332 E 84th St

The Benenson

On one of Yorkville’s many residential side streets, the Benenson stands out among the walls of revived tenement-style apartment buildings, with its classic forest green awning and recessed entryway. Like the landmarked 19th-century church across the street, this more than 100-year-old mid-rise co-op retains an Old New York charm through understated architectural flourishes, such as decorative laurel inlays along the roof and rounded stone window frames. Inside, the Benenson has modern necessities — elevators, of course, and a laundry room and storage areas — and layouts that don’t go below 550 square feet, so even the smallest units enjoy a comfortable amount of living space. And the neighborhood more than makes up for limited amenities. “It’s a block from the subway, there are a ton of restaurants, the East River Esplanade is not too far. There are a lot of good things about this location,” says Darrell Williams, a real estate agent with over 12 years of experience. Across the building’s one- and two-bedroom units, layouts have a limited number of variations. One bedrooms generally have a galley kitchen next to the entrance, which opens to the living room and, beyond that, the bedroom and adjoining bathroom. Many two bedrooms take the same layout and widen it to create a larger living room and space for two side-by-side bedrooms. Slightly larger two bedrooms add an additional home office room, although second bathrooms aren’t an option. “There are no washer-dryers,” Williams says. “Everything else depends on what the owners decided to put in.” So, while dishwashers are common, they aren’t guaranteed, and where some units have newer hardwood flooring, granite countertops and tiled kitchen floors, older units can have parquet in the living room and classic black-and-white linoleum in the kitchen. Prices for one bedrooms start around $600,000, and two bedrooms go for $750,000 to $900,000, depending on size. Maintenance fees range from $1,000 to $1,700 per month, which when compared to similarly old co-ops in the neighborhood, are around the median price range. Owners must wait two years before leasing their units to tenants, after which they’re generally only allowed to lease them for two years. Beyond that, the co-op board considers longer term leases on a case-by-case basis. In lieu of in-unit washer-dryers, the building has a laundry room in the basement, along with some storage spaces. “The elevators were upgraded in the last two years and there’s an intercom system that goes to your phone,” Williams says, which helps residents remotely buzz in guests, since there isn’t front-door service. “To be honest, the building doesn’t have much,” Williams says about the amenities. “It’s a very basic prewar co-op.” Yorkville has come into its own in recent years as a primary Uptown Manhattan dining scene. Just west of the Benenson, Second Avenue has date-night Italian spots, Japanese omakase restaurants, Mediterranean cafes and small eateries specializing in lobster rolls and burgers. There are many locally owned small restaurants and specialty food stores, as well as Whole Foods for everyday needs. Central Park is a half-mile walk west, and in the other direction is Carl Schurz Park, with a playground, dog run, river walkway and Gracie Mansion — home to the mayor. The views on the East River Esplanade are inspiring, even in the dead of winter. Nearby, 86th Street has two subway stations — one with the N, Q and R trains, and one with the 4, 5 and 6. Second and First avenues have downtown and uptown buses, respectively, and at the east end of the block is a CitiBike station for quick jaunts around town. At 90th Street and the river, there’s a ferry that goes down to Wall Street and across to Brooklyn and Queens.