46 feet in length being particularly common among the south-facing units. The apartments typically showcase high ceilings, hardwood floors, and renovated kitchens with premium appliances, while many units include in-unit washer/dryers—a coveted amenity in prewar buildings.
The full-service building provides 24-hour doorman service and a live-in superintendent, though it lacks modern amenities like a fitness center, roof deck, or parking garage. The location places residents steps from luxury shopping destinations like Hermès, fine dining establishments, and convenient transportation via multiple subway lines. The building welcomes pets and maintains the elegant character of its Art Deco origins with features like bronze entrance doors and a fluted limestone base.
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