300 E 55th St

The Milan

On a recent visit to the Sutton Place condominium The Milan, a building staffer noted with a hint of pride that the condominium was “kind of famous,” and it’s true. The Milan’s distinct design has garnered the building appearances in productions that chronicle the lives of New York City’s 1%, including “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “Gossip Girl.” Impressive, for sure, but Corcoran agent Lisa Fitzig offers an equally compelling aspect of living at The Milan, where residents are promised exceptional service. “The best amenity is that the staff delivers everything directly to your door. Food delivery. Amazon packages. In a timely way.” Designed by Peter Claman of renowned New York City architecture firm SLCE, The Milan offers a striking aesthetic alternative to prewar co-ops, the traditional and predominant housing stock of the Upper East Side. Built in 2005, the Sutton Place condominium’s contemporary glass and steel exterior features an eight-story base with distinct beveled corners. The lobby and club room design by Jay Valgora of Studio V Architecture combines luxury and industrial materials and details of Bubinga wood, leather, concrete and exposed rivets. Its grand and light-filled double-height entryway provides a singular transition from Midtown’s dense streetscapes. Suspended panels softly illuminated from behind float above walls of polished and rough hewn Jerusalem stone. Further in, an unexpected cut-out, angled panel frames a three-paned interior window, simultaneously providing the building’s atrium club room with natural light and a sense of intimacy. The greenery of The Milan’s courtyard bamboo garden from MoMA roof garden designer Ken Smith lies beyond a rear wall of floor-to-ceiling windows. With 153 units across 31 stories, The Milan’s one- to three-bedroom apartments range from about 1,000 to 2,500 square feet. Homes sell for approximately $1.5 million for a one-bedroom, $2.5 million for a two-bedroom and $3 million for a three-bedroom home. The penthouse units, of which there are three, list for about $5 million. Most apartments include a half bath. Common charges range from $1,144 - $3,343. Homes feature 10- to 12-foot floor-to-ceiling soundproof windows offering stellar city and East River views and Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors. Kitchens are equipped with Viking and Miele appliances, ribbed aluminum SieMatic cabinets, marble countertops and U-line wine storage. Expansive bathrooms with Waterworks fixtures include teak and limestone double vanities, an oversized soaking tub and a glass-enclosed shower lined with Venetian tiles. Several units on upper floors offer private terraces, and penthouses feature gas fireplaces in the living room and select bedrooms. Additional conveniences in residences include a vented washer/dryer, rooms with individual climate control and wiring for high-speed internet. The Milan offers 24-hour concierge and doorman service. Amenities include a fitness center, where personal trainers are permitted, and a club room with state-of-the-art business facilities. Residents may hold private events in the lounge and garden, with access to a catering kitchen. The building offers a private garage parking and storage, and is pet-friendly. Ground-floor commercial tenants include LensCrafters, M & T Bank and a nail salon. Sutton Place is an Upper East Side enclave of residential streets and pocket parks with the culture and conveniences of Manhattan close at hand. Some of the finest restaurants in the city are nearby, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s acclaimed Four Twenty Five at 425 Park Avenue, Milanese eatery Casa Lever and Cafe Boulud. Practicalities such as grocery shopping and errands can be handled along First and Second Avenues, where Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are found. The area’s much-anticipated East Midtown Greenway, a nine-block pedestrian- and bike-friendly public park along the East River, opened in late 2023. The Milan is located in the New York City Department of Education’s District 2 and is currently zoned for P.S. 59, which receives an overall A rating from Niche. Public transit options include the E, F, M and 6 lines, which stop at Lexington and 53rd Street, and M15 bus service along First and Second Avenues. The Roosevelt Island Tramway is located a few blocks north at 59th and Second Avenue, and Laguardia Airport can be reached in about 15 minutes. For travel in and out of the city by car, the FDR Drive runs along the far east side of the neighborhood, providing connection to points north and south, and the entrance to the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge is at 59th Street and Second Avenue.