The Riviera
790 Riverside Drive, Manhattan, on the east side of the drive between West 156th and West 157th Streets · Washington Heights
BBL 1021340071 · BIN 1063252
- Year built
- 1909
- Type
- Cooperative
- Units
- 202
- Floors
- 13
- Amenities
- Full-time doorman, resident superintendent, elevators, central laundry, bicycle storage and storage space
- Landmark status
- Not an individual landmark; in the Audubon Park Historic District
- NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission records, updated February 2026
- Flip tax
- 3% of the purchase price, paid by the buyer
- Doorman
- Full-time doorman
Every recorded sale at this building, 2002–2026
Price-per-square-foot over time, the line- and floor-premium curves, and every recorded sale.
- Median $/sf, 2026 to date
- $661
- floor-adjusted, 7 sales
- Listing discount
- 3.5%
- Recorded sales
- 255
- On record
- 2002–2026
Own an apartment here? See what it would sell for.
A Private Pricing Opinion — what your apartment at The Riviera 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 Riviera occupies an unusually large site along the bend of Riverside Drive in the Audubon Park Historic District. Rouse & Goldstone designed it for Riviera Realty Corporation in 1909–1911, with limestone and terra-cotta ornament giving its long elevations a ceremonial character. Its present 202-residence cooperative contains both substantial prewar apartments and smaller homes created through subdivision.
That range is central to buying here. A large room count does not describe the whole building, and a compact apartment still shares the same elaborate entrance and staffed operations. The inventory accommodates markedly different interior footprints under one cooperative budget. The range of apartment sizes is visible in the building's recurring resale activity.
The setting also has a different geometry from a straight numbered-street block. Riverside Drive curves past the property, and the building occupies the depth between two cross streets. Exposure, wing and outlook are meaningful parts of an apartment description here; the address alone does not promise a river view.
Architecture and unit composition
LPC documents an original arrangement of 149 apartments containing four to ten rooms. A major 1938 remodeling replaced 52 large suites in two wings with 92 smaller apartments. By 1944 the building had 192 apartments; later subdivisions brought the count to 202. That history explains the coexistence of large, formally divided homes and much smaller layouts.
The exterior retains projecting balconettes and oversized brackets. Its original balustraded parapet had been removed by the time of LPC’s 2009 designation report. The entrance opens to a marble lobby with a coffered ceiling and double staircases. These shared spaces are an important part of the building's architectural appeal even for an apartment whose interior has been extensively modernized.
Recent transfers include compact homes under 1,000 square feet and substantially larger apartments above 2,000 square feet. Those sizes establish a broad inventory range, without implying that each wing contains the same distribution. Apartment area, usable room proportions and outlook are separate considerations when comparing homes within the cooperative.
Building operations
The Riviera has a full-time doorman and a resident superintendent, with central laundry and storage facilities supporting the apartments. Its operating obligations cover a large prewar building with multiple elevators, extensive common interiors and a decorated masonry exterior.
Historic-district designation applies to the building's exterior. Work affecting protected exterior features may require LPC review, including visible window changes and façade alterations. The architectural detailing is therefore relevant to repair planning as well as appearance. A window replacement proposed as part of an apartment renovation needs to fit the building's approved exterior treatment.
The property is in tax class 2, with no statutory annual cap on assessment growth. No building-wide abatement is identified. Owners carry their share of the cooperative's property-tax expense through maintenance, alongside operating costs. A personal exemption attached to an eligible owner is separate from a building-wide tax benefit.
The recorded floor area exceeds the current residential zoning figure. That comparison describes the existing building's density, not unused development rights or an ability to enlarge an apartment. The cooperative already operates within a substantial historic building on this site.
Application and transaction fees
Fees below are from building management's published schedule, as of September 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
- Equal to three percent (3%) of the gross sales price of the apartment, or, if no consideration is indicated, then three percent (3%) of the fair market value as determined by appraisal
- Rate
- 3% of the purchase price
- Paid by
- Buyer
Source: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
Purchase
7 items
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing Fee | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $750 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Credit Check Fee | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $175 per prospective purchaser, guarantor and adult resident | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Move-in FeePer share | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount Equal to $1.00 per share | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Processing Fee | Paid by Buyer | When At closing | Amount $500 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Recognition Agreement FeeConditionalConditions: If financing | Paid by Buyer | When At closing | Amount $250 | Refundable Not stated |
| Transfer Fee | Paid by Shareholder | When At closing | Amount $950 | Refundable Non-refundable |
Deposits
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damage Deposit: | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $500 | Refundable Refundable |
Sublet
7 items
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing Fee | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $400 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Credit Check Fee | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $175 per prospective lessee, guarantor, AND adult resident | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Move-In FeePer share | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $1.00 per share | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Sublet FeeRecurring | Paid by Shareholder | When Upon approval | Amount Equal to 10% of the annual maintenance that will be prorated and billed to the shareholders monthly maintenance account. | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Move Out FeePer share | Paid by Shareholder | When At closing | Amount $1.00 per share | Refundable Non-refundable |
Deposits
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move In Deposit | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $500 | Refundable Refundable |
| Move Out Deposit | Paid by Shareholder | When At closing | Amount $500 | Refundable Refundable |
Refinance
3 items
Management's “less refinance” schedule
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing Fee | Paid by Shareholder | When With the application | Amount $200 | Refundable Non-refundable |
Management's “more refinance” schedule
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing Fee | Paid by Shareholder | When With the application | Amount $400 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Credit Check FeePer applicant | Paid by Shareholder | When With the application | Amount Equal to $175 per person | Refundable Non-refundable |
Ownership transfer
2 items
Transfer: trust
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Transfer Application Fee | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $500 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Coop Attorney Review Fee | Paid by Buyer | When Upon approval | Amount To be determined | Refundable Not stated |
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.
Building staffing and amenities
- Doorman
- Full-time doormanSource: The Roebling Team's building profile
- Live-in superintendent
- YesSource: The Roebling Team's building profile
- Elevator
- YesSource: NYC Department of City Planning records (PLUTO)
- Amenities noted
- Bike storage, laundry roomSource: The Roebling Team's building profile
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
- $0 (under cap)
- Per unit / month range
- —
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 SWARMP — Safe With A Repair and Maintenance Program: the inspector (QEWI) identified conditions requiring monitoring or repair, with repairs due by the deadline stated in the filing. The scope, timeline, and how the building funds the work are building-specific — we review the filings and board materials 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 14, 2026 | 4J | 3 BR · 2 BA | $991,455 | -15.6% | |
| Sep 10, 2026 | 1K | 2 BR · 2 BA | $615,000 | -5.2% | |
| Jun 9, 2026 | 8J | 3 BR · 1 BA · 1,450 sf | $1,100,000 | $759/sf | +0.0% |
| Jun 1, 2026 | 7C | 2 BR · 1 BA · 950 sf | $599,000 | $631/sf | -7.8% |
| May 21, 2026 | 12D | 3 BR · 1.5 BA · 1,750 sf | $1,250,000 | $714/sf | -7.4% |
| May 18, 2026 | 5F | 1 BR · 1 BA | $490,000 | -6.7% | |
| May 14, 2026 | 6E | 4 BR · 2.5 BA · 2,300 sf | $1,435,000 | $624/sf | -21.2% |
| May 8, 2026 | 10E | 3 BR · 2.5 BA · 2,300 sf | $1,500,000 | $652/sf | -18.9% |
Market read. Most recent trades (2026 to date) cleared a median $661/sf (floor-adjusted) across 7 sales. Floor-adjusted means each sale is restated to a constant mix of floors, so the figure can differ from the plain median of the sales listed above. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 20, 2023 | 2L | $908,000 |
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 1-02134-0071). 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.
What would your apartment rent for?
Enter your apartment and I'll send you what it would rent for, from comparable closed leases at The Riviera and nearby.
At the recent median sale of $1.02M (16 transfers in the past 24 months, since November 12, 2024), a buyer putting 25% down would pay about $53,207 to close, or 5.2% of the price.
- Mansion tax: $10,207
- No mortgage recording tax or title insurance on a co-op purchase
- Building transfer fee (flip tax), 3% of the purchase price, paid by the buyer per building management's published schedule, as of September 2026: $30,622
- Attorneys, lender, building fees and filings: $12,378
Assumes a resale (the seller pays transfer taxes), a $4,500 attorney fee and a mortgage on the rest. Confirm the current transfer fee with building management; the linked calculator does not include it.
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Comparable buildings
- The Grinnell — A nearby prewar cooperative with a smaller residential inventory and a closely related Riverside Drive setting.
- River Arts — A large cooperative alternative with a later architectural character and lower-rise massing.
- Roger Morris Apartments — A substantial prewar rental building for buyers comparing northern Manhattan's larger historic apartment houses.
- Colonial Parkway Apartments — A prewar architectural comparison; its ownership restrictions require separate consideration.
- The Imperator — A prewar Riverside Drive alternative with condominium ownership and a smaller inventory.
More Washington Heights buildings
- 330 Haven Avenue (Lafayette Gardens) — 1951 co-op
- Cliffside Condominium, 340 Cabrini Boulevard — 2002 condominium
- 720 Fort Washington Avenue — 1939 co-op
- The Bennett (736 West 187th Street) — 2003 condominium by SLCE Architects
- 800 Riverside Drive (The Grinnell) — 1910 co-op by Schwartz & Gross
- 4260 Broadway (The Belford) — 1920 condominium
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.
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646.939.7375 · c.cohen@compass.com