Pet Friendly? East 23rd between First and Second
Looking for Pet Friendly Apartments and Neighborhoods.
People who work at some of New York City’s most notable hospitals might want to consider living in one of the buildings on East 23rd Street between First and Second Avenues. This stretch of real estate is within easy walking distance of NYU / Langone Medical Center, Belleview, Beth Israel, the VA Medical Center, NYU’s Dental School, and the Hospital for Joint Diseases.
Notable residences include: Tempo at 300 E. 23rd, the Foundry at 310 E. 23rd, the New Amsterdam at 320 E. 23rd, Gramercy Starck at 340 E. 23rd, and the Post Luminaria, whose entrance is around the corner at 385 First Avenue. (There will be more info about these buildings at the end of the post.)

With one exception, these are all pet friendly apartment buildings. Tempo permits one pet per unit, there’s no weight limit, and some breeds, like Pit Bulls, need approval by the board. The Foundry allows dogs only, and for purchasers only; there’s no weight limit and no breed restrictions. I chatted with a dog owner who lives in the New Amsterdam and he said that the building is changing its house rules to a “no pet policy.” The Gramercy Starck has a very liberal pet policy with no weight or breed restrictions. And the Post Luminaria allows pets up to 80 pounds and certain breeds are restricted.
There are several doggy daycare centers nearby, including Happy Dogs, Wiggly Paws, and Biscuits and Bath.

There are a number of pet stores within walking distance, including Petland Discounts, Canis Minor Gramercy Park, Whiskers Holistic Pet Care, Petopia, PetCo, and Pet Central.

According to Vet Locator, there are twenty-eight veterinarians’ offices less than a mile away from this block. Seven of those fall within a five-to-twenty-minute-walk radius from the intersection of First Avenue and 23rd Street.
The closest 24-hour emergency veterinary office is Fifth Avenue Veterinary Specialists, located at 1 West 15th Street (right at the corner of Fifth Avenue.) Fifteenth Street runs east-to-west, so plan accordingly if you have to rush your dog there by car!
The closest dog run is located at Stuyvesant Square, located at East 15th Street and Second Avenue (this is Bodhi’s dog park and my personal favorite!) This run has limited hours. It’s open weekday mornings from 7 AM to 10 AM and on weekday evenings from 6 PM to 11. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays it’s open from 7 AM to 11 PM.

Also nearby is the popular “Jemmy’s Run,” the dog run at Madison Square Park. Slightly further afield is another popular run at Tompkins Square Park in the East Village.
It’s also a very short walk over to the East River Promenade, which is a great pet friendly place to take your pooch for a scenic stroll. Longer walks down to the Williamsburg Bridge are especially fun.
