Facility Overview
The parking garage at 530-546 E 73rd St (operated under the Icon Parking banner at One East River Place) is a secure, professionally staffed, multi-level indoor parking facility located in Manhattan's Lenox Hill / Upper East Side neighborhood. Positioned on the south (right-hand) side of East 73rd Street between York Avenue and the Franklin D. Roosevelt East River Drive, the garage provides convenient sheltered parking in a quiet residential cul-de-sac adjacent to the East River. The garage operates on a full-service valet model, where professional attendants intake, park, and retrieve your vehicle, maximizing efficiency and peace of mind.
Vehicle suitability is an essential consideration when planning your trip to this garage. The facility maintains a strict vertical clearance limit of 6 feet 6 inches (6'6" / 1.98 m), making it well-suited for standard compact cars, sedans, station wagons, and standard-height crossover SUVs. However, raised full-size pickup trucks, commercial cargo vans, high-roof conversion vans, and passenger vehicles with roof racks or cargo carriers will not clear the overhead entrance. Additionally, drivers should note that vehicles exceeding standard dimensions (specifically over 65 inches in height and 180 inches in length) are classified as oversized and incur a daily surcharge upon exit. The facility also enforces operational policies restricting exotic/super-luxury vehicles and Rivian electric models.
Prime Location & Nearby Attractions
Located on the far eastern edge of Lenox Hill, 530-546 E 73rd St is ideally situated for medical visitors, local residents, cultural patrons, and business travelers alike:
- World-Class Medical Corridor: The garage sits within walking distance of Manhattan's premier hospital cluster, including the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) at 535 E 70th St (5-minute walk), Weill Cornell Medical Center / NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital at 525 E 68th St (7-minute walk), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) at 1275 York Ave (6-minute walk), and The Rockefeller University campus (7-minute walk).
- Sotheby's Auction House: Located just one block west at 1334 York Ave (at East 72nd St), world-renowned art auction house Sotheby's is a quick 2-to-3-minute walk away, making this garage a preferred spot during high-profile auctions and gallery viewings.
- Waterfront Parks & Recreation: Immediate access to the East River Esplanade and Andrew Haswell Green Park is steps away at the foot of East 73rd Street, while John Jay Park (with public swimming pool, basketball courts, and scenic walkways) is only three blocks north.
- Upper East Side Dining & Shopping: The bustling avenues of 1st and 2nd Avenues are minutes away, lined with popular neighborhood bistros, trattorias, bakeries, and retail boutiques.
Access, Navigation & Transit Connectivity
Navigating to the garage is straightforward due to its exceptional proximity to the FDR Drive. Drivers traveling southbound can exit at 71st/73rd Street, while northbound drivers can exit at East 61st or East 71st Street and loop directly via York Avenue onto East 73rd Street. Because East 73rd Street is a eastbound one-way corridor terminating near the East River, traffic is generally lighter and calmer than typical midtown cross-streets, allowing for an unhurried arrival and easy drop-off at the garage's prominent entryway.
For commuters transitioning to public transit, the location connects smoothly to Manhattan's subway and bus grid. The 72nd Street Subway Station (serving the Q line on the Second Avenue Subway) is located at 72nd Street and 2nd Avenue, approximately an 8-to-10-minute walk (0.4 miles) away, offering one-seat rides to Midtown, Times Square, and Downtown Manhattan. Closer still are city bus lines, notably the M31 (running along York Avenue) and the M72 (providing cross-town service across 72nd Street directly to Central Park and the Upper West Side).
Facility Amenities & Key Features
- 24/7 Operations: Fully staffed and accessible around the clock, accommodating early-morning medical appointments and late-night returns.
- Full Valet Service: Attendants handle vehicle maneuvering and retrieval, ensuring stress-free parking in tight urban quarters.
- Covered & Weather-Protected: Subterranean indoor structure shielding vehicles from rain, snow, salt, and intense sun.
- Modern Reservation Integration: Fully integrated with online booking apps such as SpotHero and BestParking for guaranteed reservation holds and barcode mobile entry.
- Security & Monitoring: Continuously monitored premises equipped with interior illumination and 24-hour on-site personnel.
- Direct Waterfront Access: Pedestrian-friendly access directly outward to riverfront pedestrian promenades.
Ideal For
- Hospital & Medical Visitors: Patients, families, and healthcare professionals visiting Weill Cornell, HSS, and Memorial Sloan Kettering who desire secure, reliable parking close to hospital pavilions.
- Sotheby's Auction Attendees: Art collectors, gallery patrons, and preview attendees looking for parking within a short two-block radius of the auction showroom.
- Neighborhood Residents & Guests: Local apartment dwellers in One East River Place and nearby residential co-ops seeking daily or long-term monthly vehicle storage.
- East River Commuters: Motorists commuting down the FDR Drive looking to park on the periphery of Midtown to avoid congested avenues.
Visitor & Driver Tips
- Book in Advance Online: Secure your space through reservation apps before arrival to lock in discounted digital rates and ensure a guaranteed stall during peak morning hospital hours.
- Account for Oversize Vehicles: If your vehicle is an SUV, crossover, or minivan taller than 65 inches or longer than 180 inches, be prepared for an oversize vehicle surcharge payable at exit.
- Note Vehicle Exclusions: Do not attempt to park Rivian electric models, exotic sports cars, or vehicles over 6'6" in height, as they cannot be accepted by the garage staff.
- Keep Your Claim Ticket Safe: Have your mobile booking barcode ready upon arrival and keep the paper valet retrieval ticket handy to speed up departure upon return.