Gracie Towne House, 401 East 89th Street: Review and Ratings

Review of 401 East 89th Street by Carter Horsley

This attractive, white-brick, 18-story building at 401 East 89^th Street on the southwest corner of First Avenue was erected in 1960 and converted to cooperative in 1989. In 1998, the building became a condominium but allowed individual apartment owners the option of retaining their co-op form of ownership.

It has 197 apartments and is known as the Gracie Towne House.

The building is close to a cluster of luxury high-rise rental buildings along York and to the attractive Carl Schurz Park whose main entrance is at 86^th Street and East End Avenue as well as the popular Asphalt Green and the East River Esplanade.

The building was designed by Philip Birnbaum.

There is good cross-town bus service on 86th Street but the nearest subway station is at 86th Street and Lexington Avenue.

Bottom Line

Time has improved this neighborhood considerably and the crosstown bus makes short shrift of trips to Whole Foods and Fairway and the Lexington Avenue Subway.

Description

The building has many indented balconies and its side-street entrance has a canopy and raised slightly sidewalk landscaping.

The building has discrete air-conditioners and there are some bay windows.

Amenities

The building has a 24-hour doorman, a fitness center, a canopied entrance, a bicycle room, a laundry on every floor, storage, a live-in manager, and a renovated lobby.  It allows pets.

Apartments

Apartment 17C is a two-bedroom unit with a 9-foot-long entry foyer that leads to a 26-foot-long living room that opens onto a 12-foot-wide dining area with a 12-foot-wide balcony and an 11-foot-wide kitchen.  The unit also has an 8-foot-wide office.

Apartment 16C is a three-bedroom unit with an entry foyer that leads to a 28-foot-long living room and a 12-foot-wide terrace and a 16-foot-long enclosed and windowed kitchen.

Apartment 8G is a three-bedroom unit with an entry foyer next to a 13-foot-long, pass-through kitchen, a 14-foot-long dining area, a 21-foot-long living room and an 18-foot-long master bedroom with a large bay window.

Apartment 4G is a one-bedroom unit with an 8-foot-wide entry foyer next to an 8-foot-long kitchen and a 21-foot-long living room and the bedroom has a large bay window.

Apartment 18C is a studio unit with a 21-foot-long living room and a sleeping alcove and an 8-foot-wide kitchen.