Murray Hill
Geographic Boundaries
Murray Hill in Manhattan lacks formal municipal boundaries, but common definitions anchor it within midtown's east side. The Murray Hill Neighborhood Association defines its service area as Fifth Avenue to the East River between 26th and 42nd Streets, aligning with ZIP code 10016[1][4]. Conflicting designations include the Landmarks Preservation Commission's 34th-40th Streets between Fifth and Third Avenues, while City Planning maps push western limits to Madison Avenue and eastern to Second Avenue[1]. Community Board 6 resolves this ambiguity by recognizing 34th-40th Streets between Madison Avenue and the East River, explicitly excluding Tudor City north of 40th Street[1].
Businesses and Retail Landscape
Lexington and Third Avenues form Murray Hill's commercial spine, with national chains like Duane Reade coexisting beside specialty shops. Curry Hill (28th-30th Streets near Lexington) anchors South Asian commerce through grocers like Patel Brothers and restaurants such as Dhaba[1]. Upscale dining clusters near Park Avenue, including Michelin-recognized establishments like Sushi Seki Midtown. The neighborhood's residential character supports bespoke services - from 34th Street's flower shops to boutique fitness studios along Second Avenue.
Historical Attractions
The 2002-designated Murray Hill Historic District preserves 114 late 19th-century rowhouses between 35th-38th Streets[4]. Morgan Library & Museum at Madison/36th occupies J.P. Morgan's 1906 library, while the 1890s Sniffen Court - a cobblestoned mews off 36th Street - survives as carriage house conversions[4]. The 1931 Art Deco Daily News Building on East 42nd Street, though technically in Turtle Bay, marks Murray Hill's northern edge with its iconic globe lobby.
Architectural Profile
Prewar dominates south of 38th Street through brownstones and Beaux-Arts mansions like the 1902 Vanderbilt-owned 451 Park Avenue. Postwar construction appears northward with 1960s high-rises like the 38-story 245 Park Avenue. Adaptive reuse projects include converted industrial lofts near Kips Bay's medical corridors. The 1970s brought glass-curtain office towers like 275 Madison, while recent years saw luxury condos such as The Aurene on 37th Street.
Transportation Infrastructure
Grand Central Terminal's eastward reach puts most Murray Hill addresses within a 15-minute walk of subway lines 4/5/6/7/S at 42nd Street. Crosstown M34-SBS buses connect to Hudson Yards, while M15-SBS provides river-to-river access via First/Second Avenues. CitiBike docks cluster near transit hubs, and East River ferries stop at 34th Street's FDR Drive pier.
Adjacent ZIP Codes
Murray Hill's 10016 central code borders 10010 (Gramercy) southwest, 10017 (Turtle Bay) northwest, 10022 (Midtown East) north, and 10010/10003 (East Village) south across 23rd-26th Streets. The disputed eastern boundaries with Kips Bay share 10010 addresses near Bellevue Hospital.
Corporate Presence
Financial firms dominate Park Avenue's canyon between 34th-40th Streets, including AIG at 175 Water Street's southern edge. Technology companies prefer converted office stock near Grand Central, while non-profits cluster near UN missions east of Third Avenue. Notable tenants include Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group at 1251 Avenue of the Americas and Chanel's corporate offices at 9 West 57th Street's northern periphery.