1280 Third Avenue
1280 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10021
Lenox Hill, Upper East Side
BBL 1014080040 · BIN 1043047
- Year built
- 1966
- Type
- Cooperative
- Units
- 120
- Landmark
- No
Every recorded sale at this building, 2003–2026
Bedroom-by-bedroom medians, the full transfer record, and how units trade against ask.
- 2BR median
- $1.2M
- Recent range
- $773K – $4.4M
- Listing discount
- 2.0%
- Recorded transfers
- 111
1280 Third Avenue is a 1966 cooperative in the heart of the Upper East Side's East 70s, on the Third Avenue stretch that anchors the neighborhood's everyday life. The location is the headline: this is one of Manhattan's most convenient residential addresses, with the everyday shops, groceries, pharmacies, cafés, and restaurants of Third Avenue at the door, and the more refined retail of Madison Avenue a few blocks west. The 6 train at 77th and 68th Streets and the Q train (Second Avenue Subway) at 72nd Street put both East Side trunk lines within a short walk, and Central Park is roughly five blocks west.
The building belongs to the wave of mid-rise construction that reshaped Third Avenue after the elevated railway came down at mid-century, opening the avenue to light and to a new generation of taller residential towers. The 1960s buildings of this stretch were designed for efficient, light-filled urban living — functional layouts, casement and corner windows, and the elevator convenience the post-war market expected. At 20 stories and 120 apartments, 1280 Third is a substantial, well-scaled example, and it offers something increasingly valuable: full-service cooperative ownership in prime Lenox Hill at pricing that sits below the Fifth, Madison, and Park tiers a few blocks west.
Architecture and unit composition
The 120 apartments reflect a 1966 post-war building: efficient, light-driven layouts across studio, one-, and two-bedroom configurations, with the casement-window glazing and clean-lined rooms typical of the era. Post-war buildings of this vintage favor functional flow, generous light, and elevator-building convenience over the formal foyers and service wings of pre-war construction. The 20-story height is a real asset — upper floors capture meaningful light and open outlooks across the East Side's mid-rise streetscape, and on the higher lines those long views are the building's clearest premium. Avenue-facing apartments carry Third Avenue exposure; cross-street and rear lines vary by floor and configuration.
Building operations
1280 Third Avenue operates as a full-service post-war cooperative with an attended lobby, a central laundry, and a live-in superintendent. It runs on the standard co-op model: a proprietary lease, monthly maintenance, and a board-approval process for purchasers. The post-war structure typically means lower maintenance overhead than the labor-intensive pre-war houses to the west, and the building's scale supports reliable, day-to-day staffing. Buyers should expect a conventional Upper East Side board review weighing documented financials and primary-residence intent.
Local Law 97
- 2024–2029 annual penalty
- $0 (under cap)
- 2030–2034 annual penalty
- $31,974/yr
- Per unit / month range
- $0 – $22
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 →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 | 8A | 2 BR · 2 BA | $1,537,000 | -10.9% | |
| Sep 26, 2025 | 3A | 2 BR · 2 BA | $1,627,000 | +2.0% | |
| Sep 18, 2025 | 8C | 2 BR · 2 BA | $1,180,000 | +12.4% | |
| Jun 23, 2025 | 12BC | 3 BR · 3 BA · 1,800 sf | $2,237,500 | $1,243/sf | -10.3% |
| Mar 27, 2025 | 4ABC | 4 BR · 4.5 BA · 3,300 sf | $4,400,000 | $1,333/sf | -2.2% |
| Dec 4, 2024 | 10G | 2 BR · 1 BA · 850 sf | $772,500 | $909/sf | -3.3% |
| Nov 26, 2024 | 6A | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,200 sf | $1,270,000 | $1,058/sf | +3.7% |
| May 29, 2024 | 15D | 2 BR · 2 BA | $995,000 | +0.0% |
Market read. $/sf is measured on the latest sales with reliable square footage (2025): a median $1,203/sf across 2 sales. The building has traded as recently as 2026. Median listing discount 4.1% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 29, 2003 | 11G | $450,000 |
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 1-01408-0040) 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
This is a board-approval cooperative, so a complete, well-documented purchase application matters. The value proposition is location and convenience: full-service co-op ownership in prime Lenox Hill, steps from two subway lines and Central Park, at pricing below the marquee avenues. Expect efficient post-war layouts rather than pre-war foyers — bright, functional apartments built for easy living — and target the higher floors for light and views. We help buyers assess the line and exposure, read the building's financials, and prepare a board package that clears cleanly.
What to know if you’re selling
Lead with location and the building's everyday livability: a full-service Lenox Hill co-op steps from the 6 and Q trains, the Third Avenue retail spine, Madison Avenue shopping, and Central Park. Those fundamentals draw a broad buyer pool of first-time buyers, downsizers, and pied-à-terre seekers who want the East 70s without the marquee-avenue price. Price to line and floor — altitude, exposure, light, and renovation condition drive value here — and lean on a building-specific comparable analysis to position correctly. Our Seller Closing Cost Calculator below helps you map net proceeds from the start.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering 1280 Third Avenue, also look at these nearby Third Avenue cooperatives:
- 1270 Third Avenue — 1958 Upper East Side elevator co-op, immediate neighbor
- 1250 Third Avenue — 1960 Third Avenue elevator building
- 1230 Third Avenue — 1962 Third Avenue building
- 1218 Third Avenue — 1962 Third Avenue 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 1280 Third Avenue?
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 1280 Third Avenue 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.