Central Park views

Premium over what? 5th Ave without view of park? 9th or 12th floor of same building? Park Ave equivalent apartment? Hell's kitchen studio? Penthouse over Washington Square Park? Without something you want people to compare the hypothetical unit to, the question doesn't make sense. It is like asking, "Is blue better?"

lots and lots!

I would imagine the the OP wanted to know premium over average or median Manhattan prices. If we say average PPSF in Manhattan is $1259 psf (based on Miller Samuel's Q1 '09 data), Fifth Ave with CP views from 6th floor will probably trade in the $2500 - $4500 psf range. So there's your premium, anywhere from double to almost quadruple what you would pay per square foot in an average Manhattan property.

I am guessing you don't know Manhattan very well. Fifth Avenue is one of the primary residential corridors in the world - almost unparalleled in exclusivity and cachet (save perhaps prime London).

The comparison is not simple, because rear-facing apartments tend to have other disadvantages aside from inferior views, stemming from their status as "red-headed stepchildren" or architectural afterthoughts. All else being equal, I'd say the view premium on CPW and RSD runs 50%+. Prime Fifth Avenue is probably similar; I just haven't studied it.

Sixth floor is a little tricky. In some places, the sixth floor is a great elevation. In others, you mostly get a view of trees six months of the year.

On the same vein, what kind of discount is attributable to being on a low floor -(1 or 2) in an apartment on the upper west on an avenue - standard prewar building? I realize it is a difficult question, but if most apartments are trading for 850-900 sft (higher floors, noone as that great a view), what would be a reasonable ppsf for a 1st floor or 2d floor apartment?

W81, you seem to know the area well. What do you think of prices and relative value of 320 CPW 11A and 353 CPW #9?

crystal_ball: The owners of 320 #11A are asking close to twice the price they paid in 2004. The reno doesn't even look all that special. 353 #9 seems closer to the market. Still pricey for CPW in the mid-90s. I don't know the building; the monthlies are an obvious problem.

Is it 5th ave at 61st or 106th? A walk up or doorman building? Pre- or post-war. Come on people, this person is yanking your chain.

many thanks for all the helpful comments--have not looked on 5 ave before so wanted to know how much one is paying up for front apartments--looking in 80s/90s.

more insights would be very welcome

thanks again to all!!