521 5th Avenue, Manhattan
Commercial · built c. 1929 · Block 1278, Lot 1.
Building permits
- Alteration, filed Aug 18, 2026, estimated cost $33K, described as “Filing includes removal, relocation, and new construction of non-load bearing interior walls and doors as per plan to combine two office spaces. No change in egress or occupancy. SP to be filed separately as LAA, only if required.”
- Alteration, filed Jun 5, 2026, estimated cost $15K, described as “Herewith filing for an interior renovation of an office #820 to include: remove and replacement of existing light fixtures, removal and installation of new carpet throughout, construction of 2 closets. Existing structural system shall not…”
- Alteration, filed Feb 19, 2026, described as “FISP INSPECTION (Facade Inspection Safety Program). INDUSTRIAL ROPE ACCESS TECHNIQUES AND METHODS. SEE ATTACHED PLANS. Designated Primary Site supervisor: Jesus Decola”
- Alteration, filed Sep 30, 2025, estimated cost $375K, described as “Modification/installation of non load bearing partitions as per plan. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Jul 28, 2025, estimated cost $25K, described as “Sprinkler filing as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Jul 28, 2025, estimated cost $100K, described as “Mechanical filing as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy,”
- Alteration, filed May 13, 2024, estimated cost $20K, described as “Mechanical filing as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed May 9, 2024, estimated cost $300K, described as “Modification/installation of non load bearing partitions as per plan. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Mar 28, 2024, estimated cost $133K, described as “Mechanical filing as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Mar 28, 2024, estimated cost $335K, described as “Installation of non load bearing partitions as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Mar 28, 2024, estimated cost $18K, described as “Plumbing filing as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Mar 11, 2024, estimated cost $224K, described as “Mechanical filing as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Sep 27, 2023, estimated cost $1K, described as “Proposed installation of temporary pipe scaffold as per plans. Work shall comply with chapter #33 of 2022 the NYC building code. No change in use, occupancy, or egress under this application.”
- Alteration, filed Feb 21, 2023, estimated cost $30K, described as “Removal of non load bearing partitions as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Jan 31, 2023, estimated cost $61K, described as “Removal of non load bearing partitions as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Oct 31, 2022, estimated cost $250K, described as “Mechanical filing as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Sep 30, 2022, estimated cost $700K, described as “Installation of non load bearing partitions as per plans. No change inuse, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Sep 29, 2022, estimated cost $90K, described as “Plumbing & sprinler filings as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Aug 9, 2022, estimated cost $100K, described as “Modification to mechanical systems as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Aug 9, 2022, estimated cost $50K, described as “Modification to plumbing and sprinkler system as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Aug 8, 2022, estimated cost $300K, described as “Installation of non load bearing partitions as per plans. No change inuse, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Jun 21, 2022, estimated cost $50K, described as “New roof terrace framing. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Jun 15, 2022, estimated cost $643K, described as “Installation of non load bearing partitions as per plans. No change inuse, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Jun 14, 2022, estimated cost $643K, described as “Modification to mechanical systems as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
- Alteration, filed Apr 26, 2022, estimated cost $190K, described as “Plumbing and sprinkler filing as per plans. No change in use, egress or occupancy.”
43 more, older permits are in this building’s full list on the map.
Property taxes
- Assessment
- $73,000,000
- 2026–27 tax
- $7,919,040
- Market value (city estimate)
- $162,222,200
- Taxable value
- $73,000,000
- Assessed land
- $11,563,200
- Assessed improvements
- $61,436,800
Zoning
C5-3 (part of the lot is C5-2.5): floor area ratio 22.79 built, above the 15.00 base zoning allows, which bonuses, transfers or older rules can permit.
Flood zone
Current FEMA flood map: zone X, minimal flood hazard.
Recent sales
- May 22, 2019: $379,283,537
Open-market sales since 2016, from the Department of Finance’s sales files.
Board and land use applications
- Change to an earlier grant (Board of Standards and Appeals 294-99-BZIII): Change to an earlier grant, Granted, filed Dec 31, 2019, decided Feb 8, 2021. Extension of Term of a previously approved Special Permit (§73-36) which permitted the operation of a physical cultural establishment (Equinox) which expires on May 9, 2020. C5-2.5 and C5-3 Midtown Special Purpose District – Rockefeller…
- Variance or special permit (Board of Standards and Appeals 294-99-BZ): Variance or special permit, Granted, filed Dec 14, 1999, decided May 9, 2000. Special Permit (§73-36) to permit within a C5-3(MID) 2.5 (MID) zoning district, the proposed physical culture establishment, located within a portion of an existing commercial building as per Z.R. §32-10.
- Greater East Midtown - Special Subdistrict (City Planning P2016M0316): Completed, decided Aug 15, 2017. This is an application by NYC Department of City Planning requesting a text amendment to establish the East Midtown Subdistrict and extend the Special Midtown District, and to rezone a half-block area from C5-2 to C5-3 to reinforce the…