Milton Coste

Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker

(917) 416-7433

SOLD FOR $849,000

· Closed April 15, 2025

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Closed For Sale Co-op

$849,000

$1,698 per sq ft

51 W 81st Street #12G

Upper West Side, Manhattan

MLS® #RLS20040126

RLS at REBNY

Listing by Compass

1

Bedroom

1

Bath

500

Sq. Ft.

1905

Year Built

Quick Summary

Bedrooms 1
Bathrooms 1
Living Area 500 sq ft
Year Built 1905
Ownership Co-op
Maintenance $1,046/mo
Neighborhood Upper West Side
Floor 12 of 13

Property Highlights

  • Exposure: South facing
  • Climate Control: Wall Units
  • Character: Pre-war building (1905)

Property Details

Type Co-op
Ownership Stock Cooperative
Total Rooms 2
Baths 1 Full
Floor 12 of 13
Exposure South
Cooling Wall Units
Pets Yes, CatsOk, DogsOk
Year Built 1905
Living Area 500 sq ft
Structure Type MultiFamily
Flooring Hardwood
Furnished Unfurnished
Parcel # 1195-0001-00051-000-000012G
Block/Lot 01195/0001

Description

STUDIO STUNNER ?w/14-FOOT CEILINGS DESIGNED BY KELLY G

JUNIOR 1BR w/MAJESTIC MUSEUM PARK & CITY VIEWS 

PRISTINE PIED A TERRE - ONE-OF-A-KIND & WONDERFUL

Quality like this in a studio home is rare, and is always a valuable choice.

The owner of this supremely unique, beautiful, Museum Park-facing home chose this voluminous space because of its unique scale, view, and history.  Formerly part of an historical ballroom, the owner envisioned a high-floor, one-of-a-kind, trophy home with world-class views in a prime location — a home that would give her the grand intimacy she dreamed of — a magical pied a terre.  To create her dream space, the owner engaged the very talented and established designer, Kelly Giesen of Kelly G Design. 

From the moment you enter this magnificent home, you'll know that you are in an exquisite residence. Dramatically situated on the prized, penultimate level of its 1905 building, this masterpiece boasts rare, 14-foot high ceilings and gorgeous, South-facing, sun-splashed, dramatic Museum Park and skyline views from its oversized windows. Although everything inside this feel-good home looks as if it has been here for a century or more, the architectural elements were individually curated by the designer specifically for this renovation. Repurposed treasures include antique doors, mirrors, hardware, and so much more. By mixing old and new, this magical space seamlessly merges history with modern sensibility. The entry opens to a sweet foyer, a space made grand by design and graced by a deep, tall, custom hall closet with extra tall door. This fine foyer is a graceful transition to the residential bliss that lies ahead.

The custom focal points of the comfortable Living Room are the soaring, 14-foot high ceilings and the magical open views.  This vibrant, dramatic, comfortable space — like the rest of this trophy home —  boasts herringbone White Oak floors and real plaster moldings cast from vintage molds. (Some of the old ballroom’s original moldings are still intact here.). The gorgeous kitchen is open and adjacent to the living space, and is perfectly poised for entertaining. Its painted cabinetry, custom milled to house the owner's extensive collection of vintage china and crystal, conceals many of its under-counter appliances from view. (Try and find the top-tier appliances by Big Chill, Bosch and Subzero.) The polished Neolith Calcutta Gold countertop and backsplash offer the sophisticated look of a vintage butler's pantry, and beautifully serve this bespoke home's artisanal spirit.  A custom and comfy king-sized wall bed creates an instant bedroom — with a night view to remember:  the twinkling lights of the NYC skyline sparkle gorgeously beyond the foot of the bed. With its handsome integrated cabinetry, the big bed gracefully and graciously tucks away — creating a more expansive living area by day. The over-scaled marble bathroom is a dream. With its beaming clerestory windows, custom console sink, signature mosaic floor, super-high ceilings, jumbo custom marble shower with dual shower heads, its top of the line fixtures, and its thermostatic controls, this spa bathroom -- like the rest of this residence -- comes with bragging rights. This extraordinary home's lighting is controlled throughout by Lutron switches.

Supremely situated in a terrifically run, pet-friendly, full service building - The Galaxy - offering its residents one of our city's premiere planted roof deck's with five-star city and park views, and a perfect location right in front of beautiful Museum Park and the Museum of Natural History, this home is conveniently located on one of Manhattan's most celebrated blocks. Premiere shopping and dining destinations are at your doorstep, and easy transportation options abound.

(HAPPY NOTE: Galaxy shareholders own their building's coveted commercial spaces - a rare financial advantage for the cooperative.)

Features & Amenities

Interior Features

Built In Features Crown Molding Double Vanity Eat In Kitchen High Ceilings Building Multiple Locations Common On Floor Common Area Flooring: Hardwood

Building Amenities

Elevators

Appliances

Cooktop Dishwasher Freezer Gas Cooktop Range Refrigerator Range Hood Stainless Steel Appliances

Building Information

Total Units 125
Stories 13
Structure MultiFamily

Financial Details

Maintenance $1,046/mo
Sale Price $849,000

The Upper West Side (UWS) is celebrated for its cultural richness and architectural grandeur. Nestled between Central Park and Riverside Park, the neighborhood provides an unparalleled connection to nature within the urban grid. Residents enjoy easy access to Lincoln Center, the American Museum of Natural History, and a vibrant culinary scene. The real estate landscape is famous for its historic brownstones and iconic 'white-glove' apartment buildings along Central Park West and Riverside Drive.

Upper West Side Live Market Data

View Neighborhood

Active Listings

529

Median Asking Price

$1.60M

Median $/Sqft

$1,565

Avg Days on Market

N/A

New This Week

20

Price Reduced

23%

Sold (30 Days)

83

Median Sale Price

$1.59M

Live data from RLS at REBNY • Updated 3/26/26, 1:39 PM EST

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Location

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51 W 81st Street #12G, Upper West Side, New York County

Virtual Tour

MLS® ID: RLS20040126
First Listed: 7/31/2025
On Market: 5/9/2025
Price Changed: 7/31/2025
Closed: 4/15/2025
Contract Date: 10/7/2024

Listing Courtesy of Compass - Brian K Lewis

Listing Contact: (646) 228-7241

Listing information for certain New York City properties provided courtesy of the Real Estate Board of New York's Residential Listing Service (the "RLS"). The information contained in this listing has not been verified by the RLS and should be verified by the consumer. The listing information provided here is for the consumer's personal, non-commercial use. Retransmission, redistribution or copying of this listing information is strictly prohibited except in connection with a consumer's consideration of the purchase and/or sale of an individual property. This listing information is not verified for authenticity or accuracy and is not guaranteed and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. ©2026 The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc., all rights reserved. This advertisement does not suggest that the broker has a listing in this property or properties or that any property is currently available.

Broker Commission Disclosure: Broker commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable.

Buyer Notice: Planning to work with a buyer's broker? A Buyer Representation Agreement is required before your broker can show you properties, per REBNY/UCBA guidelines (effective 2025). You may attend open houses independently without one.

RLS at REBNY

RLS Data display by Keller Williams NYC. Data last updated on 3/26/2026 at 5:39 PM UTC

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