900 Park Ave

The Park 900 Condominium

Set in an affluent area where co-ops tend to dominate, The Park 900 Condominium provides residents the same level of white-glove service, but with additional flexibility and fewer regulations. Completed in 1973 by modernist architect Philip Birnbaum, the 28-story tower on East 79th Street and Park Avenue is sheathed in limestone and looms well above its more traditional neighbors. Eagle-eyed fans of the late 1970s sitcom “Diff'rent Strokes” may also recognize the building from the show’s opening credits as the place where fictional orphans Willis and Arnold go to live with wealthy businessman Phillip Drummond. “It’s the grand dame of Park Avenue,” says Harry Nasser, a Sotheby’s agent who recently listed a $1.5 million unit in the building. “Even though it’s a postwar, it’s got a beautiful allure.” The building’s 122 apartments range from studios, which start at $850,000, to four-bedroom residences, the most recent of which was listed for $6 million in 2022. Floor plans generally feature gracious entry foyers and do not include private outdoor space, but high-floor dwellings offer views of Central Park. An array of finishes can also be found throughout, with carpeting, hardwood, stone and tile flooring all appearing in different units. A sixth-floor unit with one bedroom recently listed for $1.6 million comes with a quartz breakfast bar and heated bathroom floors. Washers and dryers are permitted to be installed. Despite the building’s size, some floors are home to as few as three residences, giving it an intimate feel. “Because there’s a nice mix of units in building and a good number of owners, the common charges are kept low,” explains broker Bahar Tavakolian, who leads the Bahar Team at Compass and has a $2.2 million listing in the building. The first perk of living at The Park 900 comes before even entering the property. While cars arriving at other buildings drop off passengers on the street, residents here can be taken directly to the canopied entrance via a private semi-circular cobblestone driveway(the structure is set back from the sidewalk to create a plaza). “If you come in from the airport or have luggage, the car can stop right in front and there’s nobody rushing you,” says Nassar. “You can unload in very civilized manner.” The 24-hour doorman and concierge add to the sophisticated feel, and there’s a part-time elevator attendant present. “I would say before the pandemic, there was an elevator man full time,” says Nasser. “And now once in a while someone will be there.” Blue-chip art factors into the design as well, with visitors and residents greeted by a striking sculpture of a woman riding a horse by Spanish artist Manolo Valdés that presides over the motor court. Inside, the spacious, glossy lobby features a tabletop bronze sculpture by acclaimed Colombian artist Fernando Botero— who once lived and maintained a studio in the building — plus mirrored accents and double-height windows shaded by floor-to-ceiling sheer curtains The on-site fitness center has been updated and includes treadmills, stationary bikes, free weights and training machines, and there’s also a party room, renovated two years ago, that can hold around 60 people and is able to be reserved for use by owners. “Even if you own smaller unit, you can always entertain,” says Tavakolian. Set in the Metropolitan Hill enclave on the Upper East Side, the building sits just two blocks from Fifth Avenue’s Museum Mile, making it a breeze to visit world-class institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Guggenheim. Adding to the cultural cachet are a slew of nearby art galleries — among them Skarstedt Gallery, White Cube and Acquavella Galleries — in addition to lesser-known attractions such as the Ukrainian Institute of America and the New York Society Library, both on 79th Street. “If you want to walk, a block away you have most incredible retail adventure,” says Nassar, referring to ritzy Madison Avenue, a shopping hub home to Barbour, J. Crew, Reformation and Davide Cenci. Outposts of popular dining destinations like Serafina and Sant Ambroeus are also located nearby and the original Lady M boutique, which sells decadent crêpe cakes that often attract a line down the block, is on 78th and Madison. “All of the top hotels are right there, too,” says Tavakolian. “The Carlyle Hotel can be seen from the building.” The Mark Hotel on 77th Street, meanwhile, generated major buzz when storied Parisian hot spot Caviar Kaspia landed there in 2023, offering a menu centered around eight types of farm-raised caviar. The Park 900 is located just a few blocks from the 6 train stop at Lexington and 77th Street. While no busses travel along Park Avenue, the M79 runs crosstown on 79th Street as it travels to the Upper West Side. Additional routes also run along both Madison and Lexington avenues, including the M101, M102 and M103 on Lexington and the M1, M2, M3 and M4 on Madison. However, those with their own car are in luck: Unlike the vast majority of buildings in New York, The Park 900 has its own on-site garage, run by a third-party operator but able to be accessed by residents from within the building. It’s the ultimate amenity for when inclement weather strikes.