956 Fifth Avenue

Overview of 956 Fifth Avenue

956 Fifth Avenue, an elegant 15-story limestone-clad cooperative building, stands as one of Fifth Avenue's most distinguished smaller luxury apartment houses. Built in 1926, it was initially designed as an 8-story structure by I.N. Phelps-Stokes before being expanded to its current height by architect Nathan Korn following a pivotal zoning law reversal.

Designed in Italian Renaissance palazzo style, the building features a distinctive 'bird-cage' rooftop water tank enclosure, an elegant canopied entrance with bronze doors, and high ceilings throughout. The building houses just 25 apartments, many offering spectacular views of Central Park, with configurations ranging from maisonettes to grand full-floor residences.

The building's site carries historical significance, having previously been home to Temple Beth-El, a domed structure with broad front stairs designed by William Arnold Brunner and Thomas Tryon in 1899. The temple later merged with Temple Emanu-el, which relocated to 65th Street and Fifth Avenue.

Converted to a cooperative in 1956, the building maintains exceptional service standards with 24-hour doorman, elevator attendants, and a resident manager. The co-op permits pets and in-unit washers/dryers, with financing allowed up to 25% of the purchase price.

Apartments feature gracious layouts with grand room proportions, many including wood-burning fireplaces, formal dining rooms, and libraries. The building's architectural details include herringbone oak floors, high ceilings, and elegant pre-war detailing throughout.

Situated between 76th and 77th Streets, the location is particularly desirable for its proximity to Central Park, major museums, and Madison Avenue's boutiques and galleries, while being removed from heavy cross-town traffic.