River House, east 52nd street & the river

Not so fast... let's see if you can get past the co-op first.

I believe River House was where Greta Garbo lived for many years. Not sure, but maybe Gloria Vanderbilt also.

How is that relevent at all? They are PAST residents, he or she is asking about residents NOW.

lol

River House is both stately and beautiful, but it is also reknowned as a bastion of old-money aloofness. If it gives you any idea of how strict the board is, they once turned down Gloria Vanderbilt because they considered her too risque. And I believe Garbo lived at 444.

most people looking to get past the co-op board of river house usually come to the streeteasy message board first to put out feelers. So you're off to a great start. My gut tells me you'll get in no problem when you tell the board that the building really fascinates you and that you think it's beautiful. Pack up that Chevy Nova of yours come on in to the Apple. The River House Board awaits you with open arms.

Actually, Garbo lived at the Campanile at 450 east 52nd. I'll probably leave the Chevy on First Avenue when I arrive for the interview but there are probably any number of reasons I'd not get in - "He's just not one of us" being the primary one. That said, I'm still interested in any feedback on that magnificent building; also on 444 where I'm hoping I'd have a better chance...or not.

The River Club (in the River House) is beautiful and I have friends who live across the street. Take your $$ and go condo. No offense but don't waste your time...you're not from NY.

you're not from NY - what does that mean exactly?

it means that building is pretty strict - they are a co-op in the truest sense and want only family and close friends in that bldg. I know people who live there. Legacys so to speak. Probably one of the tougest boards in the city.

I actually decided against the Chevy Nova and went upscale and bought the Pontiac Ventura instead. Would that help my chances with the River House board? It has the 350 engine and houndstooth stitching in the seats.

River House, Henry Kissenger and other noteables, live there. Very very difficult Board.
fabulous bldg.

You need a liquid net worth of AT LEAST 5 times your purchase price after you purchase the apartment. But they also have to like you. It's just a very difficult situation.

There's a lovely little 1 or 2 bedroom there for 4mil, a view of the river, of course, but it's also set back inside the u that faces the river so the western side must be above the motor court & the eastern side also shows a wing of the building & the garden court below. yum! However, I wonder if they'd consider that even 25 mil liquidity would be enough....

If they let me have an interview I'd be thrilled, I'd even send flowers, but the stories I hear about co-op boards make me think it ain't gonna happen. I'm a lovely, kind, thoughtful, caring person but I'm not old money & high society thus the post. This may be the closest I get - that & a quick chat with a doorman. Keep 'em coming - and thanx.

What about the other building along far east 52nd? 444 & those southgate apartments. I'm gonna need a quick trip down from Boston - soon !!!

p.s. Everyone says condo, condo & I understand that but those gorgeous old buildings that I like are all co-ops , I think. My sweet friend from Great Neck laughs when I tell her, "I'm practicing my co-op interview." If they like me they like me, if not - still a gorgeous building !

very true. there are only a small handful of pre-war condos in manhattan. all of 52nd street and southgate apts are co-ops which to be honest, is still very very tough

The River House may be impossible to get to but you can consider the rest of beekman. Not only those on 52nd street but those on 51st and Beekman Place (which have the same sort of pre-war charm and quiet neighborhood).

We looked at a few of the places for sale there and the boards seem strict but not impossible. They just want to see that you're financially stable, have a decent amount of liquidity (e.g. a year or two, not something crazy like 3x the purchase price), and don't seem to be the rowdy type. Give it a try.

You can try, but you will not be successful. If you want a pre-war condo try 502 Park or 610 Park.

If you want a classy, pre-war you might want to consider a townhouse.

How do you know he/she won't be successful if they don't try? The pre-war condos you mentioned are far more expensive than the coops in that are and the difference in the price/downpayment should go a fair bit towards meeting liquidity requirements.

When you're buying a coop you need more money in the bank so if you have $10M and your looking at a $4M coop or a $7M condo, the condo would be much easier for you to buy and you probably won't get past the board for the coop.

I wonder if Beekman or Sutton would be more difficult. Probably about the same, huh? The coop boards can't ALL be impossible, though you do hear horror stories.

http://www.nysun.com/article/48350

That article covers the River House as well as some of New York's other extremely tough co-ops, the River House is one of the most tough boards in the city, like I said, you really don't have any chance of getting in here.

Thanx for that article. River House is magnificent with a great location but there's another side - the north side. Halstead has a listing at 60 Sutton Place South & there are modern balconies seemingly hanging right outside the windows of River House. Those must be kitchens & service areas but it's still R H as I've never seen it before. Thanx again!

Come on, give it up! Nobody visits these buildings or works at these buildings or grew up over there? Let us have it! Please.

My parents live in the building next door at 415 East 52nd

So NOBODY has seen that black marble lobby & the garden courtyards? NOBODY?

I have.

Gee, #34, how poetic. If you don't want to share, I don't care if you've seen it or not.

I'm hoping that someone lives here OR in the area & would be willing to give us all the ins & outs & 'man on the street' info. I really love this building & the area & want LOTS of feedback. Thanx.

If you're interested in finding out some info on River House, you might check out Andrew Alpern's "New York's Fabulous Luxury Apartments" which was published several years ago and is in paperback. While it's true that the Kissingers live there, it is really the habitat of some old New York money, such as the Biddle's and Duke's. To get in, you do have to be from either old money or have been a cabinet officer or an ambassador. Of the US government, of course. Foreign governments don't count.

I live there.

I read a post recently from a co-op board president who said that your letters of recommendation to one of the premier co-ops should be from someone they know, have heard of or whom they want to know.

Apparently there will be condo towers going up along First at 52nd. It doesn't seem that that will be a plus to the neighbor since all the little shops & restaurants are being forced out.

Too bad

Interesting comments. I have been living on 53rd (btwn 1st and Sutton) for about three years and have been wondering about the RiverHouse. I have a friend that works for the architectural firm behind RiverHouse, but when I asked to get a quick tour, she told me she just quit the job this week. What luck! Oh well, I can enjoy it from afar.

Apparently it's very luxe, City Review says it's the finest apartment building in the city if not the world. There is a black (marble?) lobby, the gated motor court off 52nd street & a garden behind the building overlooking the river (& FDR Drive, alas). They are said to be very security minded, not a bad thing, & they are very discreet/low profile. Streeteasy has a listing for an apartment overlooking the river; it was $6 mil I think with only 2 bedrooms but now it's relisted as a proposed combo with an adjoining unit &, I think, 4 bedrooms for a mere $9 mil. They only allow constuction during May - September so that would be a challenge to get it completed during that time I would think. Anyway, yes, GREAT building!

Sir: I have an exclusive at 444 East 52nd Street.

If you have not found your new home, please feel free to contact me. I have lived on East 52nd Street and continue to live in this lovely neighborhood.

I grew up at the River House from age 8 to 15. It truly is the best building in the world and I miss it terribly! I remember the tenants as being very friendly, but all quite elderly (and I was one of only 3 children in the whole building; (Carter Burden's 2 little ones being the others). I would wait for the school car in the morning to up pick me and my best friend who lived at 414 E. 52nd. Well one day my neighbor who lived above me offered to have his chauffeur drop us off at school after dropping him off at his office: he was the CEO of Proctor and Gamble. Just one of the neighbors...:)

Would you buy a 13 room apt in River House for $24.5 million:

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/252643-coop-435-east-52nd-street-sutton-place-new-york

or would you prefer an almost identical 13 room apartment for $8.2m? OK, it doesn't have a terrace, but is that worth $16m more?

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/364340-coop-435-east-52nd-street-sutton-place-new-york

OK, maybe one has been renovated or something. Floorplans are virtually identical. Is that the largest price difference anyone has ever seen for essentially the same apt in the same building?

We've got a River House resident in the news today, being accused by her COO of possible insider trading. I believe she denies the allegations.

ali r.
{downtown broker}