- Year built
- 1986
- Type
- Condominium
- Units
- 207
- Floors
- 34
- Landmark
- No
- Pets
- Permitted under condominium rules
- Subletting
- Permitted under the condominium declaration
- Pied-à-terre
- Allowed
Every recorded sale at this building, 2004–2026
Price-per-square-foot over time, the line- and floor-premium curves, and every recorded sale.
- Median $/sf
- $1,012
- Listing discount
- 3.8%
- Recorded sales
- 204
- On record
- 2004–2026
The Cosmopolitan is one of the more architecturally accomplished residential towers in the Grand Central district. Completed in 1986 by developer William Zeckendorf Jr. with Harshad Shah, and designed by Gruzen Samton Steinglass, it is a postmodern tower whose rose-toned masonry and pair of rounded, stacked bay-window piers give it a distinctive profile among the neighborhood's residential buildings — well regarded within the district's architecture.
The building's appeal combines that architectural presence with a deep amenity package and a genuinely central location. East 48th Street between Lexington and Third places it minutes from Grand Central Terminal, the Midtown East office core, and the transit and dining density of the district, while the tower's full-service program gives residents a level of building services closer to a luxury high-rise than a typical mid-block Midtown building.
As a condominium — with a notably low minimum down payment relative to co-ops — the building serves buyers who want flexibility, full amenities, and architectural distinction in one of Manhattan's most transit-connected neighborhoods.
Architecture and unit composition
The 207 residences distribute across roughly 34 stories. The Cosmopolitan's postmodern design is its signature: rose-toned masonry, two rounded piers of stacked five-pane bay windows that pull light into the living spaces, corner windows, and indented balconies at the crown. Baths were finished in travertine marble, and some units include a second entertaining kitchen, terraces, or fireplaces.
The unit mix skews toward studios and one-bedrooms, with larger layouts and penthouses on the upper floors. Floor, exposure, outdoor space, and renovation condition are the primary pricing variables; the bay-window lines and higher floors, with their light and views, command the premium within the building.
Building operations
The Cosmopolitan operates as a full-service condominium: 24-hour doorman and concierge, room service, a live-in resident manager, a fitness center, an indoor pool, a roof deck and sundeck, a conference and entertainment room, a full-service parking garage, laundry, and bicycle and resident storage. A Greek restaurant occupies the ground floor. Pets are permitted under building rules.
As a condominium, the building offers standard condo flexibility — pieds-à-terre, investment use, and subletting are permitted under the declaration, and the minimum down payment is low relative to co-ops. Common charges and property taxes should be modeled for the specific apartment; buyers should review the current financials, any assessments, and the reserve position during due diligence.
Recent sales
The Cosmopolitan trades as a full-amenity Midtown East condominium, read on a price-per-square-foot basis. Recent closings have run around the high $1,100s to low $1,200s per square foot, with pricing driven by floor, exposure, outdoor space, and renovation condition. The many smaller studio and one-bedroom units make the building accessible to a broad buyer pool, while the bay-window and penthouse lines command higher pricing.
The combination — architectural distinction, a deep amenity package, a central Grand Central-district location, and condominium flexibility with a low minimum down payment — supports steady demand and liquidity across market cycles.
Recent closings 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | 5C | 1 BR · 1 BA · 753 sf | $760,000 | $1,009/sf | off-mkt |
| Dec 22, 2025 | 12B | 1 BR · 1 BA · 463 sf | $582,500 | $1,258/sf | -3.7% |
| Sep 29, 2025 | 8B | 5 BR · 1 BA · 463 sf | $550,000 | $1,188/sf | -9.1% |
| Aug 21, 2025 | 28G | 1 BR · 1 BA · 650 sf | $870,000 | $1,338/sf | -2.8% |
| Jul 15, 2025 | 15A | 5 BR · 1 BA · 449 sf | $655,500 | $1,460/sf | +1.0% |
| Jul 2, 2025 | 21A | 1 BR · 1 BA · 650 sf | $765,000 | $1,177/sf | -9.9% |
| Apr 25, 2025 | 5F | 1 BR · 1 BA · 753 sf | $720,000 | $956/sf | -9.9% |
| Apr 21, 2025 | 28F | 1 BR · 1.5 BA · 761 sf | $920,000 | $1,209/sf | -6.1% |
Market read. Most recent trades (2026) cleared a median $1,012/sf across 1 sale. Median listing discount 3.8% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 29, 2023 | 21E | $800,000 |
| Feb 14, 2017 | 7B | $640,000 |
| Oct 1, 2013 | 25G | $749,000 |
| Sep 24, 2013 | 6F | $749,000 |
| Mar 4, 2013 | 5B | $545,000 |
| Feb 27, 2008 | 14A | $538,000 |
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 1-01303-7501) 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 from recorded condo declarations and offering plans.
What to know if you’re buying
The amenity package is deep. Doorman, room service, indoor pool, fitness center, roof deck, parking garage, and entertainment room put this building at the top of the district's service tier. Confirm what carrying costs support them.
Architecture is a differentiator. The bay-window lines and postmodern design distinguish the building. The bay-window and corner apartments carry a premium — confirm the line for the unit you are considering.
Condo flexibility with a low down payment. Pieds-à-terre, investment use, and subletting are permitted under the declaration, and the minimum down payment is low relative to co-ops.
Model the full carry. Confirm common charges, property taxes, and any assessment for the specific apartment.
Confirm outdoor space and views. Terraces, balconies, and view quality vary by line and floor. Confirm exactly what a given apartment offers.
What to know if you’re selling
Lead with amenities and architecture. The service package and the building's distinctive design are the marketing edge over plainer district condos. Foreground both.
Presentation and line matter. Condition drives the pricing spread, and the desirable bay-window and penthouse lines should be marketed to their strengths.
Emphasize flexibility. The condo structure and low minimum down payment broaden the buyer pool — a selling point worth foregrounding.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering 145 East 48th Street, also evaluate:
- 249 East 48th Street (Turtle Bay House) — full-service Turtle Bay condominium on the same block
- 232 East 47th Street (The Club at Turtle Bay) — nearby Turtle Bay condominium tower
- 250 East 49th Street — Turtle Bay condominium nearby
- Midtown East — the broader corridor
The Roebling Team at The Cosmopolitan
The Roebling Team at Compass specializes in Midtown East, Turtle Bay, and the broader Manhattan condominium market. We publish this building profile because condominium buyers and sellers deserve building-specific intelligence — architecture, transactional mechanics, and apartment-level pricing reality — not generic market commentary.
If you're considering a purchase or sale at 145 East 48th Street, a 30-minute consultation is the right starting point. We'll bring the full context this page provides plus the transactional specifics your situation requires — financial structuring, due diligence priorities, comparable analysis at the apartment level, and the pacing strategy that fits your timeline.
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, schools, transit, and pricing across Midtown East — read The Roebling Team Guide to Midtown East.
Get the full picture on this building.
The full comp set, a private valuation of your line, or current and off-market availability — sent to you directly.