969 5th Avenue 13
$12,000,000
MLS# RLS20090818 · Upper East Side
Listed September 25, 2026 · 41 days on the market
2 Beds 3 Baths
About This Property
This impeccable Fifth Avenue pied-a-terre is a masterful collaboration between interior designer Michael S. Smith and architect Oscar Shamamian, longtime creative partners, for a longstanding shared client. The collective expertise of this visionary design duo is defined by a rare, relaxed elegance and an unmatched standard of thoughtful and flawless execution.
With captivating views of Central Park from every room, this magical full floor aerie is located atop a classic 1925 prewar cooperative. Twelve oversized windows provide a perfect vantage point for the changing seasons of Central Park, the Metropolitan Museum, the landmarked buildings of Central Park West, and the northern horizon to the George Washington Bridge.
969 Fifth Avenue is located opposite the James B. Duke Mansion, the Horace Trumbauer designed limestone masterpiece, on one of the most desirable tree-lined mansion blocks of the Upper East Side Historic District. The Henry Cook Block, between East 78th and East 79th Streets and Fifth and Madison Avenues, is the last remaining block with all of its landmarked low-rise mansions intact. The spectacular views are protected by deeded height restrictions upon all buildings within the block imposed by Henry Cook, which remain in place to this day.
The handsome attended elevator opens directly into the stunning full floor residence. A gracious Entry Gallery with Japanese marble flooring leads to a grand corner Living Room, where 5 large windows overlook Central Park. This expansive reception room features a wood-burning fireplace with a fine Antique Regency English mantel, quarter sawn cerused oak flooring and exquisite custom wood and plaster millwork and decorative architectural elements by Féau Boiseries of Paris. The adjacent Dining Room/Library, paneled with enameled bookshelves, also enjoys park views. A charming Primary Bedroom boasts open park and Museum views, a custom designed television lift and a spa-like windowed en-suite Bathroom finished in semi-precious Cream Onyx with marble flooring, a soaking tub and shower. The Second Bedroom also enjoys northern park views and includes a luxurious en-suite Bathroom paneled in marble with a double shower.
The Powder Room, outfitted with shagreen cabinetry, is lined with exquisite panels created by John Simon Guggenheim Fellow Nancy Lorenz whose artistic style is characterized by its references to expressionistic abstraction and use of decorative craftsmanship.
A superb Eat-In Chef’s Kitchen with soapstone countertops and granite flooring enjoys dual northern and eastern exposures with views to the George Washington Bridge. The Kitchen features a Viking Professional 6 Burner Stove, Sub-Zero Refrigerator Freezer, an ASKO dishwasher, a dining banquette, bookshelves and excellent storage.
A Hall Closet contains an ASKO Washer and Dryer and a Media Stack. The apartment includes central air conditioning, humidification, and Lutron systems, a sophisticated media system and radiant heated floors in all rooms. A successful marriage of classic detail and craftsmanship with a brand new infrastructure, state-of-the-art systems and extraordinary finishes throughout.
There are only 12 apartments, providing for an intimate and luxurious experience with a high level of staffing. Incomparable service and seamless security are provided by a superb property manager and 24 hour Doorman. Pets, pied-a-terres, and financing of up to 30% are permitted. A 3% Flip Tax is payable by the Purchaser. Storage conveys with the apartment.
Showing appointments are permitted Weekdays from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Agent's Note
From Curtis Bain. Details about the apartment are drawn from the listing information provided through RLS by Sothebys International Realty.
Unit 13 has its own washer/dryer, central air and a dishwasher, so much of the everyday setup is already in place. The apartment takes up the full floor of a 1925 prewar co-op with 16 stories and 12 units, and an attended elevator opens directly into the residence.
The living room has five large windows that overlook Central Park, and the listing counts twelve oversized windows across the apartment. There's a wood-burning fireplace with an Antique Regency English mantel, quarter sawn cerused oak floors, and custom wood and plaster millwork from a Paris workshop. Michael S. Smith and Oscar Shamamian designed the interiors together, and you can see that partnership in how the rooms are finished.
The primary bedroom has open park and Museum views, a custom designed television lift and an en-suite bath with a soaking tub and shower, finished in Cream Onyx with marble flooring. The second bedroom also faces north toward the park and has its own marble bath with a double shower, so each bedroom has a bath of its own.
The eat-in chef's kitchen has soapstone countertops and granite flooring, and it has dual northern and eastern exposures. An east-facing kitchen gets morning light. On the June solstice, an open horizon would allow direct sun from about 5:49 AM to 12:44 PM, though nearby buildings can block it.
Central Park is about one minute on foot, and the 77 St station on the 6 train is about 7 minutes away. The Metropolitan Museum of Art is about 6 minutes on foot.
Quick answers+
Does the apartment have in-unit laundry?
Yes. The apartment has a washer/dryer in the unit, and the building also has laundry.
Does the building have an elevator?
Yes. An attended elevator opens directly into the residence.
Does the apartment have central air?
Yes. The apartment has central air.

Curtis Bain
Brown Harris Stevens
Property Features
Home features
- Washer/dryer in unit
- Central air
- Fireplace
- Hardwood floors
- City view
- Skyline view
- Dishwasher
Building amenities
Services and facilities
- Elevator
- Laundry in building
Estimate
Monthly Cost & Closing Costs
The rate is a placeholder, not a quote. Enter the one your lender gives you.
$71,451 / month
- Principal and interest$60,679
- Maintenance$10,772
Due at closing
- Down payment (20%)$2,400,000
- NYS “mansion tax” (3.25%)$390,000
Co-op share loans aren't subject to mortgage recording tax. Not included: attorney, title insurance, lender and appraisal fees, board application and move-in fees, flip tax and prepaid items. Estimates only, based on the published New York State rates. Your attorney and lender will confirm the real figures.
About the Building
969 5th Avenue is a 16-story elevator cooperative in Upper East Side, completed in 1925 and home to 12 residential units. It sits within the Upper East Side Historic District. The most recent major alteration on record was in 1987.
The closest subway is 77 St (6), about a 7-minute walk. Central Park is roughly 1 minute away on foot.
Compiled from NYC public records and open data.
- Year Built
- 1925
- Stories
- 16
- Units
- 12
- Building Type
- Elevator Cooperative
- Historic District
- Upper East Side Historic District
Location & Nearby
Map
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969 5th Avenue 13
Subway
- 677 StAbout 7 min walk
Parks
- Central ParkAbout 1 min walk
Public schools · Elementary schools
- P.S. 6 Lillie D. BlakeAbout 6 min walk
- P.S. 290 Manhattan New SchoolAbout 15 min walk
Middle schools
- J.H.S. 167 Robert F. WagnerAbout 12 min walk
High schools
- Eleanor Roosevelt High SchoolAbout 18 min walk
Colleges & universities
- Hunter College (CUNY)About 14 min walk
- New York School of Interior DesignAbout 14 min walk
- Marymount Manhattan CollegeAbout 14 min walk
- Bard Graduate CenterAbout 20 min walk
Museums
- Whitney Museum of American ArtAbout 5 min walk
- The Metropolitan Museum of ArtAbout 6 min walk
- The Frick CollectionAbout 10 min walk
- Solomon R. Guggenheim MuseumAbout 14 min walk
Walking times are estimates. Schools shown are the nearest public and charter schools and are not zone assignments; a nearby school is not necessarily the one an address is zoned for. Confirm zoning with the NYC Department of Education. Sources: MTA, NYC Parks and NYC Department of City Planning open data.
The Neighborhood
About Upper East Side
Manhattan's gold standard for luxury living with iconic architecture, Central Park, and Museum Mile.
Walkability
9/10
Public transit
9/10
Schools
10/10
Dining
9/10
Groceries & parks
9/10
Schools in Upper East Side
Many of NYC's most selective schools sit here, with a concentration of elite K-12 private schools, strong public feeders like PS 6 and PS 290, and easy access to top selective high schools.
Private schools in the area include The Dalton School, The Brearley School, The Chapin School, The Spence School, Nightingale-Bamford School, The Browning School.
Gallery
Property Photos
Listing Courtesy of Sothebys International Realty
This 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.