1344 First Avenue

The 1961 vintage places 1344 First in the postwar idiom: an efficient brick elevator building with ground-floor retail along First Avenue, designed for functional apartment living rather than pre-war ornament. Layouts run to the postwar standard — studios, one-, and two-bedroom apartments with practical plans, ample closets, and large windows — with larger combinations and the better light and exposures on the upper floors.

With approximately 165 apartments, the building runs at the mid-to-large postwar density, and individual apartments are best evaluated at the unit level on floor, exposure, and renovation history.

1344 First operates as a full-service postwar cooperative. A full-time doorman staffs the attended lobby, with a resident superintendent on site and central laundry and private storage in the building. As with most Upper East Side postwar co-ops, the board reviews purchases through a formal application and interview, and prospective buyers should expect financing requirements, a flip-tax structure, and sublet rules set by the proprietary lease and house rules — the specific financial terms are the policy slate we walk clients through, and the current percentages should be confirmed at offer stage.

This is full-service postwar value on the Upper East Side. Doorman service and an elevatored building near the river, at pricing well below the central avenues.

The shareholder base supports carrying costs. A ~165-unit building spreads operating and capital costs across a sizable base — confirm the current maintenance, assessment history, and reserve position in diligence.

Co-op financial policy governs the purchase. Expect board review, financing limits, a flip tax, and sublet rules; confirm the current terms at offer stage.

Location is the value. First Avenue living near the East River esplanade, with the full Upper East Side amenity base a few avenues west.

Lead with full-service value. The doorman service, the elevatored postwar building, and the attainable Upper East Side pricing are the marketing assets.

Price to the building's own comps. With ~165 units, the persuasive evidence is 1344 First's own recent trades adjusted for floor, exposure, and condition.

Closing timelines are co-op standard. Plan for roughly 6–10 weeks from contract to closing, subject to board package and approval pacing.

If you're considering 1344 First Avenue, also evaluate:

• 1206 First Avenue — postwar First Avenue cooperative nearby
• 1131 Third Avenue — postwar Lenox Hill cooperative for a comparable tier
• 1402 Third Avenue — postwar Upper East Side cooperative nearby
• 1355 First Avenue — newer First Avenue condominium nearby for a tenure contrast
• 160 East 65th Street — full-service Lenox Hill building nearby

The Roebling Team at Compass specializes in the Upper East Side, Central Park West, and the broader Park-facing Manhattan market. We publish this building profile because Upper East Side buyers and sellers deserve building-specific intelligence — building operations, board culture, transactional mechanics, and apartment-level pricing — not generic market commentary.

If you're considering a purchase or sale at 1344 First, a 30-minute consultation is the right starting point.