- Year built
- 1985
- Type
- Condominium
- Units
- 172
- Floors
- 32
- Landmark
- No
- 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
- $937
- Listing discount
- 4.2%
- Recorded sales
- 187
- On record
- 2003–2026
Sterling Plaza is one of Turtle Bay's landmark-silhouette condominium towers — a 1985 postmodern masonry high-rise whose stepped, towered crown is frequently likened to the Houses of Parliament. Built new as a condominium (rather than converted from a rental) by Sterling Equities — the firm of Fred Wilpon and Saul Katz, later principals of the New York Mets, from which the building's name derives — it occupies East 49th Street between Second and Third Avenues, in the diplomatic-residential enclave of Turtle Bay near the United Nations.
The building's appeal is a combination of a distinctive skyline profile, a full-service operation with a valet parking garage, and a range of apartments that runs from studios up to marquee penthouses. Because it was purpose-built as a condominium, the entire building trades on the open market with the transactional flexibility condominium buyers expect — a point of differentiation from Turtle Bay's older cooperative inventory.
Architecture and unit composition
Sterling Plaza is a roughly 32–33-story postmodern tower with a masonry façade and a stepped, sculpted crown that gives it one of the more recognizable silhouettes in Midtown East. The design reflects the mid-1980s postmodern moment, when developers of new residential towers favored articulated massing and historicist detail over the flat curtain walls of the preceding decades.
The unit mix runs from studios through multi-bedroom apartments, topping out in four-bedroom penthouses that are the building's marquee inventory. The landscaped rooftop terrace, with panoramic views, is a signature common space, and the valet parking garage is a meaningful and comparatively uncommon amenity in this part of Manhattan.
Building operations
Sterling Plaza operates as a full-service condominium with a 24-hour doorman and concierge, a live-in superintendent, a valet parking garage, a resident lounge, and a business center. As a purpose-built condominium, purchases are subject to a right-of-first-refusal waiver rather than the approval process of a cooperative, and the building supports both primary residence and pied-à-terre use.
Buyers should confirm the current house rules, financing and down-payment requirements, sublet policy, and any transfer fees during due diligence, and review the offering plan, recent financial statements, and reserve study.
Recent sales
Recent trading at Sterling Plaza has run across the full unit range, with price-per-square-foot in the range typical of a full-service Turtle Bay condominium of its vintage and marquee penthouses commanding a substantial premium at the top of the building. The building's distinctive profile, the rooftop terrace, and the valet garage support pricing, while the 1985 construction era places it below the neighborhood's newest towers on a per-square-foot basis.
Because the building spans a wide range from studios to large penthouses, comparables should be matched carefully for floor, exposure, size, and renovation condition — and the penthouse tier should be read as its own market.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2026 | 30ABC | 3 BR · 3.5 BA · 2,550 sf | $2,250,000 | $882/sf | -18.2% |
| Feb 4, 2026 | 15A | 1 BR · 1.5 BA · 885 sf | $890,000 | $1,006/sf | -1.1% |
| Aug 11, 2025 | 31ABF | 3 BR · 3.5 BA · 2,450 sf | $2,180,000 | $890/sf | -12.8% |
| Jun 26, 2025 | 17A | 1 BR · 1.5 BA · 835 sf | $950,000 | $1,138/sf | -5.0% |
| Apr 23, 2025 | PHA | 4 BR · 3 BA · 3,381 sf | $4,750,000 | $1,405/sf | -36.7% |
| Apr 9, 2025 | 7C | 1 BR · 1 BA · 695 sf | $815,000 | $1,173/sf | -4.0% |
| Jan 31, 2025 | 31D | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,351 sf | $1,725,000 | $1,277/sf | -3.9% |
| Jul 30, 2024 | 17B | 1 BR · 1.5 BA · 900 sf | $930,000 | $1,033/sf | off-mkt |
Market read. Most recent trades (2026) cleared a median $937/sf across 2 sales. Median listing discount 4.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Dec 9, 2009 | 12D | $995,000 |
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 1-01323-7501) 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 applies. Right of first refusal rather than co-op board approval; pied-à-terre and investor use permitted; the whole building trades on the open market. Confirm the current financing minimum and sublet terms at offer stage.
The penthouse tier is its own market. If you're buying at the top of the building, the comparable set is small and the pricing dynamics differ from the studio and one-bedroom lines.
Valet parking is a real amenity. If on-site parking matters, confirm current garage terms and availability.
Model the full carry. Common charges plus property taxes plus utilities. Run purchase pricing through the Buyer Closing Cost Calculator.
What to know if you’re selling
Lead with the silhouette, the roof terrace, and the garage. The building's recognizable profile and its full-service amenity set are its core selling points.
Renovation condition drives price. In a 1985 building, a current, turn-key renovation commands the top of the comparable band.
Price the penthouse tier separately. Marquee upper-floor units should be marketed and priced against their own narrow comparable set, not the building's median.
Closing timelines are condo-fast. 30–45 days from contract to closing is typical.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering Sterling Plaza, also evaluate:
- 303 East 57th Street — a nearby full-service Midtown East tower
- 250 East 53rd Street — newer full-service Midtown East condominium
- 245 East 54th Street — a Turtle Bay / Midtown East cooperative alternative
The Roebling Team at Sterling Plaza
The Roebling Team at Compass specializes in Central Park West, the Upper East Side, and the broader Park-facing Manhattan market — including the Turtle Bay and Midtown East condominium tier. We publish this building profile because buyers and sellers deserve building-specific intelligence — architecture, amenity set, transactional mechanics, and pricing at the apartment level — not generic market commentary.
If you're considering a purchase or sale at Sterling Plaza, a 30-minute consultation is the right starting point.
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.
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