188 East 70th Street
188 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021
Lenox Hill, Upper East Side
BBL 1014047503 · BIN 1042610
- Year built
- 1986
- Type
- Condominium
- Units
- 97
- Floors
- 31
- Landmark
- No
- Pets
- Pet-friendly, subject to approval
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
- $1,535
- Listing discount
- 5.0%
- Recorded sales
- 133
- On record
- 2003–2026
The Trafalgar House is a full-service condominium tower on the corner of East 70th Street and Third Avenue, at the heart of Lenox Hill. Completed in 1986 and designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, it stands 31 stories — tall for the immediate blocks — which gives the upper floors open light and long protected views in a neighborhood dominated by lower prewar and postwar stock. It is a purpose-built condominium in a corridor where condo inventory is comparatively scarce, and that tenure is central to its value: condo financing, permissive subletting, and pied-à-terre use in a pocket of the Upper East Side where those terms are otherwise hard to find.
The building's second calling card is its amenity package and its architecture. The KPF design pairs a red-brick tower with a two-story limestone base and a distinctive oculus window above the canopied entrance, and the interior amenities are unusually complete for the era: a fitness center with sauna, a double-height atrium resident lounge with a catering kitchen, and a children's playroom. For a buyer who wants a well-serviced condominium with real light, a recognizable architectural pedigree, and a walk-everywhere Lenox Hill address, the Trafalgar House is one of the strongest options in the immediate market.
Local Law 97
- 2024–2029 annual penalty
- $0 (under cap)
- 2030–2034 annual penalty
- $30,265/yr
- Per unit / month range
- $0 – $26
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 →Management & transfer contacts
- Notable fees
- Move-in $500 / move-out $500; processing $700 w/broker ($750 w/o); lease renewal $450
Recent sales
As a condominium, 188 East 70th Street trades on a price-per-square-foot basis rather than the price-per-room framing used for co-ops. Pricing here reflects several durable factors: the central Lenox Hill location at Third Avenue and East 70th Street, close to the Lexington Avenue subway, Hunter College, and the neighborhood's retail spine; the condominium tenure, which typically commands a premium over comparable co-op stock; the tower's height, which puts upper-floor light and views at a premium within the line; and the full amenity package, which supports value against less-serviced peers.
Buyers should expect per-square-foot values in line with, and in higher and better-lit lines above, the full-service condominium and co-op inventory nearby, with the condo structure and permissive subletting supporting resale liquidity and investor demand. Specific closed prices move sharply with floor, exposure, view, and condition given the building's height, and should be underwritten against current recorded transfers rather than headline averages.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 2, 2026 | 17CD | 3 BR · 2.5 BA · 2,400 sf | $4,150,000 | $1,729/sf | +1.2% |
| Jun 2, 2026 | 17D | 1,330 sf | $4,150,000 | $3,120/sf | off-mkt |
| Apr 27, 2026 | 6BC | 3 BR · 4 BA · 2,060 sf | $3,300,000 | $1,602/sf | -5.7% |
| Apr 14, 2026 | 11A | 2 BR · 2.5 BA · 1,396 sf | $2,250,000 | $1,612/sf | +0.0% |
| Jan 15, 2026 | 8E | 1 BR · 1.5 BA · 730 sf | $890,000 | $1,219/sf | -1.0% |
| Dec 18, 2025 | 22A | 3 BR · 2.5 BA · 1,502 sf | $2,750,000 | $1,831/sf | -5.0% |
| Sep 30, 2025 | 18B | 1 BA · 547 sf | $745,000 | $1,362/sf | -0.7% |
| Aug 25, 2025 | 27B | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,430 sf | $2,300,000 | $1,608/sf | +2.2% |
Market read. Most recent trades (2026) cleared a median $1,535/sf across 5 sales. Median listing discount 5.0% 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 1-01404-7503) 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
- Condominium tenure is the headline advantage. Financing flexibility, pied-à-terre use, and permissive subletting are scarce in central Lenox Hill and directly support the building's resale and rental utility.
- Height and light drive value within the building. At 31 stories, the difference between a lower interior line and a high-floor exposure is significant; underwrite the specific unit, not the building average.
- The amenity package is genuinely full. Fitness center with sauna, atrium lounge with catering kitchen, playroom, and storage set it apart from thinner-serviced peers — but there is no on-site garage on record.
- The location is a core strength. Walk-everywhere Lenox Hill, close to the Lexington Avenue lines, retail, and Hunter College.
- Confirm the unit count, amenity terms, and any active assessments against the offering plan and current schedule at diligence.
What to know if you’re selling
- Lead with tenure, height, and amenities together. Condo flexibility, high-floor light, KPF architecture, and a full amenity suite are a rare combination in this corridor and should anchor the story.
- Position the view and exposure precisely. For higher lines, protected light and open outlooks are a measurable premium worth documenting.
- Bring current financials to the table. A clear picture of common charges, reserves, and any assessments strengthens pricing against neighboring buildings.
- Pricing should be anchored to recent in-building comparables on similar floors and exposures, rather than to broader Lenox Hill averages.
Comparable buildings
- 310 East 70th Street — same-street Lenox Hill cooperative
- 308 East 72nd Street — nearby Lenox Hill peer
- 304 East 65th Street (The Rio) — nearby Lenox Hill condominium with full amenity package
- 1440 Second Avenue — nearby full-service Lenox Hill cooperative
- 170 East 78th Street — nearby Upper East Side peer
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, schools, transit, and pricing across Upper East Side — read The Roebling Team Guide to Upper East Side.
Considering a move at The Trafalgar House Condominium?
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 The Trafalgar House Condominium 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.