- Year built
- 1908
- Type
- Condominium
- Units
- 215
- Floors
- 13
- Landmark
- Designated
- Pets
- Permitted under condominium rules
- Subletting
- Permitted under the condominium declaration
- Pied-à-terre
- Allowed
The Belnord is one of the most architecturally substantial residential buildings in New York City — and following the 2019 Robert A.M. Stern-led condominium conversion, one of the most consequential modern luxury condominium offerings on the Upper West Side. The Hiss & Weekes 1908–1909 Italian Renaissance Revival palazzo combines full-block scale with a defining residential amenity (the 22,000 sf courtyard) that no other Manhattan apartment building matches.
The Belnord is the closest UWS architectural cousin to The Apthorp (Clinton & Russell 1908, three blocks south at Broadway and 78th–79th). Both buildings represent the early-20th-century full-block UWS palazzo tradition pioneered by William Waldorf Astor's Apthorp commission. The Belnord was the larger response, completed within a year, and remains the larger of the two in unit count and amenity scale. The two buildings together define the architectural high-water mark of the pre-war UWS apartment-house tradition.
Notable historical events. The Belnord underwent one of the longest rent strikes in New York City history — beginning in the 1970s under absentee landlord Lillian Seril and continuing until Property Markets Group's 1994 acquisition. The Seril era produced extensive litigation, deferred maintenance, and the deterioration of the building's exterior. PMG's $5 million restoration began the building's modern recovery. The HFZ Capital acquisition in 2015 for $575 million enabled the substantial condominium conversion completed in 2019 — with Robert A.M. Stern Architects providing the interior design language consistent with the firm's broader pre-war-styled luxury condominium portfolio (15 Central Park West, 220 Central Park South, 520 Park Avenue, 200 East 83rd, The Bellemont).
Notable original residents at the building's 1909 opening included John Jacob Taylor (grandson of John Jacob Astor's estate manager), playwright-lyricist Henry Martyn Blossom (the Victor Herbert collaborator behind The Red Mill and Mlle. Modiste), and theater mogul Walter Reade.
Architecture and unit composition
The Belnord's exterior is the most architecturally substantial expression of the full-block palazzo idiom anywhere in pre-war Manhattan residential construction. Indiana limestone clads the lower stories with rusticated detail; brick and limestone trim characterize the upper portion. The two carriage entrances on West 86th Street feature elaborately carved arched openings framed by paired columns and figural sculpture.
The interior courtyard is the building's defining residential amenity. At 22,000 square feet of landscaped open space — substantially larger than The Apthorp's courtyard — it represents one of the most generous private residential outdoor spaces in Manhattan. Apartments orient onto the courtyard, producing quieter light conditions than street-facing pre-wars.
The 215 condominium residences include studios through expansive four- and five-bedroom configurations, with full-floor and substantial multi-bedroom units approaching 4,000–6,000 sf. The 2019 RAMSA-led interior design produced apartments with kitchens, bathrooms, and millwork executed at the RAMSA pre-war-styled luxury condominium standard — Indiana limestone bathroom surfaces, custom millwork, restored or recreated original architectural detail.
Pre-war signatures throughout: 10–12 foot ceilings, formal entry galleries, library-living combinations, primary suites with substantial closet infrastructure. The RAMSA conversion preserved much of the original architectural language while updating systems, finishes, and apartment configurations to modern luxury standards.
Building operations
The Belnord operates as a full-service luxury condominium with 24-hour doorman, concierge, on-site fitness center with swimming pool, residents' lounge, screening room, children's playroom, and the landscaped central courtyard. The condominium structure provides material flexibility — pied-à-terre, sublets, pets, and foreign-buyer ownership all permitted under the condominium declaration. The 20% minimum down payment is consistent with comparable condominium peers.
Recent sales
Last 10 recorded deeds from the NYC Department of Finance. ACRIS records the legal transfer; apartment-level detail (square footage, beds/baths, line, condition) is not in the public feed.
| Recorded | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 24, 2026 | PHS | $930K |
| Feb 19, 2026 | 604 | $5.77M |
| Feb 19, 2026 | 303 | $6.92M |
| Jan 30, 2026 | 1009 | $4.90M |
| Aug 19, 2025 | 810 | $7.25M |
| Aug 14, 2025 | 708 | $3.70M |
| Jul 7, 2025 | 709 | $5.70M |
| Jul 7, 2025 | 712 | $9.85M |
| May 2, 2025 | PHA | $611K |
| Apr 18, 2025 | M1 | $9.20M |
Data source: NYC Department of Finance ACRIS · BBL 1-01234-0101. Recorded transactions reflect the legal transfer price; apartment-level facts (square footage, line, condition) are layered in by the Roebling Team when curated.
What to know if you’re buying
The courtyard is the structural amenity. No other Manhattan apartment building has 22,000 sf of private interior courtyard. For buyers who value private outdoor amenity space and quiet interior light, The Belnord's offering is genuinely distinct.
The 2019 RAMSA conversion is recent. Apartments have current-generation kitchens, bathrooms, systems, and finishes. This differentiates The Belnord meaningfully from comparably-architecturally-significant pre-war stock where apartment-level renovations vary widely by unit.
The condominium structure provides flexibility. Unlike comparable CPW pre-war co-ops, The Belnord permits substantial flexibility — pied-à-terre, sublets, foreign-buyer ownership all permitted.
The Apthorp is the closest peer. Three blocks south at Broadway / 78th–79th, The Apthorp shares the full-block UWS palazzo architectural language. Buyers seriously considering The Belnord should compare against The Apthorp to evaluate the specific architectural and operational tradeoffs.
The Roebling Team at The Belnord
The Roebling Team at Compass specializes in the Upper West Side, Central Park West, and the broader Park-facing Manhattan market. We publish this building profile because Belnord buyers and sellers deserve building-specific intelligence — architecture, condominium structure, transactional mechanics, and pricing at the apartment level.
If you're considering a purchase or sale at The Belnord, a 30-minute consultation is the right starting point.