36 East 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021

Connoisseur Building Mixed-Use

The Connoisseur Building is a 5-story mixed-use elevator building located at 36 East 73rd Street between Madison and Park Avenues in the heart of the Upper East Side, on a charming tree-lined street within steps of Central Park and Manhattan's most exclusive boutiques. This is a unique opportunity for an end-user, investor, or retailer. 36 East 73rd Street is currently configured as a two-story retail store and three floors of residential space above, which are accessible by a keyed elevator. The future owner could reside above, and rent out the retail component and enjoy the high rent district of the Madison Avenue corridor. The estimated rent from the retail portion will offset the carrying costs of this exceptional property. The property will be delivered vacant providing new owners the opportunity to make the building truly their own creation. The possibilities range from immediate move-in to value-adding upgrades including the construction of an additional floor or a roof deck. The residential rental apartments are large with high ceilings, fireplaces, and private keyed-elevator landings. An end-user or investor will renovate the residential portion of the building (end-user for private living quarters, and investor for high-end rentable apartments). There is natural light on each floor from the front and rear windows of the property. Each floor is overlooking the charming garden surrounded by a beautiful green trellis. There is a finished basement the full length of the townhouse. The building mechanicals have been properly maintained and are located in the front and rear in designated mechanical rooms of the finished basement, leaving the center of the basement for use; currently the area serves as storage for the store. The 20-foot-wide townhouse is located within the Upper East Side Historic District (Landmarks Preservation Commission-LPC). The LPC designation report describes the alteration (and the existing mixed-use building) as "non-contributing" to the character of the District; such buildings can usually be replaced to the extent allowed by current zoning without objection from the Landmarks Preservation Commission. While the Madison Business District calls for a high-end shop on the ground floor, the floors above can be configured flexibly (residential or commercial), depending on the best use scenario for the future owner. The townhouse was originally built by Charles Buek in 1886-1887. Buek was a developer and architect and worked mostly on the east side of Manhattan. He was known for designing large and elaborate private homes and apartments for wealthy clients. In 1941 the building façade was altered by architect, J. Lewis Mayers. Ernest Werner, Broker, was the first resident at No. 36. The property is conveniently located within a range of 6 to 11 minutes walking distance to Central Park, St. Catherine's Park, Grand Army Plaza, and John Jay Park. Further, the walking distance range is 3 to 8 minutes to the following museums: Guggenheim Museum, Cooper Hewitt Museum, Frick Collection, Asia Society, and The Met Breuer Museum. The retail space is currently occupied by the antique store, "L'Antiquaire & the Connoisseur." The shop was founded in 1934 by the first female arts dealer in America. In recent years, the area's antique stores have given way to more contemporary distinguished brands such as Apple, whose Upper East Side location is directly across the street, Lévy Gorvy's art gallery is the building's neighbor, and luxury retailers such as Ralph Lauren, Christian Louboutin, Lanvin, and Frédéric Malle all have their shops just steps from 36 East 73rd Street.