- Year built
- 1907
- Type
- Cooperative
- Landmark status
- Individual landmark; not in a historic district
- NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission records, updated February 2026
- Subletting by shareholders
- Permitted
- Dogs
- Permitted with conditions
- Cats
- Not stated
- Maximum financing
- 50% of the purchase price
- Flip tax
- 3% of the purchase price, paid by the seller
- Doorman
- Full-time doorman
Own an apartment here? See what it would sell for.
A Private Pricing Opinion — what your apartment at The Gainsborough Studios 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.
The Gainsborough Studios is one of New York's most storied buildings: a 1908 artists' cooperative on Central Park South, built specifically to give painters and sculptors the thing they prized above all else — steady, even northern light over the park. Conceived by businessman Barron Collier together with the artists Colin Campbell Cooper, Elliott Daingerfield, and August Franzen, and designed by Charles W. Buckham, it was among the earliest purpose-built cooperative studio buildings in the city, and it remains a cooperative more than a century later.
The architecture is unforgettable. The facade is a polychrome composition of terracotta and colored ceramic tile, with a sculptural frieze by Isidore Konti above the ground floor, and a fenestration pattern that announces the double-height studios behind it. It was designated a New York City landmark in 1988, and a careful restoration that same year hand-reproduced the colored tiles and recast the frieze — preserving one of the most distinctive faces on Central Park South. Few buildings in the city wear their history so visibly.
For buyers, the Gainsborough offers something genuinely rare: a landmark artists' cooperative directly on Central Park, with double-height studio volumes that no modern building reproduces, in one of Manhattan's most prestigious park-front positions.
Architecture and unit composition
Buckham's design is a sixteen-story Edwardian studio building organized around its light. The double-height studio spaces face north over Central Park, drawing the cool, constant illumination painters sought, while the polychrome terracotta-and-tile facade and Konti's frieze give the building an ornamental richness that has only grown rarer over time. As an individual New York City landmark, the exterior is protected, and the building's character is preserved by designation as well as by its cooperative's stewardship.
Inside, the 30 residential units are anything but uniform. Many retain the dramatic double-height studio volumes the building was built around — soaring ceilings and tall north windows framing the park — alongside duplex and mezzanine configurations carved from those original spaces. The park-facing homes are the building's crown, combining the studio scale with direct Central Park views. Pre-war detailing, exceptional ceiling heights, and the singular light are the through-line; each home reflects more than a century of artists' and owners' adaptations.
Building operations
The Gainsborough runs as a small, full-service pre-war cooperative — a level of attention appropriate to a 30-unit landmark with commercial space at its base supporting the building's economics. The intimate scale keeps the building quiet and the community close-knit, in keeping with its origins.
As with established Central Park South co-ops, purchases clear a board application and interview, and financing and sublet terms follow the building's bylaws and house rules; buyers should expect a full co-op board package and review. The building's landmark status, small size, and storied history point to a board that protects the architecture and character the address is defined by.
Application and transaction fees
Fees below are from building management's published schedule, as of August 2026. They are shown as published, item by item; no total is added because the total depends on the transaction. Deposits are listed apart from nonrefundable charges.
- Terms
- 3% of the Sales Price
- Rate
- 3% of the purchase price
- Paid by
- Seller
Source: building management's published schedule, as of August 2026
Purchase
8 items
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing FeePaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $700 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Compliance FeePaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $500 | Refundable Not stated |
| Credit Report FeePer applicantPaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $150 per applicant/adult applicant | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Major/Minor AlterationsConditionalConditions: If ApplicablePaid to the building | Paid by Shareholder | When Upon approval | Amount $750 for major alterations, $300 for minor alterations | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Administrative FeePaid to the building | Paid by Buyer | When At closing | Amount $25 | Refundable Not stated |
| Recognition Agreement FeeConditionalConditions: If FinancingPaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When At closing | Amount $300 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Administrative FeePaid to the building | Paid by Shareholder | When At closing | Amount $25 | Refundable Not stated |
| Closing FeePaid to management | Paid by Shareholder | When At closing | Amount $600 | Refundable Non-refundable |
Sublet
6 items
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move-Out FeePaid to the building | Paid by Shareholder | When With the application | Amount $1,000 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Sublease FeePaid to the building | Paid by Shareholder | When With the application | Amount Equal to 15% of market value rent per annum | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Application Processing FeePaid to management | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $650 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Credit Report FeePer applicantPaid to management | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $150 per applicant/adult applicant | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Move-In FeePaid to the building | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $1,000 | Refundable Non-refundable |
Sublet renewal
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing FeePaid to management | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $225 | Refundable Non-refundable |
Refinance
1 item
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing FeePaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $400 | Refundable Non-refundable |
Ownership transfer
17 items
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing FeePaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $600 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Compliance FeePaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $500 | Refundable Not stated |
| Credit Report FeePer applicantPaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $150 per applicant/adult applicant | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Major/Minor AlterationsConditionalConditions: If ApplicablePaid to the building | Paid by Shareholder | When Upon approval | Amount $750 for major alterations, $300 for minor alterations | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Recognition Agreement FeeConditionalConditions: If FinancingPaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When At closing | Amount $300 if applicable | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Closing FeePaid to management | Paid by Shareholder | When At closing | Amount $600 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Flip TaxPaid to the building | Paid by Shareholder | When At closing | Amount 3% of the Sales | Refundable Non-refundable |
Transfer: trust
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing FeePaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $500 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Compliance FeePaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $500 | Refundable Not stated |
| Closing FeePaid to management | Paid by Shareholder | When At closing | Amount $500 | Refundable Non-refundable |
Transfer: estate
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing FeePaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $600 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Compliance FeePaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $500 | Refundable Not stated |
| Credit Report FeePer applicantPaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $150 per applicant/adult applicant | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Major/Minor AlterationsConditionalConditions: If ApplicablePaid to the building | Paid by Shareholder | When Upon approval | Amount $750 for major alterations, $300 for minor alterations | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Recognition Agreement FeeConditionalConditions: If FinancingPaid to management | Paid by Buyer | When At closing | Amount $300 if applicable | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Closing FeePaid to management | Paid by Shareholder | When At closing | Amount $600 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Flip TaxPaid to the building | Paid by Shareholder | When At closing | Amount 3% of the Sales | Refundable Non-refundable |
Management updates its schedule without a public filing. The date is when management last updated the page, not when a rule changed. Confirm the current schedule with management before you apply.
Considering an apartment here? Send Corey the listing to discuss the building's costs and purchase requirements.
Own an apartment here? Request an apartment-specific pricing review.
Financing and purchase requirements
- Maximum financing
- 50% of the purchase priceSource: building management's published schedule, as of August 2026
Sublet and pied-à-terre policy
A condominium owner leasing a unit and a co-op shareholder subletting are different rules, and a building-wide rule is different from a restriction on one apartment. This is the building's rule; confirm it for the specific apartment.
- Subletting by shareholders
- PermittedSource: building management's published schedule, as of August 2026
- Pied-à-terre ownership
- Not verified
Considering an apartment here? Send Corey the listing to discuss the sublet and pied-à-terre rules for that apartment.
Pets and in-unit washer/dryer
- Dogs
- Permitted with conditionsNo dogs or other animals shall be kept in the building without the written permission of the Lessor and in no event shall dogs be permitted in the passenger elevator.Source: building management's published schedule, as of August 2026
- Cats
- Not statedThe source permits pets without naming cats. No dogs or other animals shall be kept in the building without the written permission of the Lessor and in no event shall dogs be permitted in the passenger elevator.Source: building management's published schedule, as of August 2026
- In-unit washer/dryer
- Not verified
Considering an apartment here? Send Corey the listing to confirm the pet and washer/dryer rules for that apartment.
Building staffing and amenities
- Doorman
- Full-time doormanSource: recent listing records
- Elevator
- YesSource: NYC Department of City Planning records (PLUTO)
Staffing and amenities as our building profile and recent listing records describe them. A feature not listed is not confirmed absent. Outdoor space, parking and some facilities can belong to particular apartments or to a separate owner; confirm access for the specific apartment.
Local Law 97
- 2024–2029 annual penalty
- $0 (under cap)
- 2030–2034 annual penalty
- $16,031/yr
- Per unit / month range
- $0 – $45
- Modeled exposure split equally across 30 units (the residential count on the city's lot record). Not an assessed amount; co-op shareholders are typically charged by share allocation.
Source: NYC LL84 benchmarking and PLUTO · The Roebling Research Library. City data last refreshed October 2026.
See full Local Law 97 analysis — emissions history, scenarios, methodology →Facade safety — Local Law 11
The latest available filing classified the facade as Unsafe — conditions requiring prompt corrective action. The owner must install any public protection the inspector specifies (a sidewalk shed, construction fence or structural netting, depending on the condition) and make the repairs. Review the subsequent filings, the repair status, and the building’s board and financial materials — we pull the repair scope and funding picture for you.
How to read this, and where it comes from
QEWI = Qualified Exterior Wall Inspector — a licensed professional engineer or registered architect who meets DOB’s FISP qualifications and signs the report (the independent expert, not the managing agent).
Penalties shown are amounts DOB assessed against filings on record across 2005–10 to 2020–25. The FISP dataset does not record whether they were paid, contested or remain open, so treat the figure as history rather than a current balance and confirm the building’s standing with the managing agent.
Source: NYC DOB facade filings (FISP) · The Roebling Research Library. City data last refreshed October 2026.
Management & transfer contacts
- Flip tax
- 3% of sales price
- Sublet policy
- Allowed; sublease fee = 15% of market value rent per annum
- Policies and fees
- Max financing 50%; dogs require written permission
Recent sales
Recent transfers at this building, from The Roebling Research Library. Prices are the transfer amounts recorded with the NYC Department of Finance; apartment-level detail is checked against the building’s own file in The Roebling Research Library before publishing.
| Date | Unit | Apartment | Price | PPSF | vs. Ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 18, 2024 | 22 | 2 BR · 1 BA | $1,050,000 | -12.5% | |
| May 10, 2023 | 35 | 3 BR · 2 BA · 1,725 sf | $1,300,000 | $754/sf | +0.0% |
| Jan 13, 2022 | 3 | 2 BR · 1.5 BA | $2,050,000 | -8.9% | |
| Jun 4, 2021 | 1620 | 2 BR · 2 BA | $3,000,000 | -16.7% | |
| Apr 30, 2019 | 30 | 2 BR · 1 BA | $895,000 | +0.0% | |
| Apr 30, 2019 | 29 | 2 BR · 1 BA | $900,000 | +0.0% | |
| Apr 12, 2019 | 9 | 2 BR · 1.5 BA | $4,700,000 | +38.4% | |
| Dec 3, 2018 | 31 | 2 BR · 1 BA | $640,000 | -7.9% |
Market read. $/sf is measured on the latest sales with reliable square footage (2023): a median $754/sf (recorded) across 1 sale. The building has traded as recently as 2024. Median listing discount 8.4% 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 23, 2007 | 41 | $1,311,000 |
Sales sourced from NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers (BBL 1-01030-0046). Apartment-level facts (line, condition, asking-price context) curated and cross-verified in The Roebling Research Library. 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.
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What to know if you’re buying
This is a co-op, so plan for a board package and interview, and weigh the building's financing and sublet rules against your own plans early. The defining variables are exposure and volume: a north-facing, double-height park studio is a fundamentally different — and far scarcer — asset than a standard interior unit, and pricing reflects that. Weight the landmark status, the park frontage, and the studio scale heavily; these are irreproducible. For buyers who want a piece of New York's artistic and architectural history with a permanent Central Park view, the Gainsborough offers something the market cannot recreate.
What to know if you’re selling
Lead with the building's singularity. A landmark artists' cooperative on Central Park South, with double-height north-light studios and Konti's sculptural facade, is a category of one, and a park-facing studio home should be marketed to that rarity. Benchmark to the small set of distinguished park-front co-ops on Central Park South and the broader trophy pre-war market, weighting view, ceiling height, and the studio volume. Buyers at this level prize the history and the permanence of the setting — frame the story around both. We help sellers position the home, set the comparable set, and manage the board-approval timeline.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering the Gainsborough Studios, also evaluate these nearby Central Park South buildings, checking tenure and era individually:
- 200 Central Park South — Central Park South cooperative nearby
- 210 Central Park South — park-front cooperative nearby
- 240 Central Park South — Art Deco Central Park South rental building
- 24 Central Park South — park-front pre-war building
- 112 Central Park South — Central Park South cooperative
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.
How to read the facts on this page. Items attributed to an offering plan describe the building as it was offered at that filing — unit mix, square footage, the amenity program as planned. They are not a statement about how the building operates today. Tax and compliance figures are sourced separately to current City records and carry their own dates. House rules, staffing and fee policy can change by board resolution without any public filing: treat every policy line here as a starting point for diligence and confirm it with the managing agent. Where this page compares one building or neighborhood to another, that is our analysis of the recorded record — it names the measure, the period and the sample it rests on, and it is an observation about medians rather than a prediction about any particular apartment.
Considering a move at The Gainsborough Studios?
Request a private building brief with the relevant comparable sales, current and off-market availability, and an apartment-specific view of value.
646.939.7375 · c.cohen@compass.com