5 East 75th

A ground floor one bedroom is available in this magnificent limestone mansion off Fifth. Most turn of the century structures such as this are either cultural institutions, consulates, or lavish single family homes, meaning this is a rare opportunity. 

The grand beaux-arts facade of 5 East 75th

While there are other listings in multi-family dwellings off Gold-Coast Fifth Avenue, this is far and away the most intriguing offering in its price range. To start – 75th between Fifth and Madison is one of the most attractive streets on the Upper East Side, and 5 East 75th is just off fifth, clustered with the grandest structures on it. There is an identical mansion to the East at 7 East 75th, while 3 East 75th, is an even grander limestone building- converted into multi-million dollar apartments. Just opposite 5 East 75th, is the Harkness Mansion, which sold for over $50 million last year. 

The main foyer of the building

The magnificent foyer of the building, shown above, has been very well maintained and hearkens back to the gilded age. The unit being offered is directly off this foyer. It is interesting to note that the elaborate mosaic floors of the public entrance continue into the entertainment area of the apartment. On entering, a small kitchen is to the left and visually independent from the long, richly detailed room that faces south onto the street. Twelve foot high ceilings contribute to the sense of space here, a sense somewhat diminished by the staircase railing that leads down to the small, dark basement bedroom. The bedroom is indeed a side note to the impressive main room, and perhaps a reasonable sacrifice for owning such a space at a peerless location. We should also note, that the bathroom is accessible only through the basement bedroom. 

The impressive ground level entertainment area

All in all, this unit was intelligently carved out of the main structure, which is more than can be said for many other townhouse apartments. It is certainly a rarely available kind of space, though mostly impractical and suited to the type of single buyers that this economy is making scarce.

~ by madhattan on December 12, 2008.