The city's skinniest supertall at 49 feet wide — an engineering marvel that's also a neighborhood lightning rod for blocking Empire State Building views.
This is the building everyone in NoMad has an opinion about, and none of those opinions are neutral. At 860 feet tall and 49 feet wide, 262 Fifth Avenue is genuinely the skinniest supertall in the city — which sounds impressive until you realize it means you're paying $6,000+ per square foot to live in a very expensive, very tall pencil.
The public backlash is real and documented: the building blocks Empire State Building views from Madison Square Park and multiple streets south of 28th Street. When New York Magazine's architecture critic calls your building "as though the consulting architect were Eberhard Faber," that's not a compliment you recover from.
More concerning for buyers: sales launched in December 2024, but as of July 2025, no signed contracts had been reported. In a market where comparable NoMad condos are moving at $1,800-$2,200 per square foot, asking $4,100-$8,220 here suggests either extreme optimism or a fundamental misreading of buyer appetite.
The developer, Boris Kuzinez, has a documented history serving Russian oligarchs and told the New York Times his clients were "mostly businessmen, bankers, in oil and metals." Whether that's your crowd or not is a decision only you can make.
Pros and cons
Pros
+ Genuine supertall views from 860-foot height
+ Private on-site parking — extremely rare in NoMad
+ German HVAC system with 100% fresh air cycling
+ Column-free floor plans with floor-to-ceiling windows
+ Full-service building with infinity pool and roof deck
Approx. low end — varies by unit. Use the calculator below to add your mortgage.
~$4,700/mo
Common charges and tax figures shown are sourced from current active listings and vary by unit size and floor. Verify all figures with building management, the offering plan, and your attorney before closing. MeetFlatiron makes no representations as to the accuracy of financial figures shown.
Payment calculator
Purchase price$7,500,000
Down payment20%
Interest rate6.75%
Principal and interest—
Common charges (enter your unit's figure)$/mo
Property taxes (enter your unit's figure)$/mo
Total monthly—
For illustrative purposes only. Common charges and taxes vary by unit — verify exact figures with building management. Actual mortgage rates vary by lender. Consult your lender for accurate rates and terms.
Red flag —
The single biggest red flag is the complete absence of closed sales 18+ months after the building topped out and 16+ months after sales approval. In Manhattan's luxury condo market, buildings that can't close sales typically face either severe overpricing or fundamental product issues. Additionally, the developer's background serving Russian oligarchs and the building's public controversy over Empire State Building view obstruction create ongoing reputational risks that will affect resale value indefinitely.
What agents won't tell you
Board dynamics
262 Fifth Avenue Condominium: Is a condominium with standard condo board governance — no financial package submissions or discretionary rejections. However, the sponsor (Five Points Development) currently owns 100% of units since no sales have closed. The true condo board dynamics won't emerge until actual residents begin purchasing and taking control.
What it's actually like to live here
The floor plates are tiny — 2,211 square feet at grade level, which gets divided into just 26 units across 54 floors. Most units are column-free, but when your entire floor is 49 feet wide, "column-free" doesn't solve the fundamental space constraints. The building will sway noticeably in wind — this isn't theoretical, it's physics. The German HVAC system and triple-plate glass are genuinely high-end, but at these prices and this width, you're paying luxury money for a fundamentally compromised living experience.
Services and amenities
Full-time
Concierge
Elevator
Gym
Swimming pool
Roof deck
Outdoor space
Storage space
Laundry in building
Live-in super
Parking
Hardwood floors
Central air
Washer/dryer in unit
Dishwasher
Pets allowed
Pet policy: Pet policy not confirmed in public records
Amenity information sourced from building listings and public records. Amenities are subject to change — verify current offerings with building management before closing.
Transit
28th St (Broadway)
RW
3 blocks
28th St (Park Ave South)
6
4 blocks
23rd St (Broadway)
NRW
6 blocks
23rd St (Park Ave South)
6
7 blocks
Walk Score 98Transit Score 100Bike Score 85Source: Walk Score
Commute times from this building
Destination
🚶 Walk
🚇 Subway
Lines
The Flatiron Building (175 Fifth Ave)
7 min
N/A
Walk only
Midtown (47th & Park Ave)
26 min
14 min
N/A
Hudson Yards (30th & 10th Ave)
21 min
N/A
Walk only
World Trade Center (Fulton St)
62 min
19 min
R Line
Times Square (42nd & Broadway)
19 min
13 min
N Line
Grand Central (42nd & Park Ave)
20 min
11 min
N/A
Door-to-door estimates via Google Maps transit directions. Times reflect typical weekday conditions.Source: Google Maps
Nearby schools
6
PS 116 Mary Lindley Murray
Public · Grades PK–5
0.3mi
Nearby colleges: Baruch College (0.5mi), FIT (0.4mi), Parsons/The New School (0.6mi)
School ratings sourced from GreatSchools and are subject to change. School zone boundaries are not guaranteed — verify current zoning directly with NYC DOE at myschools.nyc before purchasing.
Noise Level
Loud
Overall noise level
75/100 noise score
Primary source: Fifth Avenue traffic and construction activity in rapidly developing NoMad corridor
This stretch of Fifth Avenue is well-lit and generally safe, patrolled by the 13th Precinct. The block sees heavy foot traffic during business hours but quiets significantly after 8pm — the building's doorman presence adds security.
🚗
Parking
The building includes private on-site parking — a genuine rarity in NoMad and worth factoring into your total cost analysis. No monthly garage hunting, no alternate side parking headaches.
📦
Storage
Storage availability unclear — ask management about on-site storage options and waitlists before assuming it's available.
🛒
Grocery and daily errands
Eataly is your closest option at 200 Fifth Avenue, but Whole Foods on Seventh Avenue is more practical for weekly shopping. Korean markets in nearby Koreatown offer excellent produce and late hours.
🔊
Noise and street life
At 860 feet tall and only 49 feet wide, this building will catch wind noise like nothing else in the neighborhood. Higher floors may experience significant building sway — visit on a windy day before deciding.
🚇
Getting around
You're equidistant from the R/W at 28th and Broadway and the 6 at 28th and Park — both about a 4-minute walk. The N/R/W at 23rd Street gives you more downtown options but requires a longer walk south.
262 Fifth Avenue sits at elevation well above sea level in Manhattan's core — Zone X designation reflects minimal flood risk.
Source: FEMA Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov)
What to ask before buying
1.How many contracts have been signed since sales approval in December 2024, and at what price points — given that no closed sales were reported as of July 2025?
2.What is the building's documented sway measurement in typical wind conditions, and has any independent engineering assessment been conducted on livability at this height-to-width ratio?
3.What percentage of the $180 million construction loan from Madison Realty Capital and Cottonwood Group remains outstanding, and are there any buyer assessments planned to cover remaining debt service?
4.Has the sponsor received any legal challenges or formal complaints regarding the building's obstruction of Empire State Building views, and what liability protection exists for unit owners?
5.What is the expected timeline for sponsor control to transfer to a resident-controlled condo board, and what percentage of sales must close before this transition?
6.Given the building's controversial reception, what comparable sales data supports the current $4,100-$8,220 per square foot pricing in the NoMad market?
The investment thesis here is unclear at best, catastrophic at worst. No sales have closed since the building topped out in April 2024, despite aggressive marketing and multiple price reductions. At $6,160 average per square foot, you're paying roughly 3x the NoMad market rate for a building that's already generated massive public controversy. Liquidity will be a major concern — when you're ready to sell, you'll need to find another buyer willing to pay supertall prices for a 49-foot-wide floor plate in a building the neighborhood actively resents.
Past appreciation is not a guarantee of future performance. Real estate values fluctuate. All investment decisions should be made with independent financial and legal advice.
Building history timeline
2015-2016
Site Acquisition
Developer Boris Kuzinez purchased buildings at 260, 262, and 264 Fifth Avenue for $101.8 million, plus air rights for $5.8 million. Two prewar buildings at 262 and 264 Fifth Avenue were demolished.
2016
Initial Plans Filed
SLCE Architects applied to build a 54-story, 928-foot structure designed by Russian firm Meganom. The design called for what would become the city's skinniest supertall at just 49 feet wide.
2017
Demolition and Approval
Demolition of existing structures completed by September 2017. DOB approved construction plans in October 2017, clearing the way for the controversial supertall project.
2019
Construction Stalls
Construction appeared to stall completely, with no visible progress on site. Financial difficulties and permitting issues were suspected but not confirmed publicly.
2021
Asset Sale and Restart
Kuzinez sold 260 Fifth Avenue for $52.5 million to raise capital. Construction resumed by November 2021 with excavation restarting after a two-year delay.
2022-2023
Project Downsizing
Building height reduced from original 1,043 to 860 feet. Unit count decreased from 41 to 26 apartments. $180 million loan secured from Madison Realty Capital and Cottonwood Group.
2024
Topping Out
Building topped out in April 2024 at 860 feet. Sales approval received in December 2024, with initial pricing ranging from $7.5 million to $23.25 million.
2025-2026
Sales Struggles
As of July 2025, no signed contracts reported despite active marketing. Expected completion pushed to second half of 2026 as facade work continues.
Frequently asked questions
How wide is 262 Fifth Avenue?
262 Fifth Avenue is 49 feet wide, making it officially the skinniest supertall in New York City. At 860 feet tall, this creates an extreme height-to-width ratio that will likely result in noticeable building sway during wind events.
Why is 262 Fifth Avenue controversial?
The building has generated significant public backlash for blocking Empire State Building views from Madison Square Park and multiple streets south of 28th Street. Architecture critics have also targeted its extreme "pencil tower" design, with one comparing it to a building designed by Eberhard Faber pencil company.
Has anyone actually bought an apartment at 262 Fifth Avenue?
As of July 2025, no signed contracts had been reported despite sales approval in December 2024. The lack of closed sales 18+ months after the building topped out is unusual for Manhattan's luxury condo market and may signal pricing or product issues.
Who is the developer of 262 Fifth Avenue?
The building is developed by Boris Kuzinez of Five Points Development. Kuzinez has publicly stated his background serving Russian oligarchs, telling the New York Times his clients were "mostly businessmen, bankers, in oil and metals." He was born in Latvia and emigrated to Israel more than 50 years ago.
What amenities does 262 Fifth Avenue have?
The building includes a fitness center, swimming pool (described as an infinity pool), shared roof deck, private on-site parking, and 24/7 concierge services. Units feature radiant floor heating, German HVAC systems, and floor-to-ceiling windows with triple plate glass.
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