317 East 48th Street (Midtown East)
317–323 East 48th Street, New York, NY 10017
BBL 1013417502 · BIN 1039077
- Year built
- 1962
- Type
- Condominium
- Floors
- 14
- Landmark
- No
- Pets
- Pet-friendly
- Subletting
- Permitted under the condominium declaration
- Pied-à-terre
- Allowed
The Continental is a classic post-war Turtle Bay building done as a condominium — a 14-story white-brick tower built in 1962 on the mid-block stretch of East 48th Street between First and Second Avenues, and converted from rental to condominium ownership in 1985. It sits in the heart of the United Nations district, less than a block from the consulates and diplomatic missions that define the neighborhood, and within easy reach of Grand Central Terminal and the Midtown East transit network.
For a buyer, the appeal is the combination that Turtle Bay does well: a full-service, doorman condominium at the relative value a post-war building offers, in one of the most central and best-connected corners of Midtown. Because it is a condominium rather than a co-op, it carries the flexibility — no board approval, pied-à-terre and investment use permitted — that a diplomatic and international buyer pool tends to require, which is part of why the format suits this particular block.
Architecture and unit composition
The building is a confident piece of early-1960s design in white brick, distinguished by horizontal bands of wide windows, jutting center bays, and a series of upper-floor setbacks that carve out private terraces on the higher lines. It is not a landmark and makes no claim to pre-war ornament; its virtues are the clean post-war massing, the light that the wide window treatments admit, and the outdoor space the setbacks provide. A canopied entrance fronts the street.
The residences run from studios and one-bedrooms through two-bedroom layouts, with the terraced upper-floor homes carrying the building's most desirable outdoor space and light. Floor, exposure, and terrace access are the main drivers of variation; homes on the setback floors and those with open exposures command the top of the building's range.
Building operations
The Continental runs as a full-service condominium — a 24-hour doorman, a live-in superintendent, central laundry, a bike room, and resident storage, with outdoor common space as well. As a condominium, purchases are not subject to a co-op board's approval process; the declaration permits pied-à-terre use, investment ownership, and subletting, which broadens the buyer pool relative to the neighborhood's post-war co-ops. Buyers should review current financial statements, the reserve position, and board minutes during due diligence, and confirm the status of the building's systems given its 1962 vintage.
Local Law 97
- 2024–2029 annual penalty
- $20,692/yr
- 2030–2034 annual penalty
- $74,382/yr
- Per unit / month range
- $14 – $50
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
With roughly 126 residences, The Continental sees regular turnover — enough that a buyer or seller can usually find a meaningful set of recent comparables within the building itself. Pricing tracks the Turtle Bay post-war condominium market, with floor, exposure, light, terrace access, and renovation status driving the spread; the terraced, high-floor homes command the top of the range. As a true condominium, values are best read on a price-per-square-foot basis and benchmarked against Midtown East's full-service post-war condominiums.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2007 | 5D | 681 sf | $610,000 | $896/sf |
| Dec 19, 2005 | 10H | 681 sf | $670,000 | $984/sf |
| Sep 15, 2005 | 6D | 681 sf | $595,000 | $874/sf |
| Jun 16, 2005 | 14D | 1,129 sf | $750,000 | $664/sf |
Market read. Most recent trades (2007) cleared a median $896/sf across 1 sale.
Sales sourced from NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers (BBL 1-01341-7502) 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
This is a condominium, so the process is flexible. No board package or interview; the declaration permits pied-à-terre use, investment ownership, and subletting. Closings run on condo timelines, and foreign and diplomatic buyers — a natural pool in this district — are welcome.
Terrace access and floor drive value. The upper-floor setbacks are the building's best feature; homes with private terraces, strong light, and open exposures hold value best.
Location is the constant. Steps from the United Nations and the consulate district, within reach of Grand Central and the Midtown East subway network — the address does real work in any sale.
Model the full carry and confirm the systems. Common charges plus property taxes plus utilities; and given the 1962 vintage, review the reserve position and the condition of building systems during due diligence.
Benchmark on price per square foot. As a true condo, comparable analysis belongs against Turtle Bay and Midtown East condominium sales, adjusted for floor, exposure, and terrace.
What to know if you’re selling
The full-service format and location are the marketing core. A doorman condominium in the heart of the UN district, with terraced upper floors, is an easy story to tell to an international and diplomatic buyer pool.
Terraces and light are the on-site differentiators. High-floor, terraced, and renovated homes should anchor positioning; the setback outdoor space is worth foregrounding.
Price against the Turtle Bay condo market. In-building comparables come first; the wider Midtown East post-war condominium market fills in the rest, with floor, exposure, and terrace setting the spread.
Closing timelines are condo-fast. No board process; a well-prepared listing moves on standard condominium timelines.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering The Continental, also evaluate these nearby Midtown East buildings:
- 212 East 48th Street — Turtle Bay full-service building
- 249 East 48th Street — Turtle Bay House, a full-service condominium
- 301 East 48th Street — Turtle Bay cooperative
- 250 East 53rd Street — a 2006 full-service condominium
- 245 East 54th Street — Midtown East full-service building
- 305 East 51st Street — a 2007 luxury condominium
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, schools, transit, and pricing across Midtown East — read The Roebling Team Guide to Midtown East.
Considering a move at The Continental?
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 Continental 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.