200 E 32nd St

Future Condominium

Future Condominium didn’t exactly exhibit futuristic elements when it opened in 1993. Designed by Costas Kondylis and Paul Rudolph, the 35-story condo did, however, draw notice to its shape, materials and balconies. In 2005, the New York Times mentioned that it was among the first residential buildings to use a glass-and-aluminum construction. The article added, “Most have come to love the unusual angled facade… with balconies that jut out at a rakish angle and give the appearance of tilting downward toward the street.” This sentiment echoes an entry in “New York 2000, Architecture and Urbanism Between the Bicentennial and the Millennium,” by Robert A. M. Stern, David Fishman and Jacob Tilove, where it was noted, “The most distinctive feature of the building was its dizzying balconies that extended at a forty-five degree angle from the façade, creating the illusion that they were pointed sharply toward the sky or toward the ground, depending on one’s vantage point.” While The Future isn’t what most would describe as a boutique building, there are only five units per floor. As far as residents, it has long attracted those working in the nearby hospitals along the East River. It’s fair to say that most of Future’s 165 high-end units have been renovated since its inception, but unchanged are 10-foot ceilings with walls of windows, PTAC units, en suite bathrooms and the angled terraces, for those units that have them (and most do). Some apartments even have two. The angled aspect and open railing isn’t as inviting for outdoor relaxation as more contemporary balconies, and the near-constant din from Third Avenue is unavoidable, but higher floors do provide enviable views of the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Buidling and World Trade Center, especially when the skyline is lit up at night. Two-bedroom layouts are the most common and range from 975 to 1,250 square feet; a recent sale at the smaller end netted $1.3 million. One bedrooms start at 714 square feet and have sold for less than $1 million, while three bedrooms average 1,400 square feet for just under $2 million. A rare five bedroom last sold for $3.9 million in 2018. In case a homeowner isn’t bowled over by their individual apartment views, they can head to the fully furnished rooftop, for bona fide vistas of the skyline and the East River. The landscaped courtyard plaza in front of the condo offers additional outdoor space, which leads to the full-service lobby and its white-glove service. From here residents can head down to the recently expanded basement gym equipped with Peloton bikes, fitness equipment and standard cardio machines and weights. The nearby children’s playroom is decked out in primary colors with murals on the ceiling and walls; this floor also contains a laundry room, bike room and storage units. As a bonus, a connected garage provides building access. There aren’t too many condo buildings that can claim a Trader Joe’s on the ground floor, making it tough to beat the convenience. “It’s been a huge selling point to buyers,” says Michael Passaro, a broker with Douglas Elliman. Also handy? Longtime fave 2nd Avenue Deli for authentic, if overpriced, kosher classics is on the next block. Third Avenue is bustling with casual eateries, cocktail bars, drug stores, hair salons and other conveniences. Second Avenue offers just as much, along with an AMC Kips Bay 15 movie theater that’s also a block away. 34th Street is a major retail and crosstown route that gets busier heading west. Overall, the Kips Bay section is convenient to Midtown while maintaining a more residential feel; non-locals tend to make their way here for the NYU Langone and Bellevue hospital systems that are within walking distance of The Future. The local 6 train is two blocks away at 33rd Street and Park Avenue, otherwise Grand Central is a 15-minute walk or quick bus or subway trip north for the 4, 5 express trains, 7 for crosstown access and to Queens or Metro-North trains to Connecticut and New York suburbs. Penn Station and Herald Square are about a 20-minute crosstown bus ride west along 34th Street to catch the B, D, F, M and N, Q, R, W trains at the latter and 1, 2, 3 and A, C, E trains at the former. Penn Station is also a major Amtrak hub along the East Coast corridor. And since The Future contains a garage, FDR Drive runs along the East River for quick access to Brooklyn or Queens.