400 E 51st St

The Grand Beekman

Living in The Grand Beekman is almost like being part of an exclusive club. The 32-floor condominium designed by prolific New York City architect Costas Kondylis is located in the tiny Upper East Side neighborhood of Beekman. The three-block area is a residential enclave with little foot or car traffic and a cul-de-sac at its center on 50th Street. The area is home to the prestigious and landmarked River House, a 1931 Art Deco co-op designed by Bottomley, Wagner, and White and has attracted notable residents that include Irving Berlin, Henry Kissinger, Greta Garbo and Uma Thurman. Although built in 2003, the 89-unit Grand Beekman exhibits the understated glamor of its neighbors, offering residences with pre-war features such as spacious layouts and crown molding. “It has higher-end finishes compared to those in other buildings,” says Emanuele Fiore, a Serhant agent who has done business in the building. “Thick doors, high ceilings, marble.” Fiore notes that technically, Beekman is part of Midtown East, but still offers the feeling of living on the Upper East Side. “It’s affordable Upper East Side,” he says. The majority of homes are one- to three-bedrooms, with a few studios and four-bedroom units. One-bedrooms measuring a maximum of 1,131 square feet list for up to $1.3 million, and two-bedrooms as large as 1,800 square feet ask between $2.2 and $2.7 million. Three-bedroom condos measure between 1,355 and 3,300 square feet and sell for about $2.4 million to $5.9 million. A 3,688-square-foot four-bedroom sold for $7.5 million. Original features of the stately and classic homes include herringbone hardwood floors and crown molding. Kitchens have granite countertops and appliances by Viking, Miele and Sub-Zero. Bathrooms incorporate Porcher and Kohler fixtures, and apartments include a washer and dryer. Many units reflect the renovations of previous owners. Many of the residences provide generous closet space and some homes feature Juliet balconies. The building’s far east side location offers unobstructed views of the East River, Roosevelt Island and Queens, including Long Island City’s distinct illuminated Pepsi-Cola sign. Amenities include a state-of-the-art duplex fitness center with a sauna, a children’s playroom and a resident lounge with a catering kitchen that can be rented out for parties. A compact, partially covered garden designed by fashion designer Arnold Scaasi provides a retreat from the city. “It’s like you’re in Europe. It’s very cute,” says Fiore. A friendly building staff includes a concierge, 24-hour door attendants, a live-in building manager and porters. Purchasing terms are very flexible, and the condo is pet-friendly. A currently vacant commercial space occupies the ground floor. The Grand Beekman’s Midtown East location puts it a block from the East River, and the United Nations is directly to the south. Down the block, a small stairway leads down to Peter Detmold Park and Dog Run, a small and shaded enclave tucked along the East River. A recently unveiled section of the East Midtown Waterfront Esplanade and East River Greenway Project, with landscaping, walking and biking paths, runs from 53rd to 61st Street. A Morton Williams Supermarket is at 49th Street and Second Avenue, and a D’Agostino is at 53rd Street and First Avenue. The River Club and its private athletic facilities are nearby at 52nd Street and the East River. Public transit options include the E and M trains at Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street and the 4, 5, 6, 7 and shuttle to Times Square at Grand Central Terminal. The M50 crosstown bus stops at 49th Street and First Avenue. Cars can access the FDR Drive easily at 49th Street, and the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge provides easy access to Queens, Interstates 495 and 278 and Long Island. The Queens-Midtown Tunnel at 42nd Street connects to Long Island City. Laguardia Airport can be reached in about 30 minutes by car.