1280 5th Ave

One Museum Mile

One Museum Mile combines the history of the surrounding East Harlem neighborhood with the prestige of Fifth Avenue and delivers them into one space that’s a step above most green-awning condominiums on this side of Central Park. On the outside, a geometric pattern inspired by motifs used in traditional African fabric-making ties One Museum Mile, literally, to The Africa Center next door. Inside, the double-height lobby greets residents with a living moss wall and a 44-foot-long glass installation designed to look like brilliant marble. From the roof, park views are postcard-worthy. “The park really is central to this building. Directly across the street, people can take their dog for a stroll or go for a run,” says Tom Postilio, former sales director for 1280 Fifth Avenue and a broker at Compass. While $850,000 for a one-bedroom unit isn’t cheap, it’s a fair price for a high-end building — with an on-site parking garage, fitness center and rooftop pool — in such a desirable location. Small spaces are rare, as most of the offerings are two- and three-bedroom units. “There’s only one studio line and one, one-bedroom line,” Postilio says. Studios share a rectangular layout where the front door opens into the bedroom, which has a dividing wall to separate it from the living room and open kitchen. Smaller one bedrooms add a wall around that sleeping area, while others open into the kitchen and have a much larger bedroom with a walk-in closet. Two bedrooms have at least five different layout options, all with two bathrooms. Some have a large foyer, others have dining areas separate from the living room and a few have private terraces. There are also many three bedrooms, some of which have three and a half bathrooms, corner windows in the living room and private terraces. Except in units that have been updated by previous residents, furnishings are the same throughout the building and include Thermador and Miele appliances in the kitchen, and a Bosch washer-dryer. Vertical stripes add a chicness to the teak cabinets, which is echoed in the dark granite countertops and backsplashes. Primary bathrooms have double sinks with Bianco Dolomiti marble counters and both a walk-in shower and tub. In the bedrooms and living areas, large windows show as much of the Central Park views as possible. The building’s few studios start around $850,000, and the one bedrooms, many of which are in the same 800 to 850 square-foot range, range from that price up to $1 million. Two bedrooms are priced from about $1.8 million to $2.7 million, depending on size and whether they have a private terrace. Three bedrooms also start at $1.8 million and can go up to $3.3 million. Owners can rent out their units, as well as buy and combine multiple units without significant restrictions. The outdoor rooftop pool is a rare amenity in this neighborhood, even if it’s not open all year round. Several table and chair sets up there let residents enjoy the Central Park views, and a lower-level shared patio is a popular place for kids to play. While parents exercise in the fitness center, they can also keep an eye on their kids in the adjoining glass-walled playroom. Residents can entertain in the dining room, which has a catering kitchen, and the on-site parking garage has purchasable spots for 19 cars and three motorcycles. Residents walk out their front door and into the park, where the Harlem Meer is being upgraded with a public pool and footbridge for immersive nature walks. Next door, Teranga serves African specialties, and to the east, Lexington Avenue has a mix of Spanish and American restaurants. Residents who need frequent medical attention have the Mount Sinai hospital center a few blocks down Fifth Avenue, and farther down are the Guggenheim and the Met, two museums that inspired the building’s name. Nearby, 110th Street has a 2 and 3 train station to the west, and a 6 train station to the east. Multiple buses run downtown and uptown on Fifth and Madison avenues, and a CitiBike station kitty-corner to the building is convenient for quickly getting around town. The building’s parking garage is a plus for car owners, and whether driving or taking the bus, LaGuardia Airport is a short ride east.