865 First Avenue (865 UN Plaza)

The building is a confident prewar apartment house in red brick, its façade carrying the ornamented detailing that distinguishes George & Edward Blum's work. Rising 16 to 17 stories on the avenue, it reads as a solid, well-proportioned Midtown building rather than a landmark showpiece — its appeal is the quality of the prewar bones and the corner light its position affords.

The residences run from studios and one-bedrooms through two- and three-bedroom layouts, with penthouse homes at the top. The bulk of the inventory sits in the studio and one-bedroom range — the building's "C" line one-bedrooms turn over most often — while larger two- and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses are scarcer and command the top of the building's range. Upper-floor homes carry city and, from the right exposures, East River and UN outlooks. Some homes have been renovated with central air, in-unit laundry, or fireplaces; condition varies unit to unit, which is typical of a prewar conversion.

865 First Avenue runs as a full-service boutique condominium — a 24-hour doorman and concierge, a live-in resident manager, central laundry, a bike room, a package room, and resident storage. It does not carry the resort amenity set of a new-development tower: there is no roof deck, gym, or pool, and parking is at nearby garages rather than in the building. What it offers instead is genuine full-time service and the steadiness of a well-run prewar building. As a condominium, purchases are not subject to the board approval process a co-op requires; the building's condominium declaration governs subletting, pied-à-terre use, and pets, and permits the flexibility condo buyers expect. Common charges and property taxes should be modeled at the unit level during diligence.

Recent sales

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.

Market read. Most recent trades (2026) cleared a median $1,002/sf across 1 sale. Median listing discount 0.9% from the last ask — a recurring negotiation gap worth pricing into any offer or listing strategy.

Sales sourced from NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers (BBL 1-01341-7505) 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.

This is a condominium, so the process is fast and flexible. Expect a 30–45 day closing rather than a co-op board package and interview. Pied-à-terre use, investment ownership, and subletting are permitted under the declaration — a real advantage for buyers who want optionality or an international pied-à-terre near the UN.

Diligence is unit-level and condition-level. As a prewar conversion, homes vary in renovation quality — central air, in-unit laundry, and updated kitchens and baths are present in some units and not others. Review the specific home's condition, the building's financials, and any planned capital work.

Set amenity expectations correctly. This is a full-service boutique building, not a new-development tower — genuine 24-hour staffing and prewar character, but no roof deck, gym, or pool, and no in-building garage. Buyers who want those amenities should weigh a nearby new-development condo; buyers who value prewar bones, service, and location at accessible pricing find the trade worthwhile.

Location is the core of the case. The corner sits directly across from the United Nations, with the East Side transit network, Grand Central, and the Midtown employment core all within easy reach.

Run the carrying cost. Model common charges plus property taxes plus utilities at the unit level before you commit.

Lead with location and prewar character. A full-service prewar condo across from the UN, with real doorman service and Blum-era bones, is a clean story — position it against Midtown East's condo stock and lean on the address.

Benchmark within the building first. With recurring turnover in the studio and one-bedroom lines, recent in-building sales are the first reference point; floor, light, exposure, and renovation status determine where a home lands.

Condition and light drive positioning. Renovated, high-floor, and river- or UN-facing homes anchor the top of the range; be prepared to distinguish your home from the rental inventory that also circulates in the building.

Closing timelines are condo-fast. 30–45 days from contract to closing, with no board approval to clear.

If you're considering 865 First Avenue, also evaluate nearby First Avenue and Midtown East options:

• 959 First Avenue — Midtown East condominium
• 966 First Avenue — First Avenue condominium
• 1076 First Avenue — Sutton-area First Avenue building
• 685 First Avenue — full-service First Avenue condominium
• 100 First Avenue — First Avenue condominium

The Roebling Team at Compass specializes in Midtown East, the East Side, and the broader Manhattan condominium and cooperative market. We publish this profile because buyers and sellers evaluating a prewar Midtown East condominium deserve building-specific intelligence — the architecture, the amenity reality, the condo mechanics, and how floor, light, and condition drive value within the building.

If you're considering a purchase or sale at 865 First Avenue, a 30-minute consultation is the right starting point. We'll bring the full context this page provides plus the transactional specifics your situation requires — comparable analysis at the apartment level, due diligence priorities, and the pacing strategy that fits your timeline.