345 E 37th St

The Corinthian

With a tubular design by Der Scutt and Michael Schimenti resembling massive stacks of coins and almost 900 units across 57 floors, Murray Hill's The Corinthian is not a particularly subtle building. When it was completed in 1988, the condominium became New York City's largest apartment building. Occupying an entire city block, it continues to make a statement on Manhattan's far east side. Scale is a strength here. "There's nothing else like it. Even with new construction. There's so much space, and it's well-utilized," says Rusty Thrasher, who is not only the building's official broker but also a resident since the condo's inception, having personally lived in four different units over the years. Thrasher estimates he's done more than 100 deals in the building. "There's never a lot of traffic. You don't wait for an elevator. You have your own private driveway. It's like a resort." Indeed, the entrance, surrounded by extensive landscaping by Thomas Balsley Associates, features a grand porte-cochère and fountain that incorporates a large abstract sculpture. An expansive lobby with soaring ceilings, polished marble floors and dark wood continues that spirit across the threshold. Residences include studios to four-bedroom homes. Studios measuring a maximum of 629 square feet start at $650,000, and one-bedrooms up to 1,134 square feet list for between $700,00 and 1.5 million. Two-bedrooms can be as large as 2,000 square feet and cost up to $1.7 million, and three-bedrooms measuring 1,600 and up are priced from $1.1 million and higher. Four-bedroom homes sell for $2.3 million or more. Due to The Corinthian's distinct architectural form, every unit features dramatic, large, curved windows that create light-filled living spaces and provide East River and city views. Original features include hardwood floors, granite countertops in the kitchens and marble baths, but according to Thrasher, most homes have undergone updates and renovations over the years. "People have taken walls out and reconfigured things, opened up the kitchen," he says. "In the same line you'll have two totally different apartments." All but the studio apartments feature a 40-square-foot balcony, and some include a terrace. All units have a washer and dryer. Owners in The Corinthian benefit from having so many neighbors, paying carrying costs 30% less than residents of other buildings in the neighborhood according to Thrasher. Those fees help maintain and update amenities and facilities throughout the condominium, including the 17,000-square-foot suite of fitness and wellness spaces. Those spaces include a large, glass-enclosed lap pool with an adjacent outdoor deck, gym, sauna, steam room, and landscaped outdoor jogging track. Classes such as yoga and kickboxing are offered to residents at no additional cost. The building's additional shared spaces include a children's playroom with an outdoor terrace, an adults' lounge with a pool table, a party room with a catering kitchen and a golf simulator. The building has a 24-hour door attendant, concierge and offers valet parking at an on-site garage. A staff of 33 tends to residents' needs, with a 24-hour handyman, super, porters and freight elevator operator among them. The building is pet-friendly, permits purchasing for investment purposes and subletting with a minimum lease of one year. Located in the eastern part of Murray Hill, the building is close to conveniences on Second Avenue while also offering a break from the urban hubbub. "It's a little off the beaten path,” says Thrasher. “When you walk over here it's like a neighborhood. First Avenue is residential, so it's very quiet, and there's a park across the street." The East River Esplanade is a small green space on the water a block away, and St. Vartan Park on 35th Street is a popular destination. NYU Langone Medical Center is down the street across First Avenue. Grocery shopping is available no more than two blocks away at Gristedes and D'agostino, and a Fairway Market and AMC multiplex are located at Second Avenue and 30th Street. Public transit options include the 4, 5, 6 and 7 trains at Grand Central Terminal, a 15-minute walk away; the 4 and 6 trains are closer, at 33rd Street. Buses run along both First and Second Avenues and ferries and water taxis at 34th Street offer service to Wall Street, Williamsburg, DUMBO and Queens. For travel by car, the FDR is a block away, allowing travel uptown and downtown along Manhattan's East Side, and the entrance to the adjacent Queens Midtown Tunnel provides access to Queens and Interstate 495. Laguardia Airport can be reached in about 35 minutes.