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60 United Nations Plaza, a 14‑story corner co‑op overlooking the East River, is now listed for the first time in more than 50 years. The 2,000‑sq‑ft unit, which once belonged to Senator Robert F. Kennedy, is priced at $1.79 million. The kitchen still houses the original oven and appliances, and the bathrooms retain their original marble finish—details that are not shown in the current photos.
Kennedy bought the 14th‑floor apartment in 1965, the same year the building opened. He was slated to move in that fall, and the unit’s floor‑to‑ceiling windows—spanning 48 feet—offer sweeping views of the UN gardens. The mid‑century modern décor has remained largely untouched, preserving the sleek aesthetic that has been described as “vintage 1960s mid‑century modern.” The building itself was designed by Wallace K. Harrison and Max Abramovitz, architects also responsible for the UN complex and Lincoln Center, and features a bronze‑and‑glass curtain wall and a soaring lobby.
The co‑op’s layout currently includes two bedrooms, a living area, and a kitchen with a cozy eat‑in nook. A bonus room can be converted back into a third bedroom, a formal dining room, or a home office. The master suite faces the UN and the river, and boasts three closets, one of which is walk‑in. The building offers concierge service, doormen, a gym, a lounge, and a rooftop deck with panoramic views. Monthly maintenance is $5,768.90.
When Kennedy purchased the apartment, the asking price was $68,000 plus an annual maintenance fee of about $6,500. At that time, the building was home to a roster of high achievers, including Johnny Carson, Truman Capote, David Susskind, and Cliff Robertson. The property was later listed by Ethel Kennedy in the summer of 1968, just months after her husband’s assassination, at an estimated $175,000—roughly $1.66 million in today’s dollars.
The unit’s history is intertwined with significant moments of the 1960s. Two years after President John F. Kennedy’s murder, RFK was campaigning for the presidency. In 1968, following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., he urged his supporters to choose love and compassion over hate and revenge. He was later killed in June 1968, leaving the co‑op as a silent witness to that turbulent era.
For buyers who appreciate architectural heritage, the residence offers a direct connection to the iconic design of the UN complex and the storied past of its former occupants. The combination of preserved mid‑century features, expansive river views, and a prime East River location makes this co‑op a rare opportunity in Manhattan’s real‑estate market.
