Quick Profile
Beekman Place is less of a neighborhood than it is a quiet two-block enclave just north of the United Nations on the far eastern edge of Turtle Bay. There is only one street that runs through the neighborhood, also called Beekman Place, that wraps itself around 49th Street and 51st Street.
This bucolic little stretch of the east side has always been a cherished spot for those fortunate enough to have found refuge here. The noise and the street traffic from the city surrounds is virtually non-existent as there are no through streets in this neighborhood.
The neighborhood composition largely consists of a few clusters of townhouses and prewar co-ops. The exception to the rule is the charming art-deco-styled Beekman Place Hotel at the corner of First Avenue and 49th Street and the two post-war towers, 860 and 870 UN Plaza that front the grounds of the United Nations.
Destination Spots
Peter Detmold Park at the eastern end of 51st Street is a secret treasure carved out of small swatch of land between the FDR Drive and the retaining wall for the homes on Beekman Place. It is well worth the climb down the stairs. There is also a dog run as well as a footbridge that leads visitors across the FDR Drive for views of LIC.
At the end of the 49th Street Cul-de-sac is 17 Beekman, the long-time residence of composer Irving Berlin. Today it is the home to Luxembourg’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
Another famous resident of Beekman Place, the late architect Paul Rudolph, put his modernist touches on his long-time home at 23 Beekman Place.
What You Might See
Diplomatic plates. Due to its proximity to the United Nations, there are several missions in this spec of Manhattan. Tough luck for those trying to find street parking.
Trees, lots of trees. For there seasons, this enclave is flush with green.
What’s In The Future
Not much. The biggest change to Beekman Place in the last twenty years was the development of The Grand Beekman in 2001 at the corner of First Avenue and 51st Street.
What You Might Not Know
The Beekman Tower opened in 1928 as a women’s only club and hotel.
What We Love
Not quite sure how one could walk across the bedlam of First Avenue on a Friday night in the summer and be greeted by the serenity of Beekman Place. But it happens. Arriving home after a day in the office always feels like a gift.
Walking to work, particularly if one’s job is just a short walk to Midtown.
If you have a dog, Detmold Park is the perfect respite. If you don’t have a dog, watching the dogs play for hours on end is rollicking.
Houses, Co-ops, and Condos for Sale and Rent in Beekman Place
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