501 3rd Ave

Eastlight

If there’s one thing that even passersby can gather about this building from the street below, it’s that its name, Eastlight, is, well, apropos. Occupying the corner of Third Avenue and 34th Street, this East Midtown glass tower is wrapped in large, paneless windows that welcome a flood of natural light into the units. “One of the best things is, because it’s on a corner, there are no interior courtyard views. Every unit faces outward toward the city view and trees,” says Maggie Kent, an associate real estate broker with Core Real Estate who reps the building alongside Nicole Grandelli. The building’s cantilevered, glass facade has a rather modern presence in Kips Bay, where brick-clad low- and high-rises are the norm. And while Kips Bay has plenty of shopping and dining of its own, residents are also right on the edge of Murray Hill and close to the trendy NoMad area. Most of the building’s 144 units are one- and two-bedroom units, though studios are also available, many of them with a generous 600 square feet. Studios begin at around $700,000, while larger residences have sold for nearly $2.8 million. One penthouse recently sold for just north of $3 million. International design firm CetraRuddy was responsible for both the architecture and interior finishes, ensuring consistent design inside and out. “These apartments are really, really bright, and the finishes feel very cohesive,” Grandelli says. “They’re very high-end for this price point. I like to call it ‘affordable luxury.’ CetraRuddy did not cut corners on the quality.” The massive windows in each unit let in spectacular light while reflecting heat and dampening acoustics from the busy streets below. Each of the two-bedroom residences is a corner unit with bay living rooms that flow seamlessly into the kitchen, where integrated Miele appliances blend with the custom, Italian cabinetry. Seven-inch-wide, white oak flooring covers the residence, save the bathroom, where either black or sand-hued tile stands against the white, marble-tiled walls. All units are pre-wired for electric shades and include a washer/dryer, while select units include a wine refrigerator, his-and-hers closets or private terraces with glass railing that preserves the city view. Whereas most new developments carve out amenity space on the lower levels while reserving the top floors for high-priced units, Eastlight places them in the building’s crown. “All of the amenities are on the top, 34th floor, which is rather unique,” Kent says. “The building really capitalizes on that view for all of the residents.” The U-shaped amenities suite has three distinct spaces. Facing the south, the light-filled residents’ lounge includes several niches, including a living area, a billiard room and a catering kitchen and dining nook. CetraRuddy took a more playful approach to the space, adding pops of color through abstract artwork, furnishings, an accent wall and textured navy wallpaper. The most inspiring space is just around the corner: “From there you can walk out to the terrace, where you have a grill and outdoor seating. It runs the length of the building and has stunning views of the East River,” Grandelli says. On the north side, a sleek fitness center and private studio offer space for working out, yoga or meditation, with views of the Chrysler Building to boot. The serenity and loftiness that residents feel inside Eastlight is a juxtaposition to the bustling scene that unfolds day in and day out just beyond the lobby doors — that’s part of the appeal. “Eastlight is in the middle of whatever you need,” Grandelli says. “In a minute you can go to your grocery store, your pharmacy, your dry cleaning, your nails, your hair salon. You can have dinner or go to the bank. Everything’s completely accessible.” Other delights aren’t too far away, either: Madison Square Park is 0.7 miles south, Bryant Park and the New York Public Library are 0.8 miles north and the East River Esplanade is 0.6 miles east. For residents with a car, FDR Drive is merely three blocks away, and the entrance to the Midtown-Queens Tunnel is two blocks north, providing a path to LaGuardia Airport roughly 9 miles away. The 4 and 6 trains are closest, but the Herald Square transit hub along Sixth Avenue has nine other trains and Grand Central is close by for long-distance trains. For a more pleasant commute, the East 34th Street ferry terminal is about a 10-minute walk away, as is the BLADE helipad.