Plaza Tower (118 East 60th Street)
118 East 60th Street, New York, NY 10022
Lenox Hill, Upper East Side
BBL 1013940007 · BIN 1041902
- Year built
- 1963
- Type
- Cooperative
- Units
- 234
- Landmark
- No
- Pets
- No pets permitted
- Financing
- Up to 75% financing permitted (minimum 25% down; interest-only loans considered up to 50% of appraised value)
- Flip tax
- None
Every recorded sale at this building, 2002–2026
Price-per-square-foot over time, the line- and floor-premium curves, and every recorded sale.
- Median $/sf
- $890
- Listing discount
- 2.6%
- Recorded sales
- 251
- On record
- 2002–2026
Plaza Tower at 118 East 60th Street is a notable early-1960s cooperative with a genuine place in the history of New York apartment design. Completed in 1963 to a design by Samuel Paul and Seymour Jarmul, it was among the first residential buildings to take advantage of the city's landmark 1961 zoning resolution — the rule change that traded height and bulk for public plaza space. The result is a sheer 33-story mid-block tower set back behind a landscaped plaza, a then-new urban form the building executed early and well.
The building's signature flourish is its lobby, designed by Raymond Loewy — one of the most influential industrial designers of the twentieth century, the hand behind iconic mid-century product and transportation design. A Loewy-designed residential lobby is a rare and specific architectural credential, and it sets Plaza Tower apart from the broad field of postwar co-ops.
The Lenox Hill location places Plaza Tower at the southern hinge of the Upper East Side, where the residential avenues meet Midtown. Park and Lexington are at the corners; the 59th Street transit hub — the 4, 5, 6, N, R, and W lines — the Bloomingdale's retail district, and the Midtown business core are all within a few blocks. For buyers who want a full-service co-op with a strong architectural story and maximum convenience at the Midtown / Upper East Side seam, Plaza Tower occupies a distinct niche.
Architecture and unit composition
Plaza Tower's roughly 234 apartments reflect an ambitious early-1960s program. The unit mix runs from one- and two-bedroom configurations through larger layouts across the 33 stories, with the higher-floor residences capturing the open light and city views that the building's sheer mid-block height makes possible.
The architecture is the building's identity: the set-back plaza tower form, the early use of the 1961 zoning bonus, and the Loewy lobby. Interiors carry the proportions and finishes of high-quality 1963 construction — larger windows, functional layouts, and the mid-century ceiling heights typical of the period. Upper-floor apartments are the premium inventory for light and outlook, and the landscaped entry plaza provides an unusual sense of approach and openness on a dense Lenox Hill block.
Building operations
Plaza Tower operates as a full-service, white-glove postwar cooperative with a full-time doorman, concierge, live-in superintendent, on-site parking garage, and private storage. The building converted to cooperative ownership in 1970, and the roughly 234-apartment scale supports a deep, professionally managed operating profile.
The financial structure is accommodating for a southern-UES co-op. There is no flip tax. Financing is permitted up to 75% of appraised value (a minimum of 25% down), with interest-only loans considered up to 50% of value. Subletting is permitted after one year of residency, for up to three years — a relatively flexible posture that supports owners who relocate temporarily. Pied-à-terre, gifting, and guarantor purchases are acceptable with board approval. The one notable restriction: the building does not permit pets. The board posture otherwise follows Lenox Hill / southern Upper East Side co-op standards — financially conservative and primary-residence-oriented.
Local Law 97
- 2024–2029 annual penalty
- $0 (under cap)
- 2030–2034 annual penalty
- $40,987/yr
- Per unit / month range
- $0 – $15
Facade safety — Local Law 11
The latest available FISP filing classified the facade as Safe — no repairs were required at that inspection. Facade inspections run on a fixed five-year cycle; future inspection, repair, and any assessment decisions remain building-specific.
QEWI = Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector — the licensed engineer the city requires to sign the report (the independent expert, not the managing agent). Source: NYC DOB facade filings (FISP) · The Roebling Research Library.
See the full facade history →Management & transfer contacts
- Flip tax
- None; co-op transfer fee $700 (cash)/$750 (financing) per apartment (Seller)
- Sublet policy
- Allowed (sublet fees apply); subtenant app $450 + $200 credit; move-in/out $1,000 + $1,500 deposit
- Notable fees
- Buyer app $450 + $200 credit; Admin $500 buyer & seller; financing/recognition $150/$250
Recent sales
Recent transfers at this building, curated by The Roebling Team research desk. Apartment-level facts are independently verified before publishing; sale prices reflect the recorded transfer amount at the NYC Department of Finance.
| Date | Unit | Apartment | Price | PPSF | vs. Ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 25, 2026 | 8E | 1 BR | $625,000 | +4.3% | |
| Jun 18, 2026 | 31C | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,500 sf | $1,575,000 | $1,050/sf | -6.0% |
| Jun 10, 2026 | 32F | 1 BR · 1 BA · 650 sf | $500,000 | $769/sf | -4.8% |
| Nov 10, 2025 | 4H | 2 BR · 2 BA | $1,400,000 | -6.4% | |
| Sep 16, 2025 | 32A | 1 BR · 1 BA | $520,000 | -5.3% | |
| Sep 15, 2025 | 4B | 1 BR · 1 BA · 850 sf | $600,000 | $706/sf | +4.3% |
| Sep 12, 2025 | 31A | 1 BR · 1 BA | $545,000 | -0.9% | |
| Sep 4, 2025 | 28G | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,250 sf | $1,125,000 | $900/sf | +2.7% |
Market read. Most recent trades (2026) cleared a median $890/sf across 2 sales. Median listing discount 2.6% from the last ask — a recurring negotiation gap worth pricing into any offer or listing strategy.
The retrade record
Lines that have traded more than once in the public record — the building’s appreciation arc, apartment by apartment.
Other recent transfers
| Date | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 4, 2009 | 18G | $1,150,000 |
| Feb 11, 2005 | 30A | $590,000 |
Full closing history with price-per-square-foot over time, the complete retrade record, and every line that has traded.
Sales sourced from NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers (BBL 1-01394-0007) and verified listing data. Apartment-level facts (line, condition, asking-price context) curated and cross-verified by The Roebling Team research desk. Not all transactions cross-verify with ACRIS records — sponsor and LLC purchases sometimes record at stipulated values rather than market price; square footage on co-ops is not officially recorded, figures shown are approximate.
What to know if you’re buying
The architectural story is a real asset. Early use of the 1961 zoning bonus and a Raymond Loewy lobby are distinctive, identifiable credentials.
The financial terms are flexible. No flip tax, up to 75% financing, and sublet rights after one year make this an accommodating co-op for the district.
Pets are not allowed. If a dog or cat is non-negotiable, this building will not work — it is the key restriction to weigh.
Height and light are the building's strengths. The sheer 33-story mid-block tower means upper floors capture open light and city views.
The Lenox Hill / Midtown seam is the convenience case. Maximum access at the southern edge of the Upper East Side, with the 59th Street transit hub and Bloomingdale's immediate.
What to know if you’re selling
Lead with the architecture and the flexibility. The 1961-zoning pedigree, the Loewy lobby, the no-flip-tax structure, and the sublet-after-one-year policy are the strongest, most memorable selling points.
Flag the no-pets rule early. Screening for the right buyer pool up front saves time on both sides.
Pricing requires apartment-level comparable analysis. Floor, exposure, layout, and renovation history drive value more than building-wide averages.
Closing timelines are co-op standard. Roughly 6–10 weeks from contract signing to closing.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering Plaza Tower, also evaluate these nearby Lenox Hill and southern Upper East Side buildings:
- 167 East 61st Street — nearby Lenox Hill full-service building
- 201 East 62nd Street — nearby Lenox Hill cooperative
- 175 East 62nd Street — nearby Lenox Hill full-service building
- 300 East 59th Street — nearby southern-UES full-service tower
- 205 East 63rd Street — nearby Lenox Hill building
- 160 East 65th Street — nearby Lenox Hill full-service building
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, schools, transit, and pricing across Upper East Side — read The Roebling Team Guide to Upper East Side.
The full playbook — what goes in the package, how boards read your financials, the interview, and the timeline — plus sample cover, reference, and personal letters you can adapt.
Considering a move at Plaza Tower?
Request a private building brief with the relevant comparable sales, current and off-market availability, and an apartment-specific view of value.
Own an apartment here? See what it would sell for.
A Private Pricing Opinion — what your apartment at Plaza Tower would likely sell for today, what it costs to sell, and what you’d walk away with — reviewed personally against condition, exposures, renovation quality, and the competition actually on the market.