An Empire State view to give the "suburbs-curious" Garcias amnesia

Last time, we met the Garcias—newlyweds who have some things figured out (they love being together and are ready to put down roots) but are still weighing others (kids or pets ). They work in Midtown and they’re a little “suburbs-curious”—as one of our dear subscribers phrased it recently.

Today, we’re kicking off our property tour—and our first stop happens to be right in Midtown. Here’s a link to the detailed methodology, and you’ll find a mini version at the bottom.

Property #1: 7 East 35th Street #14A, New York, NY 10016

A 1,460 sq ft duplex co-op in Midtown South featuring:
2 bedrooms
2.5 baths
Private balcony with Empire State Building views
Open-concept living space
Wood-burning fireplace
In-unit laundry
Custom built-ins

The primary bedroom is en-suite, and the second bedroom can flex as an office or guest room—perfect for work-from-homers or out-of-town in-laws.

Located in The Antoinette—a full-service building with:
24-hour doorman
Live-in super
Bike room
Elevator access

Steps from Grand Central, Bryant Park, and Fifth Ave shopping.

Details on Property #1

Property Type: Co-op
Location: Manhattan / Midtown

Commute Breakdown
Train Stop: Grand Central Terminal (0 on the Harlem Line)
Distance from Station: 0.4 miles | 8 min walk
Train Ride to GCT: 0 min
Total Monthly Commute Time: 6 hours
Monthly Commuter Cost: $0.00 (Train only)

Financial Summary

List Price: $995,000.00
Monthly Mortgage (P&I): $5,031.00
Maintenance/Carrying Costs: $4,079.00
Utilities (Internet & Electric): $200.00
Total Monthly Cost: $9,310.00

Comments
First thing you might be asking: “Aren’t the Garcias taking the train?” Fair! But let’s not overlook the big benefit here—they could walk to work. No train. No stress. No Metro-North schedule to chase.

A Midtown apartment checks their box for a walkable lifestyle, puts them near their offices, and lands them just blocks from Grand Central—our central hub for commute comparisons.

This one’s got some rare Midtown charm:
Duplex layout
Great light and potential views
Small outdoor space
Fireplace (yes, really)

Methodology
I identified properties priced at or below $1,000,000 near Harlem Line stops (plus one LES subway wild card) to compare commute time, costs, and ownership overhead. Assumptions include consistent walking pace, standard fares, and normalized monthly costs across property types.

Full methodology here.