History of 142 East 31st Street, Manhattan, NYC

Located between Lexington and 3rd Avenues in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, 142 East 31st Street was originally constructed as a brick stable in the early 20th century. The building was built in 1920 and spans six stories plus a full cellar and a usable roof.

The floor construction was designed by John Roebling, famed for his engineering work and supervision of the Brooklyn Bridge construction. This historic detail underscores the building's architectural significance and robustness.

Today, the structure functions as a six-story parking garage made of steel, brick, and concrete, with a total lot size of 14,418 square feet. The building contains approximately 80,190 square feet above grade, complemented by a 14,000 square foot cellar, with potential for an additional 14,400 square feet on the roof if permitted, culminating in a total usable area of about 107,000 square feet.

The building’s floors are engineered to carry a live load capacity of 120 pounds per square foot. Ceiling heights vary from 10 feet 10 inches in the cellar to 13 feet 5 inches on the ground floor and approximately 12 feet on the upper floors. A notable structural feature is the truss system on the second floor, allowing for wide-open, column-free space on the ground floor.

Situated on a relatively quiet street just south of Murray Hill, 142 East 31st Street enjoys proximity to the Queens Midtown Tunnel and the FDR Drive at 34th Street. It is also within walking distance of several subway lines and transit depots, making it accessible and convenient.

142 East 31st Street, Manhattan, New York City

Located in the Kips Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, 142 East 31st Street is a commercial building constructed in 1920. It comprises six stories plus a full cellar and a usable roof, originally built as a brick stable with floor construction designed by John Roebling, renowned for his engineering of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Building Overview

• Building Type: Commercial (formerly parking garage)
• Stories: 6 plus cellar and roof
• Lot Size: 14,418 square feet
• Total Buildable Area: Approximately 107,000 square feet including cellar and roof
• Zoning: R8B
• Construction Materials: Steel, brick, and concrete
• Slab-to-slab ceiling heights range from 10'10" in the cellar to 13'5" on the ground floor and about 12' on upper floors
• Floor live load capacity: 120 pounds per square foot
• Features wide-open column-free ground floor space enabled by a second-floor truss system (removable if desired)

Location & Accessibility

This property is situated between Lexington and 3rd Avenues on a relatively quiet street just south of Murray Hill. It is conveniently close to the Queens Midtown Tunnel entrance and exits and near the FDR Drive at 34th Street. Multiple subway lines and depots are within walking distance, with transit and walk scores both at 100, highlighting excellent accessibility.

Use & Potential

Originally designed as a parking garage, the building can accommodate uses such as large medical facilities, schools, offices, retail, community facilities, or residential spaces within the R8B zoning district. The roof is currently used for parking and accessed by two freight elevators, with potential for conversion into a rooftop garden or additional usable space if permitted.

Neighborhood & Amenities

Located in Kips Bay, the building is near educational institutions such as PS 116 Mary Lindley Murray (PK-5), JHS 104 Simon Baruch (6-8), and Unity Center For Urban Technologies (9-12). The area offers excellent transit access and neighborhood amenities suitable for commercial or mixed-use development.

Amenities at 142 East 31st Street, Manhattan, NYC

• Building Size: Approximately 107,000 square feet including cellar and garden terraces
• Structure: 6 stories plus full cellar and usable roof
• Ceiling Heights: Ranging from 10’10” in cellar to 13’5” on ground floor; about 12’ on upper floors
• Live Load Capacity: 120 pounds per square foot on floors
• Open Floor Plans with possibility for wide-open, column-free spaces on ground floor
• Roof: Currently used for parking, accessible by 2 freight elevators, potential for rooftop garden
• Windows on front, rear, and east/west walls, allowing natural light
• Location Advantages: Close proximity to Queens Midtown Tunnel, FDR Drive at 34th Street, multiple subway lines, and depots
• Zoning: R8B, allowing various uses including medical, school, office, retail, community facility, and residential conversions

142 East 31st Street, Manhattan, NYC - Office Tenants Rented / Leased

142 East 31st Street is a 6-story office building located in the Murray Hill neighborhood of Manhattan, NYC. The building offers office and retail space with a total usable area of approximately 90,000 to 107,000 square feet including cellar and roof terraces. It was originally constructed as a parking garage with steel, brick, and concrete, and has been designed to accommodate large office layouts and flexible tenant uses including medical and education facilities.

Available Space Characteristics

• Open floor plan layouts, suitable for 38 to 120 people per floor.
• Finished ceiling heights of about 12 feet on upper floors, up to 13’5” on ground floor, and about 10’10” in cellar.
• Shell spaces available across floors 1 through 6, each floor approximately 15,000 SF.
• Each floor has a live load capacity of 120 pounds per square foot.
• Potential for column-free space on ground floor due to truss system on 2nd floor.
• Windows located on front, rear, and east/west walls providing natural light.

Floor Details

Location & Accessibility

Located in Murray Hill, Manhattan, 142 East 31st Street sits on a quiet street just south of Murray Hill, close to the Queens Midtown Tunnel and FDR Drive access at 34th Street. Nearby subway lines and depots make it highly accessible. The building is zoned R8B, allowing for a variety of office, retail, medical, and community facility uses.

Location

142 East 31st Street is located in Manhattan, NYC, between Lexington Avenue and 3rd Avenue, just south of Murray Hill.

Cross Streets

The building sits on East 31st Street between Lexington Avenue and 3rd Avenue.

Transportation

Public transit options near 142 East 31st Street include:

• Subway lines: 6, 6X, Q, W, 4, B, D, E, F, FX
• Train: Harlem Line, PATH
• Bus routes: BXM4, M34A-SBS, M55, QM10, QM12, QM24, BXM3, M1, M2, M3, 28

Nearby subway stations and stops include 33rd Street, 34th St-Herald Sq, Lexington Avenue/East 31st Street, and Madison Avenue/East 31st Street, all within a short walking distance.

Highway Access

The location is close to the entrance and exits of the Queens Midtown Tunnel and near the FDR Drive at 34th Street, providing convenient highway access.

• Empire Office leased 26,700 SF at 105 Madison Ave
• Syracuse University leased 20,000 SF at 136 Madison Ave
• Hunter Roberts Interiors leased 10,000 SF at 102 Madison Ave
• Transit Wireless leased 8,268 SF at 192 Lexington Ave
• Lightspeed Holdings LLC leased 5,000 SF at 148 Madison Ave
• Digital Force, Ltd. leased 2,866 SF at 149 Madison Ave
• JC Edward Corp. leased 2,350 SF at 185 Madison Ave
• Brightstar Healthcare leased 1,750 SF at 180 Madison Ave
• n/a leased 1,512 SF at 183 Madison Ave
• Penn Mutual Life Insurance leased 0 SF at 2 Park Ave

• Domus Design Collection leased 27,950 SF at 136 Madison Ave
• Artisanal Fromagerie Bistro leased 10,700 SF at 387 Park Avenue South
• Le Pain Quotidien leased 6,050 SF at 3 Park Ave
• New York Doctors Walk-In Urgent Care Center leased 2,717 SF at 205 Lexington Ave
• Irmat Pharmacy leased 2,150 SF at 2 Park Ave
• Saint Petersburg Global Trade House leased 1,704 SF at 261 Fifth Ave
• Terrence Mahon leased 1,521 SF at 381 Park Avenue South
• Myung Yi leased 0 SF at 148 Madison Ave