New York real estate: Carnegie Hill
Photo credit: Katya Pronin | The Garden at Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum is a popular destination in the Carnegie Hill district of Manhattan.
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Given the swanky townhouses, proximity to Museum Mile, proliferation of uniformed schoolgirls and lovingly manicured greenery, it's difficult to believe that Carnegie Hill, which occupies the northeast corner of the Upper East Side, wasn't always considered the luxurious enclave that it is today.
"In 70s and 80s, it was hinterland," said Holly Hunt, vice president at Halstead Properties. "The economy wasn't so strong, and it wasn't as safe. People didn't want to live above 86th; those who did were true pioneers."
But many long-time residents of Carnegie Hill remember it differently.
"Thirty years ago it was still beautiful, but barely publicized," explained resident Joan McLaughlin. "It was the city's best-kept secret."
Shari Thompson, who has lived in the neighborhood for almost 30 years, recalls that she was trying to find a place in the village, but "taxes were lower up here in Carnegie Hill, and there were good schools. It was a quiet, peaceful neighborhood."
The area named for Andrew Carnegie, a steel magnate whose mansion still stands at the corner of East 91st Street and Fifth Avenue, is toybox cute, groomed to perfection by proud and proactive residents striving to protect the community's small-town aesthetic. These charms have been captured in several films and television shows, including those of former Carnegie Hill resident Woody Allen and the popular TV series "Gossip Girl."
"There are a lot of townhouses here," said resident Shari Thompson. "Buildings are constructed in a number of different styles: Queen Anne, neo-classical. People want to preserve that."
The high cost of living means that new residents are uniformly well heeled, which some view as a drawback.
"The area doesn't reflect the diverse makeup of the city," explained resident Jim Marion. "Which is really a downside."
Find it
Carnegie Hill is defined by East 96thStreet to the north (98th Street closer to the park), East 86th Street to the south, to Third Avenue (but not including it) to the east and Central Park to the west.
TO EAT
Because there are so many discerning locals and famished museum-hoppers, Carnegie Hill is crammed with restaurants, with many concentrated on the stretch of Madison Avenue between East 92nd and 93rd streets. In the spring, doors open and tables spill onto the sidewalks. Other noteworthy Madison Avenue eateries include Pascalou (1308 Madison Ave.), Joanna's (1295 Madison Ave.) and Island (1305 Madison Ave.).
Sfoglia
This critics' darling pulls in swarms from Carnegie Hill and beyond, with tables booked weeks in advance. The food is uniformly delicious, but the real star is the restaurant's signature bread: so crusty on the outside, so pillowy on the inside, that it needs neither oil nor butter to draw out its magic (they also sell it by the loaf). 1402 Lexington Ave. 212-831-1402
Sarabeth's Despite its Laura Ashley aesthetic, which suits the droves of mothers and daughters who brunch here on weekends, Sarabeth's serves up phenomenal breakfasts: the pumpkin waffles with sour cream and raisins and lemon ricotta pancakes are particularly noteworthy. (They also have really, really good pudding.) Check out the bathrooms: one is the size of a small apartment. 1295 Madison Ave. 212-410-7335
Peri Ela This cozy Turkish restaurant fills a neighborhood gap by serving a variety of delicious meze, including tender stuffed grape leaves, creamy, sour cacik and smoked eggplant. 1361 Lexington Ave. 212-410-4300
Table d'Hote For more than 30 years, Carnegie Hill residents have been squeezing into this intimate bistro, which is nestled in a side street off Madison Avenue. There seems to be an unspoken agreement in this family-friendly eatery that children dine before 5:30 pm. 44 E. 92nd St. 212-348-8125
Bistro du Nord With its cozy lofted level overlooking a dining room characterized by dark woods and old black-and-white portraits, Bistro du Nord is a charming spot in which to savor tender meats or a rich onion soup. The pre fixe menu -- $17.95 for a three-course meal until 7:00 p.m. -- is a bargain. 1312 Madison Ave. 212-289-0997
Square Meal One of the Carnegie Hill new-guard, Yura's Square Meal has been greeted with an enthusiastic response since opening last fall. The creative seasonal menus change daily, and it's BYOB, so come prepared. 30 E. 92nd St. 212-860-9872
U Café A kosher dairy restaurant serving large salads, bourekas, sandwiches, fish dishes and brunch, all fresh and attractively plated. 1436 Lexington Ave. 212-427-8223
TO SHOP
Shopping in Carnegie Hill amounts to a full-blown boutique crawl: The number of high-end children's clothing stores is staggering, as are the number of one-of-a-kind specialty shops.
Kitchen Arts & Letters
The country's largest bookstore devoted entirely to food and wine is staffed by a knowledgeable, friendly bunch willing to track down arcane or out-of-print titles. Frequented by connoisseurs, critics and casual cooks alike.
1435 Lexington Ave. 212-876-5550
Annie & Company Needlepoint A sweet and fancy knitting store, centered around a table of chatty regulars who purl away in a space characterized by luxurious yarns (silk, alpaca, boucle mohair and cashmere) draped from wooden pegs. Needlepoint-related goods are on the second floor. The shop also offers lessons, books, and patterns. 1323 Madison Ave. 212-289-2944
Corner Bookstore Behind the charming facade is a trove of carefully chosen titles, aimed at those interested in literature, art, travel and young-adult fiction. The friendly owners hold author readings, book signings and an annual party. 1313 Madison Ave. 212-831-3554
Carnegie Hill Antiques A high-end antiques shop specializing in 19th and 20th century English furniture as well as Chinese porcelain, landscape and portrait paintings and various decorative accessories. 1309 Madison Ave. 212-987-6819
S. Feldmans Housewares Just when you never thought you'd track down that milk frother, kitchen torch or whimsical set of salt and peppershakers that have been haunting all of your dreams, you stumble upon this popular little shop and all is resolved. In business since 1929. 1304 Madison Ave. 212-289-3961
Blue Tree Though it's a bit pricey, the jewelry, house wares, toys and small selection of clothing -- handpicked by owner and actress Phoebe Cates and her discerning staff -- are charming and fun to browse. 1283 Madison Ave. 212-369-2583
Edit A slick new boutique housed in a beautifully renovated townhouse that features more than 50 labels -- including Derek Lam, J Brand, Anya Hindmarch and Michael Kors -- is characterized by enthusiastic, personalized service. The space is also outfitted with a garden, a party room, and several attractive couches. 1368 Lexington Ave. 212-876-1368
Nature's Gifts A Greek market stocked with wallfuls of colorful produce and various specialty foods, paramount among them the full-fat Greek yogurts: some are thickened with fresh fruit, dried figs or couscous, and all are so rich and glorious that it can often take a few days to polish off a single cup. 1297 Lexington Ave. 212-289-6283
Holland Court Meat Market Rooted in the neighborhood since time immemorial, Holland Court prides itself on being an authority when it comes to meat, fish and game meats such as squab and pheasant. 1423 Lexington Ave. 212-289-8490
Annie's Fruit and Vegetable A beloved fruit and veggie outlet open 24 hours a day. Locals come here often; several have house accounts. Look out for plump rainier cherries in the spring. 1330 Lexington Ave. 212-427-8800
TO DO Carnegie Hill boasts an unusually high concentration of excellent museums and shares a border with Central Park, where the reservoir is often packed with joggers waving hello to each other. Though it technically falls outside of Carnegie Hill's official boundaries, The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a huge draw.
92nd Street Y The sheer amount of activities, lectures and concerts at this bastion of all things fun, cultural, creative and athletic is enough to lure in the throngs from Carnegie Hill (and beyond) to the enormous space, where they can attend a panel discussion or splash around in the giant chlorine-free pool. 1395 Lexington Ave. 212-415-5500
Jewish Museum The country's only museum devoted exclusively to the diversity and scope of Jewish history and culture also hosts various events, lectures, and rotating exhibitions. Opening soon: "Action/Abstraction: Pollock, de Kooning, and American Art, 1940-1976." 1109 Fifth Ave. 212-423-3200
Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum Housed in the landmark Andrew Carnegie Mansion, this unique museum focuses on historic and contemporary design and features a terrace, a garden, a design library and several educational programs. 2 E. 91st St. 212-849-8400
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Scaffolding from recent restoration efforts currently obscure the facade of Frank Lloyd Wright's famous structure, depriving visitors of its full awe-inspiring glory. Bandages are slated to come off by the end of the spring; in the meantime, head inside and check out Cai Guo-Qiang's site-specific installation, "I Want to Believe." Fridays after 5:45 pm pay what you wish. 1071 Fifth Ave. 212-423-3500
Neue Galerie This museum concentrates on early 20th century German and Austrian art and design. Café Sabarsky, the museum's stylish old world Viennese café, serves small meals as well as strudels and tortes. 1048 Fifth Ave. 212-628-6200
National Academy Museum Originally home to Archer Milton Huntington and his wife Anna, this townhouse overlooking Central Park showcases American art from the past two centuries. 1083 Fifth Ave. 212-369-4880
REAL ESTATE
"Properties in Carnegie Hill include everything from prewar to postwar, studios to townhouses," explained Della Leathers of Prudential Douglas Elliman.
"A 600 square foot studio off of Lexington usually goes for around $575,000," she said. "And right now there's a property on the market for about $33 million: a fully-renovated townhouse with an elevator and indoor swimming pool."
Though these numbers may cause a little sticker shock, the prices "really are low when you compare the properties with similar spaces south of 86th Street," said Holly Hunt, vice president at Halstead Property. "People have institutional memory -- they remember when Carnegie Hill wasn't such a great area."
So who's moving in?
"Wall Street types, media and publishing types, attorneys, corporate executives, techies, doctors, architects," said Leathers. "And empty nesters from the suburbs who are no longer soccer moms."
Prospective residents can also be lured in by the unique architecture alone.
"A lot of these buildings were designed by famous architects," said Hunt. "People are attracted to the brand name as well as the intelligent design."
To rent
$2,600 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment (30 E. 95th St.)
$3,500 for a 700-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment (55 E. 86th St.)
$6,500 for a 1,400-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment (40 E. 94th St.)
$11,000 for a two-bedroom, one-and-a-half bedroom apartment (114 E. 91st St.)
$27,000 for a four-bedroom, three-bathroom apartment (49 E. 86th St.)
To buy
$440,000 for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom prewar co-op (10 E. 95th St.)
$599,000 for a 700-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom co-op (125 E. 93rd St.)
$879,000 for a 1,100-square-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom co-op (68 E. 86th St.)
$1,275,000 for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom renovated prewar co-op (1349 Lexington Ave. at 90th Street)
$1,450,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom co-op (19 E. 88th St.)
$1,750,000 for a 1,340-square-foot three-bedroom, two-bathroom condo (134 E. 93rd St.)
$1,995,000 for a 1,462-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo (1235 Park Ave.)
$2,495,000 for a 1,120-square-foot two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo (1049 Fifth Ave.)
$3,750,000 for a three-bedroom, three-bathroom prewar co-op (89th Street between Park and Lexington avenues)
$4,900,000 for a 2,866-square-foot four-bedroom, five-bathroom condo (65 E. 96th St.)
$5,300,000 for a 2,500-square-foot three-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse condo (Third Avenue at 89th Street)
$5,495,000 for a four-bedroom, three-bathroom co-op (1192 Park Ave.)
$7,000,000 for a 2,458-square-foot three-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom condo (1049 Fifth Ave.)
$7,995,000 for a three-bedroom, four-bathroom co-op (1185 Park Ave.)
$11,500,000 for a four-bedroom, five-and-a-half bathroom duplex penthouse co-op (1120 Park Ave. at 90th St.)
$33,000,000 for a 12,200-square-foot, six-floor five-bedroom, eight-bathroom townhouse with maids' quarters. (17 E. 90th St.)
Realtors specializing in Carnegie Hill:
Holly Hunt, vice president at Halstead Properties LLC, 212-381-3305
Jeffrey Bua, senior vice president at Prudential Douglas Elliman, 212-891-7047
Joan McLaughlin, vice president at Corcoran, 212-360-1651
Della Leathers at Prudential Douglas Elliman, 212-891-7112
THE BUZZ
Last fall, many Carnegie Hill residents began to grow frustrated by the constant presence of film crews.
"It had gotten really bad," said Jim Marion. "Too many shows, too many teens trying to take photos with their cellphone cameras."
Jeffrey Bua agreed. "There were trucks everywhere. I was tripping over cables on every block."
Speaking on behalf of the neighborhood at the Mayor's Film Unit was Carnegie Hill Neighbors, a volunteer organization funded by donations from residents.
"People are passionate about living here, as evidenced by organizations like Carnegie Hill Neighbors," said Della Leathers.
Q & A WITH JIM AND ALLISON MARION
Jim and Allison and their daughters Molly and Ella have been living in Carnegie Hill for four years.
Why did you move to Carnegie Hill? We were living in a huge building with its own zip code, way east on 77th Street. There's a lot of traffic there; whenever you crossed the street, it felt like you were crossing a freeway. We wanted to live in an area where people weren't driving through to get somewhere else. We knew we had made the right choice when we opened our bedroom window in Carnegie Hill and heard birds chirping.
What characterizes Carnegie Hill's appearance? This is one of the prettiest parts of the city, as they really strive to preserve the architectural integrity of each building. It's all low-rise, so you won't see any glass towers going up. In the spring the flowers change in the Park Avenue malls and during Christmas there are lights everywhere.
What do you like best about Carnegie Hill? It feels like a small town: people want to stop and chat, owners of the local shops know our kids' names. We know everyone in our building on a first-name basis. It's a close-knit area, but it's not gossipy.
What do you like the least? The neighborhood doesn't reflect the demographic of New York at all. It's a refuge from a bustling, growing city and everyone wants to raise their children in a safe, calm nurturing place -- but really, to say it's not very diverse is an understatement.
How is the area good for children? There are so many things for kids to do: ballet, tae kwon do, gymnastics. And the public library is great. Our girls also like living on a "hill"; it's an actual hill that you can run up and down.
What are some of your favorite places? Holland Court, Corner Bookstore Table d'Hote is a really kid-friendly place. We were finally able to get a table at Sfoglia recently and it was great!
Do you plan on staying here for a long time? We're not going to leave; there's no reason why we would. People come here to stay, and they're proud of it. In fact, we know someone who brags that he's lived here since he was in his mother's womb.
THE BASICS
Libraries New York Public Library 112 E. 96th St. 212-289-0908
Transportation Subway: Nos. 4, 5, 6 to 86th Street; No. 6 to 96th Street Bus: M98, 101, 102, 103, 1, 2, 3, 4, 86, 96, 106
Crime stats The 19th Precinct, which covers the area between 59th Street and 96th Street from Fifth Avenue to the FDR Drive, reported one murder, four rapes, 42 robberies and 125 burglaries so far this year. For the same time last year, there was one murder, four rapes, 68 robberies and 100 burglaries.
Schools Public: Hunter College Campus Schools, 71 E. 94th St.; PS 169M Robert F. Kennedy, 110 E. 88th St.; PS 198 Isidor and Ida Straus, 1700 Third Ave.; PS 77 Lower Lab School, 1700 Third Ave.; Richard R. Green High School of Teaching, 421 E. 88th St.; PS 6 Lillie Devereux Blake, 45 E. 81st St.Private: Convent of the Sacred Heart, 1 E. 91st St.; Dalton School, 53 E. 91st St. and 108 E. 89th St.; Manhattan Country School, 7 E. 96th St.; Nightingale-Bamford School, 20 E. 92nd St.; St. Bernard's, 4 E. 98th St.; St. David's, 12 E. 89th St.; La Scuola d'Italia, 12 E. 96th St.; Spence School, 22 E. 91st St.; Trevor Day Lower School, 11 E. 89th St.
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