New York’s Upper East Side is often abbreviated to UES for short, but the list of desirable qualities embodied by this historic neighborhood is anything but brief. Once known as the Silk Stocking District thanks to the affluence of its residents, the Upper East Side has long been associated with luxury and affluent living, the epitome of the high-flying New York lifestyle that so many new arrivals chasing the American Dream aspire to achieve. The Upper East Side has seen numerous changes to its architecture and buildings over the years, with mansions and spacious houses giving way to gorgeous apartment buildings as the city began to house ever-increasing numbers of people. The Upper East Side of today boasts condos and luxury apartments that overlook one of the largest historic districts in New York City and it’s often said that if you see an Upper East Side condo for sale, you’re better off grabbing it right away. The property value of the Upper East Side looks like it’s going nowhere but up and you stand to own a piece of one of New York’s most authentic, decadent neighborhoods to call yours and yours alone.
Live and Breathe American History
Although the United States Civil War had disastrous consequences for the Upper East Side because many of the residents depended upon the cotton trade to make a living, the immediate post-war period saw rapid refurbishment and gentrification of the area. Since the dawn of the twentieth century, the Upper East Side has been associated with upper middle-class living, with mansions and townhouses lining its streets and looking over the family-friendly neighborhoods. Since then New York’s population boomed thanks to wave after wave of mass migration and today the Upper East Side is populated by condo dwellers and apartment owners. The area’s reputation for affluence has hardly gone the way of its mansions. The lavish apartment buildings throughout the Upper East Side maintain many of their historic facades, and as a result the Upper East Side often resembles turn-of-the-century New York despite being a thriving home to many modern businesses.
Museums and Culture
This historic value extends to the street once known as Millionaire’s Row, which has since been christened the Museum Mile for its string of museums looming over the hallowed streets below. An Upper East Side condo for sale on Fifth Avenue would be just down the road from countless museums and art galleries, a testament to the historic power of the Upper East Side. It’s impossible to take a step in the neighborhood without treading through the vibrant and extant history of New York City, and you can breathe it in at your leisure in any of the Upper East Side’s boutique cafés and restaurants.
