245 E 72nd St

245 E 72nd

Throughout the early 20th century, real estate developers Bing & Bing dotted Manhattan with a slew of stately residential buildings, often enlisting acclaimed architect Emery Roth to oversee the designs. One such property is Lenox Hill’s 245 E. 72nd St., originally completed in 1930 and converted into a co-op in 1987. “The Bing & Bing buildings are regarded as among the city's finest prewar properties,” according to a 1985 article in The New York Times. That much remains true today, with the 20-story tower’s elaborate Renaissance Revival façade featuring preserved limestone detailing, a columned entryway and “wedding cake” setbacks. “People walk in and are instantly impressed by the beautiful brass doors,” says longtime resident Jessica Silver, a Brown Harris Stevens agent who has sold multiple units in the building. Indeed, greeting residents in the lobby are a series of gleaming metal doors, including those for the two elevators, adorned with intricately engraved paneling that complements the surrounding millwork. Adding to the sophisticated design are polished black stone floors, a seating area with modern furnishings, works of art in gilded frames and a decorative fireplace. There are 120 co-ops at 245 E. 72nd, ranging from oversized studios, one of which was bought in August 2024 for $393,000, to a four-bedroom duplex with wrap-around terrace, which sold in 2019 for $4.1 million. “A lot of apartments speak for themselves in size and appearance, with high beamed ceilings, beautiful arched entryways and open layouts,” says Silver. “Even studios are a generous size,” she adds, noting they all include entry foyers equipped with closets. Oak flooring can be found throughout the units, with some — such as a two-bedroom residence recently listed by Silver for $1.5 million — sporting parquet patterns, although finishes and appliances vary by apartment. Washers and dryers are permitted but not installed in every dwelling, and window air-conditioning units are common. Staff at the full-service building include a 24-hour doorman and a live-in super. The lower-level fitness center — which is equipped with stationary bikes, treadmills, free weights and rowing machines — was renovated in 2023, and the laundry room was also recently redone. Elsewhere on the floor are several racks for bike storage ($100 per year); storage lockers, although there is a wait list; and a glass-doored bookcase that serves as a lending library for residents. “There are a couple of floors that have private terraces, but most don’t, so the garden is a nice asset,” says Silver, referring to the large outdoor space in the rear of the building. Enclosed by a brick wall and tall wooden fencing, the private courtyard is open to residents year-round and is organized into three sections for lounging, dining and sunbathing. The garden was updated after a major subway expansion was completed in 2017; it now includes at least a dozen planters filled with a variety of large trees and shrubs. The co-op also fosters a sense of community with building-wide events such as trick-or-treating for Halloween and a tree-trimming party during the holiday season. After years of sidewalk and street disruption due to construction from the Q train extension, the area surrounding Second Avenue has undergone a renaissance of sorts. “In the proximity you have a mix of everything, access to any type of restaurant you can imagine,” says Silver. Among the options in a two-block radius are establishments serving Mayan, Japanese, Persian, Thai and Tex-Mex cuisines, among others. Sew Right Cleaners, a dry-cleaning storefront, is also just steps away on Second Avenue. A few doors down, those in need of a caffeine fix can find an independent coffee shop called Frame that brews its espresso in an $18,000 Slayer machine. In September 2024, Whole Foods debuted its first small-format urban concept store, the Whole Foods Market Daily Shop, nearby at Third Avenue and 68th Street. Some residents, including Silver, also buy groceries at the Trader Joe's under the Queensboro Bridge on 59th Street, which is housed in a New York City landmark and features a soaring vaulted tile ceiling. Neighborhood residents living near Second Avenue got a convenient transit option when the Q train unveiled three new stations in 2017. Next door to the property is an entrance to the 72nd Street station that features an airy design and modern amenities not typically found elsewhere in the system, such as elevators and air-conditioning. Reliable crosstown bus service can also be found just outside the building, with the M72 stopping at the corner of Second and 72nd before traveling to the Upper West Side. The 6 train, named the subway’s busiest line in 2023, also serves the neighborhood, making a stop six blocks away at 68th Street and Lexington.