- Year built
- 1988
- Type
- Condominium
- Units
- 79
- Floors
- 22
- Pets
- Permitted under condominium rules
- Subletting
- Permitted under the condominium declaration
- Pied-à-terre
- Allowed
Every recorded sale at this building, 2003–2026
Price-per-square-foot over time, the line- and floor-premium curves, and every recorded sale.
- Median $/sf
- $1,183
- Listing discount
- 2.9%
- Recorded sales
- 106
- On record
- 2003–2026
L'Isola is one of the more distinctive late-1980s condominiums in Murray Hill. Where most of the corridor's postwar inventory reads as plain brick, this 22-story tower sets itself back from the street behind a fenced plaza with a fountain, and its three-story rusticated limestone base — crowned by a large arched circular window over the canopied entrance — gives it an architectural presence that the surrounding blocks lack. The building carries only four apartments per floor, which produces a low-density, quiet residential feel unusual for a tower of its height.
For buyers, the appeal is a full-service condominium at a Murray Hill price point: 24-hour doorman coverage, a fitness center with sauna, and a landscaped rear garden with a grill, all one block from the 6 train at 33rd Street and within walking distance of Grand Central. The condominium structure means the flexibility that co-op buyers in the corridor go without — pied-à-terre use, investment ownership, and subletting are all workable under the declaration.
Architecture and unit composition
The tower rises 22 stories in light red brick, with curved balconies distributed across the facade and a three-story limestone base that reads as a deliberate architectural gesture rather than a utilitarian entrance. The circular arched window over the doorway is the building's signature detail.
With four apartments per floor across roughly 79 residential units, layouts run from studios through two-bedrooms. Studios have recently traded in the high-$500Ks to high-$600Ks, one-bedrooms in the high-$700Ks to high-$800Ks, and two-bedrooms in the $1.35M–$1.5M range. Recent closings have priced at approximately $1,190–$1,200 per square foot, with asking prices modestly above that.
Building operations
L'Isola operates as a full-service condominium with 24-hour doorman and concierge coverage, a live-in superintendent, a fitness center with sauna, a second-floor laundry room, a landscaped rear garden with a grill, a resident library, and private storage. The lobby and elevators have been renovated. There is no on-site garage and no roof deck. Local Law 11 facade work has been completed and the associated assessment paid — a point worth confirming as fully resolved during due diligence.
Local Law 97
- 2024–2029 annual penalty
- $0 (under cap)
- 2030–2034 annual penalty
- $0 (under cap)
- Per unit / month range
- —
Facade safety — Local Law 11
The latest available filing classified the facade as SWARMP — Safe With A Repair and Maintenance Program: the engineer identified conditions requiring monitoring or repair before the next inspection cycle. The scope, timeline, and how the building funds the work are building-specific — we review the filings and board materials for you.
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
- Notable fees
- Min Down Payment: 10%
Recent sales
157 East 32nd Street trades as a mid-market Murray Hill condominium. Pricing has held in a consistent band — recent closings around $1,190–$1,200 per square foot — with the building's amenity package and set-back plaza supporting values relative to plainer neighbors. The four-per-floor density and full-service staffing are the building's durable selling points.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 22, 2026 | 8B | 2 BR · 2 BA · 904 sf | $995,000 | $1,101/sf | -2.9% |
| Jul 11, 2025 | 8A | 1 BR · 1 BA · 647 sf | $725,000 | $1,121/sf | -7.6% |
| May 21, 2025 | 11D | 1 BA · 496 sf | $595,000 | $1,200/sf | -3.3% |
| Nov 4, 2024 | 12A | 1 BR · 1 BA · 650 sf | $865,000 | $1,331/sf | +0.0% |
| Aug 5, 2024 | 11D | 1 BA · 500 sf | $550,000 | $1,100/sf | -15.3% |
| Jul 26, 2023 | 16C | 1 BR · 1 BA · 521 sf | $599,000 | $1,150/sf | +0.0% |
| Feb 23, 2023 | 11BC | 3 BR · 2.5 BA · 1,500 sf | $2,200,000 | $1,467/sf | -12.0% |
| Nov 22, 2022 | 4D | 1 BA · 521 sf | $639,000 | $1,226/sf | -3.0% |
Market read. Most recent trades (2026) cleared a median $1,183/sf across 1 sale. Median listing discount 2.9% 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.
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 1-00888-7501) 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
Condo flexibility is real. Pied-à-terre use, investment ownership, and subletting are all permitted under the declaration — a meaningful contrast to the co-op-heavy Murray Hill market.
Confirm the facade assessment status. Local Law 11 work has been completed and the assessment paid; confirm there is no active or pending capital assessment at offer stage.
Model the full carry. Common charges plus property taxes plus utilities — run the complete monthly number before committing.
Mansion tax may apply on larger units. Two-bedroom pricing can approach the $1M+ range; run the Mansion Tax Calculator where relevant.
What to know if you’re selling
The plaza and architecture are part of the story. The set-back fountain plaza and limestone base differentiate the building — market them.
Full-service staffing supports pricing. 24-hour doorman coverage at a Murray Hill price point is a genuine advantage over walk-up and part-time-staff competitors.
Closing timelines are condo-fast. 30–45 days from contract to closing.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering 157 East 32nd Street, also evaluate:
- 111 East 30th Street (The Pierpont) — Birnbaum 1984; full-service NoMad/Murray Hill condo with roof deck
- 150 East 27th Street (Gotham House) — 1960 co-op with parking, low carry
- 335 East 51st Street — 1963 Midtown East condo with garage
- 685 Second Avenue (The Hendrik House) — 1942 Murray Hill prewar co-op
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, schools, transit, and pricing across Gramercy — read The Roebling Team Guide to Gramercy.
Considering a move at L'Isola?
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 L'Isola 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.