What Is the Largest Apartment Building in the US

With more than 5,000 residents and over 1,700 rental units, the Manhattan Apartments at Starrett City in Brooklyn, New York, is widely recognized as the largest apartment building in the United States by occupancy and floor area. This dense, mixed-use complex demonstrates how large-scale residential planning integrates transportation access, open space, and commercial infrastructure in a single property. This guide explains how Starrett City achieves such scale, compares it to other major apartment compounds, and clarifies common questions about ownership, management, and daily life in one of the nation’s biggest multifamily communities.

What Makes a Building the Largest

When identifying the largest apartment building in the US, the most reliable metric is the total number of rental units rather than height, square footage, or a campus of towers counted separately. Starrett City’s approximately 1,736 rental apartments across a contiguous campus give it the highest single-building unit count by this measure. Other properties, such as Parkchester in the Bronx or Co-op City in the Bronx, consist of multiple distinct structures on a shared site, so they are typically classified as developments or neighborhoods rather than a single building. By focusing on units within one managed structure, Starrett City’s scale becomes clear, enabling direct comparisons with other top multifamily properties.

Key Comparisons in the US

• Starrett City (Brooklyn, NY) — approximately 1,736 units in one managed complex, widely cited as the largest single apartment building by occupancy.
• Parkchester (Bronx, NY) — roughly 12,000 residents across multiple towers, organized as a large residential community rather than one building.
• Co-op City (Bronx, NY) — one of the world’s largest residential developments, comprising many distinct buildings and therefore not classified as a single apartment building.
• Other large properties, including suburban garden-style apartment communities, typically offer hundreds of units but fall short of Starrett City’s scale under the single-building definition.

Location and Neighborhood Context

Starrett City is situated in the East New York neighborhood of Brooklyn, adjacent to the Belt Parkway and near the historic Pennsylvania Avenue commercial corridor. Its campus sits on a former industrial site that was transformed in the late 1970s into one of the country’s most ambitious multifamily projects. The location was selected in part because of available land near existing transit, allowing the development to integrate the Livonia Avenue station on the BMT Canarsie Line. Proximity to major roadways, ongoing public transit investments, and neighborhood service providers supports daily life for thousands of households.

Site Planning and Design Features

At this scale, site planning decisions affect thousands of residents. Starrett City’s layout clusters buildings to preserve open courtyards, incorporates perimeter landscaping, and positions community facilities such as schools and retail near transit nodes. The original design emphasized defensible space principles and pedestrian circulation, which remain relevant in contemporary large-scale housing strategies. These choices illustrate how dense residential campuses can balance openness, security, and accessibility when planned at an extremely large size.

Scale by the Numbers

The following table summarizes the verified scale and key attributes of Starrett City based on widely reported public sources and municipal records. It focuses on unit count, resident population, and primary characteristics that distinguish it from other large developments.

Ownership, Management, and Operations

Starrett City is privately owned and operated by a management entity that oversees leasing, maintenance, and on-site services at this large apartment building in the US. Property management at this scale involves coordinating thousands of leases, managing extensive grounds and building systems, and complying with local housing regulations. Because of its size, the community often attracts attention from researchers, policymakers, and the media, which can affect public perception and ongoing investment in the neighborhood.

Operational Considerations at This Scale

• Leasing and turnover: With so many units, vacancy management and move-in logistics require sophisticated systems.
• Maintenance and capital projects: Routine repairs and large-scale renovations must be scheduled to minimize disruption.
• Security and safety: Comprehensive on-site security measures and emergency protocols are essential for resident confidence.
• Community services: On-site retail, schools, and recreation facilities support daily needs without requiring long trips.

How It Compares to Other Large Residential Properties

While Starrett City is the largest single apartment building in the US, it is useful to distinguish between standalone buildings and multi-tower campuses. Parkchester and Co-op City, both in the Bronx, involve many towers and far more total housing units, but they are planned and marketed as communities rather than one cohesive building. In terms of height, several high-rise residential towers in cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles can exceed Starrett City’s peak elevation, yet their unit counts remain lower. These distinctions clarify why Starrett City holds the top spot for unit count in a single structure while other developments claim different titles such as largest residential campus or tallest residential towers.

Notable Comparisons at a Glance

Daily Life and Community Experience

Living in the nation’s largest apartment building involves navigating shared corridors, frequent elevator use, and access to centralized amenities. Schools, childcare centers, and small retail clusters within Starrett City reduce the need for long trips, which is especially valuable for families and older residents. At the same time, density requires thoughtful traffic management, noise control, and coordination among property staff and local authorities. The scale of the community also supports active resident organizations and tenant groups, which can engage with management and local government on services and improvements.

Considerations for Residents

• Transportation: Proximity to subway stations and major roads affects commute times and car ownership needs.
• Amenities: On-site retail, fitness spaces, and community rooms contribute to quality of life in a very large building.
• Noise and privacy: Unit layout, building materials, and floor plans influence acoustic comfort and personal space.
• Stability and investment: Long-term property management and capital improvements help maintain property value and resident satisfaction.

Why This Distinction Matters

Understanding what counts as a single apartment building helps consumers, researchers, and policymakers compare housing options and plan infrastructure. Clear definitions support better investment decisions, more accurate housing statistics, and improved communication about the scale and character of large residential communities.

For residents, prospective renters, and professionals working in housing and urban planning, Starrett City remains the definitive example of the largest apartment building in the United States under the most commonly used definition. Its ongoing management and community investments ensure it will continue to set the standard for scale in multifamily housing.