Manhattan Building · 1910
The Capitol
12 East 87th Street, New York, NY 10128

12 East 87th Street (The Capitol)

12 East 87th Street, New York, NY 10128

At a glance
Year built
1910

The Capitol is George & Edward Blum's deliberately distinguished Carnegie Hill cooperative — designed in 1910-1912 in a Neo-Renaissance vocabulary with a glazed white terra cotta and Roman brick facade. The building was designated a NYC individual landmark in 1993 within the broader Expanded Carnegie Hill Historic District designation.

The structural identity rests on three features. First, the Blum & Blum architectural pedigree — the firm was, per architectural historians, "one of the city's great nonconformist architectural firms," producing a Beaux-Arts / Art Nouveau / Arts & Crafts hybrid practice across more than 120 apartment houses. Second, the individual NYC landmark designation — uncommon among Carnegie Hill cross-street buildings; the designation signals exceptional architectural distinction. Third, the flexible policy framework — 65% financing, permitted pied-à-terre, gifting, co-purchasing, and guarantors all permitted with board approval.

Daytonian / NewYorkitecture sources document a notable construction-history fact: "During construction, the building collapsed, killing four workers" — a Blum-firm construction history milestone.

Recent sales

Apartment-level closing detail should be sourced from NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers for full transactional context.

What to know if you’re buying

The 1993 NYC individual landmark designation is structurally elevating. Uncommon among Carnegie Hill cross-street buildings; the designation signals architectural exceptionality.

The Blum & Blum architectural pedigree is real institutional context. The firm's broader body of work — Art Nouveau and Arts & Crafts apartment buildings across Manhattan — connects The Capitol to a substantial early-20th-century lineage.

The flexible policy framework — 65% financing, permitted pied-à-terre, gifting, co-purchasing, guarantors — produces one of the more accommodating Carnegie Hill cross-street cooperative profiles.

The original one-apartment-per-floor configuration historically supported 5-bedroom layouts. Verify current line-specific configuration (combinations and splits) during walkthrough.

The cornice-loss condition is documented. Evaluate the facade restoration history during diligence; LPC-protected exterior modifications require approval.

The part-time doorman configuration is operationally distinct from full-time doorman peers. Verify hours during walkthrough.

Closing timelines are cooperative-standard. Plan for 6 to 10 weeks from contract through board approval to closing.

Comparable buildings

The Roebling Team at The Capitol

The Roebling Team at Compass specializes in Central Park West, the Upper East Side, and the broader Park-facing Manhattan market. If you're considering a purchase or sale at The Capitol, a 30-minute consultation is the right starting point.

Schedule a consultation →

Corey Cohen · The Roebling Team at Compass 646.939.7375 · c.cohen@compass.com


Sources: CityRealty (Carter Horsley review); NewYorkitecture building profile; Yoreevo building reference; NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission individual landmark designation (1993); NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission Expanded Carnegie Hill Historic District Designation Report (LP-1834, 1993); NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers.

Considering a transaction at The Capitol?

A 30-minute consultation is the right starting point.

Schedule a consultation →
Corey Cohen · The Roebling Team at Compass
646.939.7375 · c.cohen@compass.com