20 distinguished Manhattan co-op buildings
1040 Fifth Avenue adds a Candela building at East 85th Street to the selection, with a distinctive roofline near the northern end of the museum frontage.
- Address
- 1040 Fifth Avenue
- Location
- Fifth Avenue
- Ownership
- Cooperative
- Architect
- Rosario Candela
- Completed
- 1930
Architecture and building history
Completed in 1930, 1040 Fifth Avenue is a limestone apartment house designed by Rosario Candela. Its upper massing and asymmetrical rooftop composition distinguish it along the avenue.
The building's history includes Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's residence there, but its inclusion in a buying guide rests on the architecture, apartment scale and location. Those qualities should be evaluated through the present home and its documents rather than through former ownership.
What to compare in the apartment
Compare the apartment's park exposure with its depth and bedroom arrangement. The location of the main rooms can matter more than the floor number alone, particularly where neighboring roofs or the building's own setbacks affect the outlook.
For an upper-floor or terrace apartment, check access, permitted use and repair responsibilities for outdoor areas. Review the current approved layout and the scope of previous work before assuming the residence can be reconfigured around a different household's needs.
The location
East 85th Street places 1040 Fifth toward the Carnegie Hill end of this guide. It offers a different daily setting from the buildings near East 62nd Street, while retaining a direct relationship to the park and Museum Mile.
Services, maintenance and purchase requirements
Request the current service schedule and maintenance breakdown for the apartment. Establish which services are included, which carry separate charges and whether storage or other ancillary space transfers with the shares.
A co-op purchase involves shares in the building corporation and a proprietary lease. Have your attorney review the financial statements, minutes, insurance and any assessment notices. Confirm the current requirements for financing, liquidity, intended occupancy, ownership structure, subletting and renovations with the managing agent. Published summaries can lag the governing documents.
Compare the complete cost of ownership with the apartment’s condition and the work you intend to do. A recognizable address does not establish the condition of the home or the co-op’s finances.
Where it fits on a shortlist
Upper-floor exposure, the current plan and any terrace or setback-related responsibilities.
Compare this building with 998 Fifth Avenue, River House. The top-20 co-op guide explains the wider selection.
For purchase steps, read buying an apartment in NYC and the co-op versus condo guide. For market-wide inventory, use the 100 newest Manhattan co-op listings.
Discuss an apartment in this building
Tell us the space you need, your timing and how you intend to use the home. We can help assess relevant availability and compare the building with other co-ops on your shortlist.
Architecture and image sources
Image author and license are credited with the photograph. Building descriptions cover architecture and purchase considerations; current availability and co-op policies require individual confirmation.