52 Riverside Drive
52 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10024
Upper West Side
BBL 1011860051 · BIN 1031112
- Year built
- 1926
- Type
- Cooperative
- Landmark
- Designated
Every recorded sale at this building, 2000–2024
Price-per-square-foot over time, the line- and floor-premium curves, and every recorded sale.
- Median $/sf
- $1,183
- Listing discount
- 3.5%
- Recorded sales
- 53
- On record
- 2000–2024
52 Riverside Drive is one of the most decorative pre-war apartment houses on the Upper West Side — a 1926 neo-classical cooperative whose ornate terra-cotta façade sets it apart even on a boulevard known for architectural ambition. Designed by Deutsch & Schneider for the Thompson Construction Company, it occupies a prized mid-block position between West 77th and West 78th Streets, directly across from Riverside Park and the Hudson.
There are remarkably few pre-war buildings in New York with façades this richly detailed, and that distinction is the building's signature. Inside, the layout philosophy reinforces the sense of a select address: only three apartments per floor across 16 stories, served by two elevators, which keeps landings quiet and turnover low. Converted to cooperative ownership in 1984, it has held its standing as a full-service, owner-occupied house ever since.
The Riverside Drive setting is the other half of the appeal. The park and its waterfront paths are steps away, the West Side's commercial spine along Broadway and Amsterdam is a short walk east, and the building enjoys the river light and open western views that only the Drive provides — a combination of nature and access that anchors long-term value.
Architecture and unit composition
Deutsch & Schneider designed 52 Riverside Drive in a confident neo-classical manner, distinguished above all by its elaborate terra-cotta ornament — a façade treatment that makes the building one of the most visually rich on the Drive and a contributing structure within the historic district. The masonry construction and period detail have aged into the kind of durable character that pre-war buyers prize.
Inside, the three-per-floor plan yields large, light-filled homes with the gracious proportions of mid-1920s construction: high ceilings, well-defined entry galleries, separate dining rooms in the larger lines, and the quiet of solid walls. Several apartments combine to span multiple lines, and the river-facing exposures deliver the open western light and park frontage that define the best Riverside Drive homes. Individual apartments may carry in-unit washer/dryers.
Building operations
52 Riverside Drive runs as a full-service cooperative. A 24-hour doorman attends the entrance and a live-in superintendent oversees the building, supported by a central laundry room, bike storage, and private storage. Two elevators serve the building's 49 homes.
The board's posture is that of a stable, owner-occupied house. The building is pet-friendly, and its position across from Riverside Park — with playgrounds and the waterfront dog runs nearby — makes it a natural fit for pet owners. As with most full-service pre-war cooperatives on the Drive, the board reviews applications closely, sets a financing cap appropriate to a primary-residence building, and restricts subletting in keeping with the building's resident-owner profile. Buyers should plan for a thorough board process and the substantial liquidity that Riverside Drive co-ops typically expect.
Local Law 97
- 2024–2029 annual penalty
- $0 (under cap)
- 2030–2034 annual penalty
- $0 (under cap)
- Per unit / month range
- —
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
- Flip tax
- Yes (see Closing Fees PDF)
- Sublet policy
- Allowed after 1 year ownership; min 6 months, max 1 year term; board interview required; sublet fee 2 months maintenance/rent
- Notable fees
- Co-op. Max financing 75%. Background check $125/person; mgmt processing $600 non-refundable; move-in/out deposits $500 each; refinance app $500
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 15, 2024 | 15A | 3 BR · 3 BA | $3,606,250 | -3.8% | |
| Nov 7, 2024 | 6A | 3 BR · 2.5 BA · 2,300 sf | $2,860,915 | $1,244/sf | -1.3% |
| Jun 11, 2024 | 16A | 3 BR · 2 BA · 2,300 sf | $3,495,000 | $1,520/sf | -9.2% |
| Apr 29, 2024 | 2A | 3 BR · 2.5 BA · 2,300 sf | $2,075,000 | $902/sf | -15.3% |
| Mar 26, 2024 | 7A | 3 BR · 2.5 BA | $2,200,000 | off-mkt | |
| Jun 29, 2023 | 15BC | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,350 sf | $995,000 | $737/sf | -5.2% |
| Sep 7, 2022 | 10BC | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,300 sf | $1,320,000 | $1,015/sf | -2.2% |
| Aug 4, 2022 | 1A | 1 BR · 1 BA | $475,000 | -9.5% |
Market read. Most recent trades (2024) cleared a median $1,183/sf across 3 sales. Median listing discount 3.5% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2006 | 8A | $1,175,000 |
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 1-01186-0051) 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 full-service, owner-occupied pre-war co-op, so expect a thorough board package and interview and a financing posture geared to primary residents. The building is pet-friendly — a meaningful draw across from Riverside Park. The most prized apartments are the river-facing lines, with their open western light and park views; these come to market infrequently and reward buyers who are ready to move. Model the cooperative's standard closing costs and be prepared to demonstrate the liquidity a Riverside Drive board typically looks for.
What to know if you’re selling
The marketing story here is exceptional: one of the most ornate terra-cotta façades on the Upper West Side, three-per-floor privacy, full-service staffing, and direct Riverside Park frontage. River-facing homes sell on their light and views; all homes benefit from the building's architectural distinction and stable ownership. Pricing leans on the Riverside Drive pre-war cooperative set and on the specific apartment's floor, exposure, and condition. We position each listing against that comparable tier, market the building's architecture as a genuine differentiator, and prepare board-ready buyers.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering 52 Riverside Drive, also evaluate these nearby Riverside Drive and Upper West Side cooperatives:
- 54 Riverside Drive — pre-war cooperative on the same stretch
- 67 Riverside Drive — full-service Riverside Drive co-op nearby
- 70 Riverside Drive — established Drive cooperative to the north
- 100 Riverside Drive — distinguished Riverside Drive address
- 37 Riverside Drive — pre-war cooperative to the south
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, schools, transit, and pricing across Riverside Drive — read The Roebling Team Guide to Riverside Drive.
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 52 Riverside Drive?
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 52 Riverside Drive 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.