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50 United Nations Plaza

Coordinates: 40°45′6″N 73°58′5″W / 40.75167°N 73.96806°W / 40.75167; -73.96806
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50 United Nations Plaza
Map
General information
TypeResidential
LocationManhattan, New York City
Coordinates40°45′6″N 73°58′5″W / 40.75167°N 73.96806°W / 40.75167; -73.96806
Construction started2012
Completed2015
Technical details
Floor count44
Design and construction
Architect(s)Foster and Partners
DeveloperZeckendorf family

50 United Nations Plaza is a residential condominium building in Manhattan, New York City.[1] The 44-story tower, designed by Norman Foster's architectural firm Foster and Partners, is the first residential high-rise building in the United States designed by Foster.[1] It is variously described as having 87[2] or 88 apartments.[1][3]

History

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The vacant lot was acquired by Zeckendorf Development for US$160 million in 2007.[4] On November 14, 2012, the Zeckendorf family announced the beginning of construction,[5] alongside Israeli billionaire investor Eyal Ofer as a partner.[2][6] It was topped out during July 2013.[7]

Tenants

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In April 2015, the government of Qatar acquired four apartments (19B, 33B, 27B, and Penthouse 35) for a combined total of US$45 million.[8] By July 2015, the penthouse, which has an outdoors swimming-pool, was listed on the real estate market for US$70 million.[9][10]

In 2015, the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade purchased a unit at 50 UN Plaza for US$7.9 million (slightly under NZ$11 million) for its permanent representative to the UN. The real estate deal formally listed the purchaser as "her Majesty the Queen in right of New Zealand" because Queen Elizabeth II, as monarch, was New Zealand's head of state.[11][12]

After previously leasing a penthouse at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel for its Ambassador to the United Nations, the United States government relocated the ambassadorial residence to 50 United Nations Plaza. The United States initially rented a 40th floor penthouse apartment, but later purchased a different penthouse on the 37th floor.[13] Nikki Haley was the first ambassador to reside in the 40th floor penthouse, which rented at US$58,000 per month. The 37th-floor, five-bedroom, six-and-a-half-bath penthouse was purchased in May 2019 for $15.85 million.[14][15]

In November 2017, Neil and Mindy Grossman purchased unit 29A at 50 United Nations Plaza, for US$5.65 million.[16]

In 2019, the British Government acquired a 5,893-square-foot full-floor penthouse on the 38th floor of 50 United Nations Plaza, for the UK's trade commissioner for North America and consul general in New York, Antony Phillipson, for 12 million British pounds, or about US$15.8 million.[17][18][19] Zeckendorf Development said at the time that more than 80% of the building's units had been sold.[19] The British Foreign Office's purchase of the residence as a "grace and favour" home was criticized by some in Britain, as it came during a long period of austerity measures.[19]

In 2018, a three-bedroom unit in the building was offered for rent at US$19,000 a month.[20] In 2022, six apartments in the building were listed for rent, including the penthouse, which at the time was listed for $75,000 a month; a foreign tenant was in the process of leasing that unit.[21]

In 2020, the Consulate General of Kuwait purchased Penthouse 40 in the building for US$16.1 million.[22]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Hughes, C. J. (July 25, 2014). "Norman Foster Enjoys a New York Moment". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Chaban, Matt (November 13, 2012). "Presenting the Next 15 CPW: Zeckendorfs Unveil 50 UN Plaza, Norman Foster's First U.S. Apartment Building". The New York Observer. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  3. ^ Satow, Julie (August 1, 2013). "High-Rises to Replace an East Side Eyesore". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  4. ^ Polsky, Sara (November 6, 2012). "UN-Neighboring Stalled Site Is Getting Foster & Partners Tower". Curbed. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  5. ^ Polsky, Sara (November 14, 2012). "Norman Foster's New UN-Neighboring Tower Unveiled!". Curbed. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  6. ^ Karmin, Craig (May 12, 2013). "Developers Team Up With a Man Behind the Scenes". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  7. ^ Dailey, Jessica (July 11, 2013). "'Watergate' In Dumbo; 50 United Nations Plaza Tops Out". Curbed NY. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  8. ^ Rosenberg, Zoe (April 9, 2015). "Qatar Executes $45M Takeover of 50 United Nations Plaza". Curbed. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  9. ^ Rosenberg, Zoe (July 24, 2015). "For $70M, a Penthouse With a Pool at 50 United Nations Plaza". Curbed. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  10. ^ Taylor, Candace (July 23, 2015). "Big New York Penthouse With Private Pool Is Listing for $70 Million". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved October 21, 2015.
  11. ^ "Moving to NY City is not on Queen's to do list". Asian News International. July 6, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  12. ^ Small, Vernon. "NZ government shells out $11m on New York apartment for UN representative". Stuff. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  13. ^ Rebong, Kevin (June 10, 2019). "U.S. Buys $16M Penthouse at Zeckendorf's 50 UN Plaza". The Real Deal New York. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  14. ^ Marino, Vivian (July 8, 2019). "Luxury Sales Spike as Buyers Rush to Avoid Higher Mansion Taxes". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  15. ^ "New York Deed". New York City Department of Finance. May 27, 2019. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  16. ^ Marino, Vivian (December 1, 2017). "A $38 Million Penthouse in West Chelsea was November's Top Sale". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  17. ^ Neate, Rupert (March 26, 2019). "The $16m New York penthouse fit for a UK civil servant". The Guardian. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  18. ^ "Government buys £12m luxury New York apartment for diplomat". BBC News. March 27, 2019. Retrieved April 1, 2019.
  19. ^ a b c Magra, Iliana (March 27, 2019). "U.K. Defends Buying $16 Million New York Penthouse for Diplomat". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  20. ^ Hughes, C. J. (October 11, 2018). "A Luxury Rental in Midtown From a Low-Key Landlord". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  21. ^ Marino, Vivian (June 22, 2022). "Paying $40,000 a Month in Brooklyn, and Other Sky-High Rents". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  22. ^ Marino, Vivian (April 3, 2020). "Two More Big Sales at 220 Central Park South". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2024.