The St. Urban (285 Central Park West)
285 Central Park West, New York, NY 10024
BBL 1012020036 · BIN 1031514
- Year built
- 1906
- Type
- Cooperative
- Units
- 56
- Floors
- 13
- Landmark status
- Not an individual landmark; in the Upper West Side / Central Park West Historic District
- NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission records, updated February 2026
- Subletting by shareholders
- Permitted with conditions
- Pied-à-terre
- Permitted with conditions
- Pets
- Pets permitted; species and limits not stated
- Maximum financing
- 50% of the purchase price
- Doorman
- Full-time doorman
Every recorded sale at this building, 2005–2025
Bedroom-by-bedroom medians, the full transfer record, and how units trade against ask.
- 4BR+ median, 2023–2024
- $7.7M
- 2 qualifying sales
- Recent range
- $6M – $9.5M
- Listing discount
- 3.5%
- Recorded transfers
- 29
Own an apartment here? See what it would sell for.
A Private Pricing Opinion — what your apartment at The St. Urban 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 St. Urban is one of Manhattan's most architecturally distinctive Beaux-Arts residential buildings — a 1906 French Second Empire composition by Robert T. Lyons that has been called among the most exuberant pre-war facades on Central Park West. Its signature is a dramatic domed corner tower topped with a cupola, a curved mansard roof with pronounced dormer windows, and a three-story rusticated limestone base ornamented with sculptural detail. The result is a building that reads as architectural rather than utilitarian — a Parisian residential composition translated to Manhattan apartment-house form.
The St. Urban was also remarkably technically advanced for its era. Among its 1906 innovations was the city's first central refrigeration system — a building-wide infrastructure that allowed each apartment to make its own ice without separate iceboxes per unit. The system represented a meaningful improvement in 1906 residential technology and signaled the building's ambition to compete at the upper tier of luxury Manhattan apartments from the day it opened.
The building's resident roster across nearly 120 years has included substantial cultural and intellectual figures, most notably Ed Bradley of 60 Minutes and the Pulitzer-winning architecture critic Ada Louise Huxtable, who grew up in the building. Huxtable's later writing about Manhattan architecture — which shaped generations of critical thinking about urban form — was inflected by an early life lived inside one of CPW's most distinctive Beaux-Arts compositions.
With only 56 apartments distributed two per landing across 13 floors, the St. Urban operates with the intimate institutional culture of the smallest tier-one CPW buildings — comparable in scale to the Brentmore (28 units), the Prasada (47), the Langham (54), and the Kenilworth (40). Its 1966 cooperative conversion places it in the mid-wave of CPW conversions.
For buyers who want an architecturally distinctive Beaux-Arts CPW building, an intimate scale, and a building whose cultural and intellectual significance is part of its identity, the St. Urban occupies a particular position in the canon.
Architecture and unit composition
The St. Urban's two-units-per-landing plan produces apartments at substantial scale relative to typical pre-war Manhattan layouts. Layouts vary by line — many with multiple exposures, gracious room proportions, and the high ceilings and architectural detail characteristic of 1906 luxury apartment-house design.
Pre-war signatures throughout: 10–12 foot ceilings in primary rooms, formal entry galleries with extensive Beaux-Arts moldings, library-living combinations, kitchens that have been renovated multiple times across the building's 119-year history. The architectural detailing — moldings, paneling, fireplaces — is preserved to varying degrees apartment-to-apartment.
Park-facing apartments occupy the eastern flank with direct Central Park views from low to high floors. Corner Park-facing units (Park + West 89th Street exposure, with the corner tower) command meaningful view premium.
Building operations
The St. Urban operates as a full-service pre-war cooperative with 24-hour doorman, attended elevator service, on-site superintendent, laundry, and private storage. The building's small unit count (56) produces the relational density characteristic of intimate pre-war co-ops — residents see neighbors and staff regularly, and the building's institutional culture is more familial than at the larger CPW landmarks.
The building converted to cooperative ownership in 1966. The building participates in the NYC Cooperative & Condominium Property Tax Abatement Program for qualifying primary-residence shareholders.
Specific policy details (flip tax structure, financing cap, sublet fee) are not publicly published by the building; buyers should review the current proprietary lease and house rules during due diligence.
Application and transaction fees
Fees below are from building management's published schedule, as of October 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.
Purchase
5 items
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing Fee | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $750 | Refundable Not stated |
| Credit Check FeePer applicantRequired | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $110 per applicant | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Transfer Agent Fee | Paid by Seller | When At closing | Amount $1,000 | Refundable Not stated |
Deposits
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move In Deposit | Paid by Buyer | When At move-out and move-in | Amount $500 | Refundable Not stated |
| Move Out Deposit | Paid by Buyer | When At move-out and move-in | Amount $500 | Refundable Not stated |
Rental or lease
1 item
Lease renewal
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lease Renewal Processing Fee | Paid by Shareholder | When With the application | Amount $350 | Refundable Not stated |
Sublet
5 items
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $500 | Refundable Not stated |
| Credit Check FeePer applicantRequired | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $110 per applicant | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Annual Sublet FeeRecurring | Paid by Shareholder | When Upon approval | Amount 25% of the annual sublet rental for each year | Refundable Not stated |
Deposits
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move Out Deposit | Paid by Shareholder | When At move-out and move-in | Amount $500 | Refundable Not stated |
| Move In Deposit | Paid by Subtenant | When At move-out and move-in | Amount $500 | 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.
Financing and purchase requirements
- Maximum financing
- 50% of the purchase priceSource: building management's published schedule, as of October 2026
Sublet and pied-à-terre policy
A condominium owner leasing a unit and a co-op shareholder subletting are different rules, and a building-wide rule is different from a restriction on one apartment. This is the building's rule; confirm it for the specific apartment.
- Subletting by shareholders
- Permitted with conditionsSubleasing permitted with Board approval.Source: building management's published schedule, as of October 2026
- Pied-à-terre ownership
- Permitted with conditionsCase by case, board discretionSource: The Roebling Team's building profile
Considering an apartment here? Send Corey the listing to discuss the sublet and pied-à-terre rules for that apartment.
Pets and in-unit washer/dryer
- Pets
- Pets permitted; species and limits not statedSource: building management's published schedule, as of October 2026
- In-unit washer/dryer
- Not verified
Considering an apartment here? Send Corey the listing to confirm the pet and washer/dryer rules for that apartment.
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
- StorageSource: 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
- $34,271/yr
- Per unit / month range
- $0 – $54
- Modeled exposure split equally across 53 units (the residential count on the city's lot record). Not an assessed amount; co-op shareholders are typically charged by share allocation.
Source: NYC LL84 benchmarking and PLUTO · The Roebling Research Library. City data last refreshed September 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 September 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 15, 2024 | 5N | 4 BR · 3 BA · 3,260 sf | $6,000,000 | $1,840/sf | -29.4% |
| Sep 29, 2023 | 6S | 4 BR · 3.5 BA | $9,488,500 | -4.2% | |
| Aug 1, 2022 | 10S | 4 BR · 4.5 BA · 3,550 sf | $7,300,000 | $2,056/sf | -8.2% |
| Jun 29, 2022 | 7S | 5 BR · 3 BA · 3,500 sf | $9,500,000 | $2,714/sf | -5.0% |
| Jul 8, 2021 | 8E | 5 BR · 2 BA | $4,419,000 | -1.8% | |
| Mar 5, 2018 | PH | 3 BR · 3 BA · 2,400 sf | $5,995,000 | $2,498/sf | +0.0% |
| Dec 21, 2017 | 1E | 2 BR | $995,000 | -17.1% | |
| Mar 9, 2017 | 10W | 4 BR · 3.5 BA | $5,800,000 | -1.7% |
Market read. $/sf is measured on the latest sales with reliable square footage (2024): a median $3,055/sf (floor-adjusted) across 1 sale. The building has traded as recently as 2025. Median listing discount 2.0% from the last ask — a recurring negotiation gap worth pricing into any offer or listing strategy.
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 1-01202-0036). 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.
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What to know if you’re buying
Confirm the board's requirements. Financing is limited to 50% of the purchase price, and subletting and pied-à-terre use are permitted with conditions; confirm the board's other liquidity and application requirements from its governing documents and application instructions.
Pied-à-terre use is permitted with conditions. Confirm the current conditions in the proprietary lease and house rules.
The architectural distinction is real. Among CPW pre-wars, the St. Urban's French Second Empire vocabulary — corner dome, cupola, mansard roof — is genuinely singular. Buyers who specifically value architectural distinctiveness will find this rare in Manhattan.
Renovation is constrained by historic district status and pre-war detail. The 1906 vintage means substantial original detail to preserve.
Inspect the landing and sound conditions. The stated two-apartment landing arrangement describes access, but does not establish sound isolation. Visit the specific apartment and assess adjoining walls, doors, elevator traffic and street noise.
Views depend on the apartment. Central Park at the eastern flank; West 89th is a residential street. Views vary by floor, position and exposure, and no view is protected without a recorded instrument.
What to know if you’re selling
The architectural identity is a real marketing advantage. Buyers researching architecturally distinctive CPW pre-wars specifically pursue the St. Urban. The Lyons design is widely cited as one of Manhattan's exuberant Beaux-Arts compositions.
Pricing reflects apartment scale. Two-units-per-landing apartments are substantial; pricing benefits from the configuration's rarity.
Mansion tax effects matter. The graduated rates step up at $2M, $3M and $5M.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering The St. Urban, also evaluate:
- The Prasada (50 CPW) — 1907 Beaux-Arts co-op, similar French-classical era
- The Langham (135 CPW) — 1907 Beaux-Arts rental building
- The Kenilworth (151 CPW) — 1908 French Second Empire co-op
- The Brentmore (88 CPW) — 1910 pre-war, similar intimate scale
- The Dakota (1 W 72nd) — oldest tier-one CPW co-op
More Central Park West buildings
- 271 Central Park West — 1913 co-op by Schwartz & Gross
- 275 Central Park West — 1931 by Emery Roth
- 279 Central Park West — 1988 condominium by Costas Kondylis & Partners
- 295 Central Park West — 1941 by Emery Roth & Sons
- The Eldorado, 300 Central Park West — 1931 co-op by Margon & Holder
- The Ardsley (320 Central Park West) — 1931 co-op by Emery Roth
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, transit, and pricing across Central Park West — read The Roebling Team Guide to Central Park West.
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.
Considering a move at The St. Urban?
Request a private building brief with the relevant comparable sales, current and off-market availability, and an apartment-specific view of value.
646.939.7375 · c.cohen@compass.com