Divided by a historic private skybridge, this $2.75M Upper East Side co-op feels like a work of modern art


Photo by Manuel Pellon Photography.
On the market for the first time in a generation, the Finch Skybridge at 52 East 78th Street is part Manhattan history, part livable art piece. Asking $2,750,000, this rarefied Upper East Side residence, separated by an architecturally significant skybridge, is unified by luxurious details and panoramic city views.
According to Curbed, the home’s current owner is Stephen Gullo, celebrity diet doctor and author. In a 2007 interview with the Daily News, Gullo said he spent close to $1 million renovating the apartment, including adding a wall of glass and steel to the bridge that needed approval from the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission.
“I had always wanted a place with a very short commute,” Gullo told the News, since the smaller unit was used as office space.

The result of a spare-no-expense renovation helmed by the structural engineer who worked on the Metropolitan Museum of Art and curated by Kushner Studios, the apartment gives pre-war bones a bold update.
On one side, the dramatic skybridge connects to the duplex penthouse at 61 East 77th Street, where a breathtaking living room is framed by 18-foot ceilings. Luxurious modern upgrades include three separate HVAC systems and a stylish modern kitchen.



On the lower level of the duplex, the kitchen, dining, and living areas form its main entertaining space. The 1920s bridge that once connected Finch College to its dormitory has been transformed into a steel-and-concrete skywalk with a glass ceiling and a glass floor lit from below, wrapped by triangular windows.




A floating staircase accesses two spacious bedrooms, a glamorous primary bath, and a private roof garden on the upper level of the duplex. The current floor plan allows for either a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath layout or two bedrooms with a sprawling secondary suite. The total outdoor space includes three private balconies and the aforementioned roof garden with a dining area.


Across the skybridge are two more rooms that can become a dramatic ultra-private bedroom suite, or two bedrooms, or offices. Originally designed for a filmmaker, this unique home suspended in the sky is a standout even in a city full of dazzling details and historic surprises.

Built in 1920, The Finch is a 13-story cooperative with a part-time doorman and a resident superintendent. Pied-à-terre ownership, co-purchasing, unlimited subletting after two years, and 75 percent financing are allowed. The co-op spans both 52 East 78th Street and 61 East 77th Street, meaning two laundry rooms are available for residents.
[Listing details: 52 East 78th Street, Unit PH10E at CityRealty] [At Compass by Mike Barit and Justin Rubinstein]RELATED:
Photo by Manuel Pellon Photography.
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