540 East 20th Street, M-E

Quick Profile

Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town (PCV-ST) are two separate sections of Manhattan but go together like pen and pencil, brick and mortar, bacon and eggs. Many New Yorkers just call it Stuy Town to save time.  

Separated by 20th Street, PCV-ST is more like a superblock than an actual neighborhood. The two communities sit between Gramercy Park and the East Village. The boundaries are 14th Street to the south, 23rd Street to the north, 1st Avenue to the west, and Avenue C to the east. The buildings south of 20th Street are generally referred to as Stuy Town and the buildings above 20th Street are connected to Peter Cooper Village.

Built between 1945 and 1947 and developed by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, this housing community was built for returning World War II veterans and their young families. The 80-acre complex contains 110 buildings and is one of the largest rental communities in the United States.

PCV-ST has always served as a beacon for the city's middle class. The complex features rent-stabilized and market-rate apartments that range in size from studios to five=bedroom units. The Peter Cooper Village apartments are slightly larger than the units in Stuy Town. According to the Stuy Town development website, the typical PCV apartment contains about 200 more square feet than StuyTown, with taller ceilings and eat-in kitchens.

PCV-ST amenities are similar to what you’d find in larger residential buildings throughout Manhattan. They include 3 fitness centers, a concierge, parking, over 10 playgrounds, and shared outdoor spaces. It has its own farmers market, security patrols, basketball courts, private café, an ice rink, and bocce ball court. Wow, 111 West 57th Street doesn’t have bocce ball courts. Community events like dog meet-ups and outdoor movie nights make this place quite special.