243 West 70th Street
243 West 70th Street, New York, NY 10023
Lincoln Square, Upper West Side
BBL 1011620012 · BIN 1030365
- Year built
- 1925
- Type
- Cooperative
- Landmark
- Designated
Every recorded sale at this building, 2003–2025
Bedroom-by-bedroom medians, the full transfer record, and how units trade against ask.
- 2BR median
- $1.1M
- Recent range
- $795K – $1.1M
- Listing discount
- 0.0%
- Recorded transfers
- 44
243 West 70th Street is a polished Renaissance Revival cooperative from the mid-1920s, tucked on a quiet, tree-lined block between West End Avenue and Broadway — squarely in Lincoln Square, one of the most convenient corners of the Upper West Side. When the building opened, contemporary coverage praised its abundant closet space and southern exposure "assuring the maximum of sunlight and air," and those virtues still describe the place: a sunfussy, light, well-laid-out prewar building that lives larger than its size.
The architecture is handsome and intact. The façade follows the classic prewar tripartite scheme — a rusticated base, a long brick midsection, and a defined crown — enriched with terra-cotta banding, molded garland-and-wreath panels, soldier-course brickwork, and a double-height entry portico framed in rusticated masonry. Its inclusion in the West End–Collegiate Historic District Extension protects that detailing and the gracious side-street streetscape around it.
What sets the building apart for buyers is its combination of prewar character and unusually owner-friendly economics. This is a co-op with strong financials, low maintenance, and — notably — no flip tax, in a location that is hard to beat: steps from both Central Park and Riverside Park, a few blocks from Lincoln Center, and on top of the 1/2/3, B, and C trains.
Architecture and unit composition
The building rises nine stories and holds 53 residences, predominantly one- and two-bedroom homes — a scale that draws everyone from first-time buyers to long-tenured owners who never leave. The original layouts were planned around light and storage, with the deep closets and cross-ventilation the building was marketed on, and the better lines enjoy the southern exposure that made the address desirable from the start.
The exterior is the building's calling card: terra-cotta ornament set against warm brick, a balustraded parapet, and the rusticated portico that gives the entrance real presence. As a contributing building in a landmarked district, its façade is preserved, which protects both the look of the block and the long-term value of an apartment here.
Building operations
243 West 70th Street is run as a lean, well-capitalized cooperative. A live-in superintendent handles service, and the building offers video-intercom entry, a central laundry, a bike room, private storage, and — a genuine amenity on a Manhattan side street — a private landscaped garden with a grill for residents. Washer/dryers are permitted in units where installed.
On policy, the building is refreshingly straightforward. There is no flip tax, which is a real advantage to both buyers and sellers. The co-op is pet-friendly — both cats and dogs are welcome — and subletting is permitted with board approval. Maintenance runs low for the neighborhood, reflecting strong financials and disciplined management. For buyers weary of the more punitive prewar boards, this is a comparatively easy building to own.
Local Law 97
- 2024–2029 annual penalty
- $0 (under cap)
- 2030–2034 annual penalty
- $6,490/yr
- Per unit / month range
- $0 – $10
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 →Recent sales
Recent transfers 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 7, 2025 | 6A | 2 BR · 1.5 BA | $1,110,000 | -7.1% | |
| Feb 28, 2023 | 6E | 1 BR · 1 BA · 800 sf | $795,000 | $994/sf | -11.2% |
| Jun 17, 2022 | 6B | 1 BR · 1 BA | $872,000 | -3.0% | |
| Jun 7, 2022 | 4A | 2 BR · 2 BA | $1,595,000 | +0.0% | |
| Nov 17, 2021 | 2E | 1 BR · 1 BA | $830,000 | +0.0% | |
| Aug 25, 2021 | 7E | 1 BR · 1 BA | $862,000 | +4.5% | |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 7D | 1 BR · 1 BA | $730,000 | -5.8% | |
| Sep 15, 2020 | 9BC | 2 BR · 3 BA | $2,400,000 | -5.9% |
Market read. $/sf is measured on the latest sales with reliable square footage (2023): a median $993/sf across 1 sale. The building has traded as recently as 2025. Median listing discount 0.0% from the last ask.
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 1-01162-0012) 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 on co-ops is not officially recorded, figures shown are approximate.
What to know if you’re buying
This is a prewar cooperative, so a board package and interview are part of the process — but the building's economics are among the friendlier on the West Side. There is no flip tax, maintenance is low, and the building is pet-friendly. Those terms, plus the location on top of the subway and between two parks, make this an unusually practical place to own.
What you are buying is intact prewar character — terra-cotta detail, deep closets, good light — in a landmarked district, at a Lincoln Square address that prioritizes convenience. We help buyers read the financials, understand the building's policies, and identify the lines and floors that capture the southern light the building was designed around.
What to know if you’re selling
The selling story writes itself: a charming Renaissance Revival co-op, no flip tax, low maintenance, pet-friendly, with a private garden, steps from Central Park, Riverside Park, Lincoln Center, and the express subway. That bundle appeals to a deep buyer pool — first-time purchasers, downsizers, and pied-à-terre seekers alike.
Price against the Lincoln Square prewar cohort, adjusting for floor, exposure, and condition. A renovated, light-filled apartment will lead; a dated one leaves value that targeted pre-sale work can recover. We position each listing to the right comparable set and shepherd the board package to a smooth close.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering 243 West 70th Street, also evaluate these nearby Upper West Side prewar co-ops:
- 105 West 70th Street — prewar cooperative a block over
- 315 West 70th Street — prewar West 70s cooperative
- 267 West 71st Street — prewar cooperative nearby
- 201 West 72nd Street — prewar cooperative on the corridor
- 15 West 72nd Street — prewar cooperative near Central Park
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, schools, transit, and pricing across Upper West Side — read The Roebling Team Guide to Upper West Side.
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.
Considering a move at 243 West 70th Street?
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 243 West 70th Street 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.