The Belaire

Situated at the end of East 72nd Street in prime Upper East Side, Manhattan, The Belaire is emblematic of the area’s late 20th-century high-rise residential building boom. Climbing a moderate 50 stories, the distinct red brick and emphatically Postmodern structure towers over the adjacent FDR Drive highway and the East River. Because of the preceding development of major auction house Sotheby’s main New York flagship toward its east and the equally mid-rise installation of the Hospital for Special Surgery to its south, this 1988 Zeckendorf Company building maintains unobstructed views of the city in at least three directions. In fact, its first 14 floors serve as an annex for the hospital, ensuring that residences look out over adjacent buildings. An ode to the setback code that defined early 20th-century New York architecture, the otherwise monolithic structure — designed by Frank Williams and Associates — steps in at its capital, affording four sprawling penthouse units with large terraces. With just 147 units spread over 36 floors, residences tend to be larger than the area norm. “In New York City, regardless of if you’re Downtown or Uptown, understanding the value of space is one of the most difficult things because we have such a lack of it,” says Kelly Killoren Bensimon, an agent with Douglas Elliman and who, in summer 2024, had two prime listings in the building. “The Belaire is an exception in this respect.” According to her, unit 30CDE has south, east and west-facing views. It was completely gut-renovated with a loft-like design scheme. Such is the reality of most resale residences in the building. Like with any older building, the state of renovation and updates varies greatly from unit to unit. Finishes will almost always reflect a previous owner's specific tastes and changing fads. The sleek, recently retrofitted residence — on the market for under $4 million — includes a whopping 2,800 square feet of space, four bedrooms, and a massive open-plan living, dining and kitchen area. “The residences at The Belaire are really well proportioned with rooms that fit king-sized beds,” Killoren Bensimon adds. “Kitchens outfitted with trendy tiles are great, but what homeowners really need — and want — closets. The Belaire has plenty.” Across the offering, almost floor-to-ceiling casement windows wrap southern and northern facades while a few additional oversized apertures on much slimmer Eastern and Western exposures filter in tons of natural light at different times of day. While a 450-square-foot studio can sell for $650,000, one bedrooms fetch just under $1 million. Two bedrooms top out at $2 million, and three bedrooms cost $3.5 million. Ranging in size from 2,390 to 3,650 square feet, the building’s four penthouses most recently sold for between $6 million and $ 8.5 million. The Belaire has been home to many prominent individuals such as novelist Carol Higgins Clark, former Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari and legendary developer Arthur W. Zeckendorf himself. Standing out so prominently next to the open expanse of the East River comes with some unexpected disadvantages. On October 11, 2006, a small fixed-wing aircraft piloted by New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle and his flight instructor crashed into the 30th floor of the building. Both were instantaneously killed, while the residents of the unit sustained substantial injuries. The engine fire spread to other floors but was quickly contained. Even more bizarre, the housekeeper in the unit during the incident had also been the victim of another freak accident. According to a 2006 Seattle Times article, the woman was left comatose during the 1997 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade when a piece of lamppost, knocked over by an unruly float, hit her in the head. “Living on a cul-de-sac in New York is an anomaly,” Killoren Bensimon notes. This feature allows residents to take their time when offloading groceries or simply getting out of their cars. Most New Yorkers must double park and carry out these tasks as quickly as possible to avoid beratement from other drivers. Some units are sold with dedicated parking spots in the 70-car subterranean garage directly accessed by elevator. There’s also valet parking. A glass-house-enclosed health club with top-line equipment is accentuated by, according to Killoren Bensimon, “a sun-drenched” 60-foot-long heated pool with lifeguard supervision. Other amenities include a well-maintained children’s playroom, large storage units and a lobby helmed by 24/7 door attendants and concierges. While most updated residences have in-unit washers/dryers, the building also contains a sizable laundry room. Though located on the far eastern edge of the Upper East Side, The Belaire is close to many of its attractions, including Central Park, Museum Mile and the prestigious boutiques that line Madison Avenue. “Sant Ambroeus and Sotheby’s are right around the corner,” Killoren Bensimon says. “With a bougie coffee shop nearby and hospital literally within the building, residents get a bit of everything. They get their healthcare and their aesthetic care.” According to her, the noise from ambulance sirens isn’t really an issue, given that units start on the 15th floor. Residents who rely on public transportation can take the N, Q and R subway lines two blocks away at the 72nd Street/ 2nd Avenue station.