Carnegie Hill Observed

There’s an impressive assortment of competitively-priced seven and eight-room prewar apartments available for sale in Carnegie Hill. Recently, these had been scarce as hen’s teeth, objects of bidding wars, and certainly it was impossible to contemplate a prewar 7 for under $3 million. Now, it’s entirely possible. In fact, there are several prewar 8-room apartments on Park Avenue (in various states of repair) with an asking price of under 3 million – further challenging the current price of the “Classic 7” – some of which are priced below 2.5 million. The Carnegie Hill retail landscape is changing too – old standbys such as Bolton’s have papered up their windows (just when it might have become a chic shop) as well as retro Feldman’s Housewares at 87th St. Petak’s has also vacated. However, despite the turnover in storefronts, the neighborhood retains its charm and there’s plenty of life in the streets. And Yura on Madison, the Swifty’s of the stroller set, is always jammed.