Charles House

Residents also have access to a gym and furnished rooftop deck with lounge chairs, tables, planters and panoramic views to the south and east. “It’s an incredible roof deck. You’re seeing all of Central Park, Central Park South with its magnificent towers, and down to the Empire State Building,” Salvatore remarks. There’s also a live-in super, who according to Salvatore goes “beyond the call of duty,” a full-time elevator operator and door attendant. Both agents also state that the building is always well-maintained: “I always advise my buyers to go downstairs to the basement and if you have any smell, that’s normally a sign of bad management, but it’s very clean,” Pearson says. “It’s a good management company. It’s the main key. Eventually, I may even end up living in that building.”

One- to four-bedroom units with multimillion dollar price tags

The building originally harbored 111 units, but since there have been combinations over the years, the number is now closer to 102. “It’s very liveable, luxurious and also functional,” Salvatore says. “From many of the apartments, you have a direct view of Central Park. There’s something wonderful about seeing if you need an umbrella, seeing people walking or pulling up to the Carlyle for the evening. It’s just very ‘New York-y’ — it’s what people imagine New York to be — in that fantasy, movie aspect of life.”

Prospective buyers can generally expect hardwood floors, marble-clad bathrooms and galley kitchens, some of which have been updated to include Calacatta marble or granite countertops and Gaggenau or Miele appliances. “I’ve had units in the building that were never renovated since the original sponsor released them, and also newly renovated units with Brazilian wood or herringbone floors,” Pearson says. The owner of her current listing, for instance, invested close to $800,000 in renovations when he purchased it in 2011. “That apartment is so spotless. You can’t even find a scratch on the wall,” she adds. Eight of the units in Charles House include former staff rooms, which can be used as offices, separate apartments or art studios. Many residences have in-unit washer/dryers, but the smaller units do not. One-bedrooms typically start at $950,000 for between 700 to 1,200 square feet, while two-bedrooms generally run between $1.73 million and $2.75 million for 1,200 square feet and up. Three-bedrooms range between $3.2 million and $6.7 million, while four-bedrooms run between $3.2 million and $7.2 million, depending on square footage and renovations. Pearson highlights that the common charges are a bit lower compared to other UES condo locations. “For similar square footage, they’d be $5,000 to $6,000 dollars per month, whereas ours are just over $3,000,” she says.

Fine Print

“There’s an 11-year assessment for renovations, and another special assessment that’s going to expire next spring, depending on the size of the unit,” Person notes. Prices generally range around $326 per month for capital improvements and roughly $333 per month for the special assessment, which ends in April 2025. Also, prospective buyers should know that the board requires owners to put in new windows within a few months of the initial sale. “It’s an important point for buyers. Depending on the amount of windows, it could cost you between $80,000 and $100,000,” she adds.

An upscale location near Manhattan’s largest greenspace

Located on Madison Avenue and 78th Street within Metropolitan Hill, Charles House is conveniently located down the street from Central Park and nestled in between the boutiques along Fifth Avenue and the thoroughfare of Park Avenue. One of the world’s best art museums, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is just five blocks away. The 4 and 6 trains are on 77th Street and Lexington Avenue, which is roughly a five-minute walk from the building.