870 United Nations Plaza
870 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017
Midtown East
BBL 1013607501 · BIN 1040072
- Year built
- 1966
- Type
- Cooperative
- Units
- 334
- Floors
- 38
Every recorded sale at this building, 2003–2026
Bedroom-by-bedroom medians, the full transfer record, and how units trade against ask.
- 2BR median
- $1.7M
- Recent range
- $635K – $3.1M
- Listing discount
- 6.7%
- Recorded transfers
- 172
870 United Nations Plaza is the East tower of the Harrison, Abramovitz & Harris twin-tower mixed-use cooperative complex — designed by the lead architects of the United Nations Headquarters itself. The full block project (twin towers 860 and 870 UN Plaza atop a seven-story ~300,000-sf office base) was a pioneering mixed-use cooperative, among "the city's best cooperative houses" at the time of completion.
No other Midtown cooperative carries quite this combination. The Harrison & Abramovitz architectural pedigree is the foundation — the same firm that delivered the UN Headquarters returned here for the Modernist black-glass towers, executed "in the Miesian tradition of crisp rectilinearity." That pedigree is matched by the way the building runs: a 53-member staff places it among Manhattan's best-staffed coops, supporting the grand triple-height lobby, private driveway, valet garage, gym, and landscaped garden court. And for the estate-planning buyer there is a quieter distinction in the QPRT-permitted trust policy, a Qualified Personal Residence Trust accommodation uncommon across Midtown inventory.
The cultural resident roster is extraordinary: Walter Cronkite (owned three apartments simultaneously — three-bedroom residence, one-bedroom office, 150-sf studio guest room with East River bridge views), Truman Capote, Johnny Carson, Yul Brynner, Katharine Graham (Washington Post publisher), David Susskind, Mary Lasker, David Koch.
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 filing classified the facade as SWARMP — Safe With A Repair and Maintenance Program: the engineer identified conditions requiring monitoring or repair before the next inspection cycle. The scope, timeline, and how the building funds the work are building-specific — we review the filings and board materials for you.
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
- 3% of purchase price (buyer)
- Sublet policy
- Allowed; sublease fee 10% of annual maintenance for term; subtenant application $750
- Notable fees
- Application processing $1,000 (+$1,000 if trust/estate); credit check $150/applicant; move-in/out $2/share (min $1,500); closing fee $1,000 ($1,300 w/o broker); recognition fee $750
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 28, 2026 | 28A | 3 BR · 3.5 BA | $2,300,000 | -8.0% | |
| Apr 10, 2026 | 29D | 3 BR · 4 BA · 2,167 sf | $1,999,000 | $922/sf | -8.1% |
| Apr 8, 2026 | 29E | 5 BR · 5 BA | $2,800,000 | -5.1% | |
| Oct 15, 2025 | 23D | 2 BR · 3.5 BA · 1,917 sf | $1,800,000 | $939/sf | -2.7% |
| May 15, 2025 | 23 | 4 BR · 4.5 BA · 2,750 sf | $2,500,000 | $909/sf | -7.4% |
| Mar 3, 2025 | 26D | 3 BR · 3.5 BA | $1,812,500 | -4.6% | |
| Feb 12, 2025 | 15E | 4 BR · 4 BA | $2,575,000 | -12.7% | |
| Jan 16, 2025 | 37 | 5 BR · 5.5 BA · 3,860 sf | $2,900,000 | $751/sf | -3.3% |
Market read. Most recent trades (2026) cleared a median $845/sf across 1 sale. Median listing discount 6.2% 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 22, 2004 | 7A | $1,040,000 |
| Oct 15, 2003 | 12F | $1,650,000 |
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 1-01360-7501) 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 on co-ops is not officially recorded, figures shown are approximate.
What to know if you’re buying
The Harrison & Abramovitz architectural pedigree is real institutional context. Same firm as the UN Headquarters; the building is in direct architectural dialogue with the Secretariat Building across the street.
The 53-member staff supports comprehensive white-glove operational infrastructure. Among Manhattan's best-staffed cooperatives.
The QPRT-permitted trust policy is uncommon and structurally significant for estate-planning buyers.
The Cronkite / Capote / Carson / Brynner / Graham / Koch cultural resident roster supports premium positioning.
The 56 duplexes on the top eight floors are the building's trophy configurations.
Variable financing maximums (50% to 75%) require per-unit verification.
The UN Plaza adjacency and the East River bridge views are structurally valuable urban context.
Comparable buildings
- 860 United Nations Plaza — same-complex West tower
- 1 Beekman Place — Sloan & Robertson 1929; nearby trophy peer
- 2 Sutton Place South — Emery Roth & Sons 1938; nearby trophy peer
- 400 East 56th Street (Plaza 400) — Birnbaum 1968; nearby postwar peer
- 45 Sutton Place South (Cannon Point South) — Resnick & Green 1958; nearby Sutton Place peer
Sources: The Roebling Research Library (offering plans, house rules, financial statements, board minutes, internal transaction records); NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers; publicly recorded NYC building data.
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, schools, transit, and pricing across Midtown East — read The Roebling Team Guide to Midtown East.
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 870 United Nations Plaza?
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 870 United Nations Plaza 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.