- Year built
- 1959
- Type
- Condominium
- Units
- 59
- Floors
- 6
- Landmark
- No
- Pets
- Permitted (specific restrictions may apply)
- Subletting
- Permitted under the condominium declaration; confirm current terms at offer stage
- Pied-à-terre
- Allowed
975 First Avenue — also addressed as 350 East 54th Street — is a post-war condominium on the southwest corner of First Avenue and East 54th Street, in the Sutton Place pocket of Midtown East. Built in 1959 and converted to condominium ownership in 1986, the six-story building holds 59 apartments and offers something relatively uncommon on these blocks: true condominium ownership at a mid-market price point.
The corner siting is part of the story. As a corner building it carries dual street addresses and gives many apartments better light and cross exposure than a mid-block equivalent, while sitting a short walk from the East River, the East Midtown Greenway, and the E/M/6 at 53rd Street. Sutton Place's mix of stately townhomes, pre-war co-ops, and a recent influx of younger households frames the neighborhood.
For buyers, the headline is tenure. As a condominium rather than a cooperative, the building offers the flexibility that co-op-dominated Sutton Place rarely provides: straightforward financing, pied-à-terre and investment ownership, LLC and trust purchases, and no board-approval gauntlet — all at pricing well below the trophy end of the market.
Architecture and unit composition
The 59 apartments distribute across six stories in a post-war corner masonry envelope. The street presentation is understated but well-kept — a handsome canopied entrance and surround, with sidewalk landscaping.
The unit mix runs from studios through one- and two-bedroom layouts. Many apartments have been renovated with modern finishes — reworked kitchens, updated baths — while others remain in more original post-war condition; through-wall air conditioning and hardwood floors are common. Corner and higher-floor lines capture the better light and exposure, and renovation quality drives much of the pricing spread within the building.
Building operations
975 First Avenue operates as a services-light condominium: an elevator, a live-in superintendent, laundry in the building, video intercom entry, a trash compactor, and video surveillance. There is no doorman, no garage, and no roof deck — a tradeoff that keeps common charges moderate and is typical for a converted post-war building of this scale.
As a converted post-war building, buyers should review current financial statements, the reserve study, board minutes, and any active or planned capital projects during due diligence, and confirm current common charges and any assessments.
What to know if you’re buying
Condo flexibility is the differentiator. In a co-op-dominated neighborhood, this building offers straightforward financing, pied-à-terre and investment ownership, LLC and trust purchases, and no board approval. That flexibility is the core of the value proposition.
Know the amenity tradeoff. This is a services-light building — no doorman, no garage, no roof deck. If those are dealbreakers, weigh them up front. The upside is moderate common charges.
Corner and floor drive light. As a corner building, exposure varies meaningfully by line. Confirm exactly what a given apartment sees.
Condition drives price. Renovation quality is a primary variable within the building. Inspect kitchens, baths, and mechanicals and price against comparable condition.
What to know if you’re selling
Lead with tenure. In Sutton Place, condominium ownership is the standout feature. The financing and use flexibility widens the buyer pool well beyond what a comparable co-op reaches.
Foreground corner light. For corner and higher-floor lines, exposure and light are the headline.
Closing timelines are condo-fast. 30–45 days from contract to closing, without a board package.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering 975 First Avenue, also evaluate other condominiums and cooperatives across the Sutton Place corridor, weighing tenure, service level, and carrying costs against price.
The Roebling Team at 975 First Avenue (350 East 54th Street)
The Roebling Team at Compass specializes in the Sutton Place, Midtown East, and East River-edge market. We publish this building profile because condominium buyers and sellers deserve building-specific intelligence — architecture, operations, and apartment-level pricing reality — not generic market commentary.
If you're considering a purchase or sale at 975 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.
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, schools, transit, and pricing across Sutton Place — read The Roebling Team Guide to Sutton Place.
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