New York real estate: Carnegie Hill

By Miranda Siegel | Special to amNewYork

May 1, 2008

Darlene Kleiner (left) and Jennifer Bregman (right) love the Curry Chicken Salad at Pascalou on Madison Avenue. (Katya Pronin / April 30, 2008)

Given the swanky townhouses, proximity to Museum Mile, proliferation of uniformed schoolgirls and lovingly manicured greenery, it's difficult to believe that Carnegie Hill, which occupies the northeast corner of the Upper East Side, wasn't always considered the luxurious enclave that it is today.

"In 70s and 80s, it was hinterland," said Holly Hunt, vice president at Halstead Properties. "The economy wasn't so strong, and it wasn't as safe. People didn't want to live above 86th; those who did were true pioneers."

But many long-time residents of Carnegie Hill remember it differently.

"Thirty years ago it was still beautiful, but barely publicized," explained resident Joan McLaughlin. "It was the city's best-kept secret."

Shari Thompson, who has lived in the neighborhood for almost 30 years, recalls that she was trying to find a place in the village, but "taxes were lower up here in Carnegie Hill, and there were good schools. It was a quiet, peaceful neighborhood."

The area named for Andrew Carnegie, a steel magnate whose mansion still stands at the corner of East 91st Street and Fifth Avenue, is toybox cute, groomed to perfection by proud and proactive residents striving to protect the community's small-town aesthetic. These charms have been captured in several films and
television shows, including those of former Carnegie Hill resident Woody Allen and the popular TV series "Gossip Girl."

"There are a lot of townhouses here," said resident Shari Thompson. "Buildings are constructed in a number of different styles: Queen Anne, neo-classical. People want to preserve that."

The high cost of living means that new residents are uniformly well heeled, which some view as a drawback.

"The area doesn't reflect the diverse makeup of the city," explained resident Jim Marion. "Which is really a downside."

Find it

Carnegie Hill is defined by East 96thStreet to the north (98th Street closer to the park), East 86th Street to the south, to Third Avenue (but not including it) to the east and Central Park to the west.

TO EAT

Because there are so many discerning locals and famished museum-hoppers, Carnegie Hill is crammed with restaurants, with many concentrated on the stretch of Madison Avenue between East 92nd and 93rd streets. In the spring, doors open and tables spill onto the sidewalks. Other noteworthy Madison Avenue eateries include Pascalou (1308 Madison Ave.), Joanna's (1295 Madison Ave.) and Island (1305 Madison Ave.).

Sfoglia

This critics' darling pulls in swarms from Carnegie Hill and beyond, with tables booked weeks in advance. The food is uniformly delicious, but the real star is the restaurant's signature bread: so crusty on the outside, so pillowy on the inside, that it needs neither oil nor butter to draw out its magic (they also sell it by the loaf).
1402 Lexington Ave. 212-831-1402

Sarabeth's
Despite its Laura Ashley aesthetic, which suits the droves of mothers and daughters who brunch here on weekends, Sarabeth's serves up phenomenal breakfasts: the pumpkin waffles with sour cream and raisins and lemon ricotta pancakes are particularly noteworthy. (They also have really, really good pudding.) Check out the bathrooms: one is the size of a small apartment.
1295 Madison Ave. 212-410-7335