400 East 52nd Street, Unit 8J

Apartment 8J at The Southgate, 400 East 52nd Street, is a pre-war one-bedroom co-op facing southeast over the building's landscaped garden, and the living room is full of sun.

A formal entry foyer comes first, with a coat closet at the door and a large walk-in closet. That's a lot of storage to have before you even reach the living room, and I'd count it among the best things about the apartment.

The living room has oversized windows, high ceilings and travertine-look stone tile floors. It looks out over the garden, and so does the primary bedroom, which also has a partial view of the East River. I like having a garden outside the bedroom window in Midtown.

Both the kitchen and the bath have windows, which I always point out in a pre-war apartment. The kitchen sits behind bifold doors and has a gas range, a stainless steel refrigerator and a stainless dishwasher. In the bath, floor-to-ceiling mirrors carry the southeast light across the room, and the deep soaking tub doubles as a shower.

Emery Roth designed The Southgate and Bing & Bing developed it. It is one of that firm's signature complexes, with the Art Deco touches Bing & Bing was known for. 400 East 52nd Street dates to 1931, and the complex's five buildings surround a private cul-de-sac. There's a 24-hour doorman, an on-site resident manager, 24-hour central laundry, the community garden, and bike and storage rooms.

The co-op's policies are generous. Washer/dryers are permitted in the apartment, pets are welcome, and pieds-a-terre, co-purchasing, gifting and guarantors are permitted, all subject to board approval. Sublets are allowed three out of every five years, and you can finance up to 80%. The purchaser pays a 2% flip tax.

Monthly maintenance is $2,497.76 and includes water, heat and electric. A monthly assessment of $296.40 runs through July 2027.

The block is tree-lined and residential, in Beekman by Sutton Place, with the East River, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, cafes and restaurants close by. The E, M and 6 at Lexington Avenue-53rd Street are a short walk west.