Harlem

October 27, 2021

Apply for 27 middle-income loft apartments in East Harlem, from $1,700/month

A lottery is now open for 27 apartments at a new rental building in East Harlem near the East River. Located at 2269 First Avenue, the building, known as East River Lofts, offers unique homes with loft areas and a long list of amenities. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income–between $58,286 annually for a one-person household and $167,570 annually for a five-person household–can apply for units that range from $1,700/month studios to two-bedrooms for $2800/month.
Find out how to apply
October 1, 2021

Asking $4.3M, this historic Harlem brownstone is move-in ready and dressed to impress

This gorgeous Neo-Grec home in Harlem's coveted Mount Morris Park Historic District is perfectly preserved on the exterior, and the interiors, though they've been somewhat updated, retain much of their old-world charm. Located at 102 West 123rd Street and on the market for $4,295,000, the home is composed of an owner's triplex plus ground-floor apartment. Throughout, you'll find loads of original paneling, moldings, and stained glass transoms along with stylish but period-appropriate upgrades.
Take a tour
September 1, 2021

100 years after WWI, all-Black unit Harlem Hellfighters awarded Congressional Gold Medal

One of the most decorated all-Black American regiments is finally getting nationally recognized more than a century after World War I. President Joe Biden last week signed into law the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act, which posthumously honors the 369th Infantry Regiment. Made up mostly of New Yorkers, the Harlem Hellfighters spent 191 days on the front-line trenches, longer than any other American unit. Despite their courage and sacrifice, the soldiers returned home to face racism and discrimination.
Get the details
August 30, 2021

Original woodwork is everywhere at this $5.2M Mount Morris Park townhouse

Located at 11 West 121st Street in the Mount Morris Park Historic District, one of the most beautiful and grand parts of Harlem, this seven-bedroom townhouse has just hit the market for $5.2 million. In addition to its prime location just off Marcus Garvey Park, the 1889 brownstone is chock full of ornate, original woodwork that's been preserved during a renovation by "by two of Harlem's most celebrated artists," according to the listing.
Look around
August 26, 2021

Enter a lottery for 7 affordable co-ops in East Harlem, available to buy for just $209K

An affordable housing lottery has opened for seven income-restricted HDFC co-ops in East Harlem. The two-bedroom apartments, located at 152 East 116th Street, are available to those earning 90 percent of the area median income, which correlates to a two-person household earning between $70,672 and $85,950 annually up to a five-person household earning between $70,672 and $116,010. The estimated sale price of the units is $208,854 and those selected will have to put a minimum of three percent down.
Find out more here
August 20, 2021

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka list their five-story Harlem townhouse for $7.3M

Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka are selling their five-story townhouse in Harlem for $7,325,000. The couple paid $4,000,000 in 2013 for the 19th-century home at 2036 Fifth Avenue, which was renovated by interior designer Trace Lehnhoff in collaboration with architecture firm Povero & Company. Designed for entertaining, the five-bedroom townhouse has a theater, music room, wine cellar, a rear garden, third-floor deck with an outdoor jacuzzi, and an irrigated rooftop.
Take the tour
August 16, 2021

600 affordable homes and new Afro-Latin Music and Arts Center coming to East Harlem

Nearly 600 affordable homes and a new performing arts center are planned for two sites in East Harlem, the New York City Department of Housing and Preservation announced Friday. The projects include a 330-unit residential building with a new arts center for the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance and a 250-unit development that will have an expanded East Harlem Multi-Service Center. The projects are among the first major developments under the East Harlem rezoning, which was approved in 2017.
Find out more
August 5, 2021

Affordable housing lottery opens at Harlem Passive House with tech space, from $362/month

An affordable housing lottery for those earning 30, 60, or 100 percent of the area median income has launched at the new Harlem rental Balton Commons. Located at 267 West 126th Street, the energy-efficient building meets Passive House standards and will feature tech incubator space managed by Silicon Harlem, community facility space, and ground-floor retail. The 32 available units range from $362/month studios to $2,398/three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
June 23, 2021

See inside Manhattanville Market, the new food hall at Columbia’s West Harlem campus

It's been nearly three years since Columbia University was joined by architect Renzo PIano as he unveiled his third and final building at the school's Manhattanville campus. And now, Piano's Jerome L. Greene Science Center will welcome a new ground-floor tenant that's sure to be popular among both students and local residents. Opening Friday, Manhattanville Market is a new food hall from chef Franklin Becker of fast-casual chain the Little Beet.
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June 18, 2021

For $8.2M, a historic Harlem mansion with 10 bedrooms and tons of preserved woodwork

Considered one of the most beautiful and historic parts of Harlem, the Mount Morris Park Historic District is mainly comprised of late-19th-century townhouses, ranging in style from Romanesque Revival to Queen Anne. The most stately are along Mount Morris Park West, like this gorgeous mansion at number 12, currently on the market for $8.2 million. It has nearly 8,000 square feet of interior space, 10 bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and two half baths, and loads of preserved woodwork that harken back to the home's construction in 1888.
See more here
June 15, 2021

With ties to the Harlem Renaissance, Dorrance Brooks Square is designated a historic district

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to designate the Dorrance Brooks Square Historic District, an architecturally intact area of Harlem associated with notable Black Americans. The district is anchored by Dorrance Brooks Square, a small park named for a member of the Harlem Hellfighters who died in active combat during World War I. When it was dedicated by the city in 1925, the square became the first in New York City to honor a Black serviceman. The historic district designated on Tuesday is the first in the city to be named after an African American, according to the LPC.
Get the details
June 1, 2021

For $4.75M, this Harlem penthouse has a rooftop jacuzzi and direct Central Park views

All of the units at this new condo building in Harlem face Central Park, but the available penthouse definitely boasts the best views. Located at 145 Central Park North, a full-service condo building developed by Grid Group Development with designs by GLUCK+, Penthouse B features four bedrooms, three baths, and a private rooftop terrace that overlooks the park and has a jacuzzi. The home is currently asking $4,750,000.
See inside
March 29, 2021

This $2,662/month apartment at Bjarke Ingels’ Harlem rental has robotic furniture

East Harlem rental The Smile is noteworthy for a lot of things--its design by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), a fitness center with spa-like amenities, and the rooftop complete with a plunge pool, multiple whirlpools, and an outdoor movie theater. And now, a handful of its units have further bragging rights, as they've been outfitted with a modular furniture system by Bumblebee Spaces. Using a robotic system that's affixed to the ceiling, the bed, desk, and storage elements can all be easily summoned or stowed-away into the ceiling. The unit is actually asking $3,550 a month, but with four months free on a 16-month lease, the net effective rent is $2,662.
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February 26, 2021

Asking just $350K, this Harlem condo is a compact steal

The $350,000 asking price for this duplex condo in Harlem is one of the lowest we've seen in a while, especially considering it's not tiny at 780 square feet. Located at 161 West 133rd Street, the home has a decent amount of living/dining space on the upper level, while the lower level makes a perfect bedroom suite with a half bath (there's a full bathroom upstairs) and a laundry closet.
Have a look
January 29, 2021

Remembering Cicely Tyson’s Harlem roots

Groundbreaking actress Cicely Tyson passed away yesterday at the age of 96. As the New York Times writes in a beautiful obituary, her "vivid portrayals of strong African-American women shattered racial stereotypes in the dramatic arts of the 1970s, propelling her to stardom and fame as an exemplar for civil rights." While we all look back at Ms. Tyson's incredible life and legacy, we can also look back to her early life, which began in East Harlem. Raised in a fifth-floor railroad flat at 178 East 101st Street, Ms. Tyson helped found the Dance Theatre of Harlem and attended the Abyssinian Baptist Church on West 138th Street for the past 20 years.
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January 15, 2021

New York City’s tributes to Martin Luther King Jr.

While some of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s most memorable moments of his career happened further South, like the Montgomery bus boycott and his "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington, support for his goals hailed first from advocacy organizations based in New York City, like the National Urban League. King held sermons at Riverside Church in Morningside Heights, led a march from Central Park to the United Nations in protest of the Vietnam War, and received a Medallion of Honor from Mayor Robert Wagner. As a way to honor King and his immense impact on the advancement of civil rights, the city has named streets, parks, playgrounds, and more after the icon. On MLK Day this Monday, celebrate by learning about memorials dedicated to him citywide.
Learn more about NYC's MLK memorials here
January 7, 2021

New looks for the Taystee Lab Building, a life science campus opening in Harlem

As the construction of New York City's newest life science building nears completion, we're getting a fresh look at the innovative structure. Developed by the Janus Property Company, the 11-story Taystee Lab Building is part of the Manhattanville Factory District, a West Harlem neighborhood once full of breweries and factories that is now being transformed into a modern commercial and office hub. The 350,000-square-foot Taystee Lab Building, named after the bread bakery that once occupied the site, will provide mixed-use space for life science, academic, and creative tenants.
Get the details
January 6, 2021

Trader Joe’s set to open at major new 125th Street project in Harlem

Trader Joe's will join Target at a major new mixed-use development in Harlem. It will be the grocery store's 13th location in New York City. The $242 million project is known as the Urban League Empowerment Center, as it will be home to a new headquarters for the National Urban League and the state’s first civil rights museum. It will also include 170 affordable and mixed-income apartments and office space for local nonprofits.
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December 28, 2020

A special outdoor dining pavilion in Harlem supports Black-owned businesses

The stately brick homes lining West 138th and 139th Streets between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Boulevards are known as Strivers' Row. The historic Harlem enclave was once home to prominent, wealthy African-American performers, artists, and professionals. More than 100 years later, the neighborhood is once again leading the community with a new outdoor dining and recreation corridor that supports Black-owned businesses. Called the Renaissance Pavilion at Strivers’ Row, the winterized outdoor setup will help local businesses and restaurants serve customers safely through April of next year.
More details here
December 14, 2020

For the first time, East Harlem’s exclusive Rao’s is offering delivery

Noncelebrity New Yorkers will finally be able to taste the iconic Italian food of Rao's, long considered the city's most exclusive restaurant. As part of a joint program led by culture brand Thrillist and ghost kitchen operations company Zuul, the East Harlem institution will offer delivery of its signature dishes for the first time ever. As part of the program, ten New York City restaurants will lead a two-week chef residency with limited-edition menu items available for takeout and delivery.
Details here
November 11, 2020

The Harlem Hellfighters: African-American New Yorkers were some of WWI’s most decorated soldiers

By the end of World War II, the Croix de Guerre, France’s highest military honor, would be awarded to the 369th Infantry Regiment. Better known as the Harlem Hellfighters, the regiment was an all-black American unit serving under French command in World War I, and they spent a stunning 191 days at the Front, more than any other American unit. In that time, they never lost a trench to the enemy or a man to capture. Instead, they earned the respect of both allies and enemies, helped introduce Jazz to France, and returned home to a grateful city where hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers turned out to welcome home 3,000 Hellfighter heroes in a victory parade that stretched from 23rd Street and 5th Avenue to 145th Street and Lenox.
The whole history
November 11, 2020

Tired of roommates? Here are 5 studios in NYC renting for under $2,500/month

Sharing space with roommates in a small New York City apartment has never been easy. But doing so during a pandemic while many are still working from home? Almost impossible. As winter approaches and takes safe outdoor activities with it, now may be a good time to look for your own apartment. And with average rents still down compared to the same period last year, you're more likely to scoop up a decent deal. For those ready to ditch the roommates, we've found five studio apartments perfect for one, from a sunny Sutton Place rental for $1,538/month to a $2,479/month junior one-bedroom with amenities in Gramercy Park.
Details this way
November 10, 2020

See inside Bjarke Ingels’ new Harlem rental The Smile, with apartments from $2,056/month

Living in a starchitect-designed apartment building is now slightly more attainable. The Smile, a new rental tower in East Harlem designed by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group, has officially opened. The 11-story tower at 158 East 126th Street, named for its grin-like shape, contains 233 apartments, 70 of which are affordable. Leasing kicked off in September, with pricing for the market-rate rentals starting at roughly $2,056/month. New photos released this week take us inside the minimalist model residences and the impressive amenity package that is tailored to those working from home, including a co-working studio and a rooftop with a plunge pool, three whirlpools, and an outdoor movie theater.
Find out more
October 8, 2020

6 NYC apartments with outdoor space you can rent for less than $5,000/month

With the impending cool weather likely to limit the hours spent at city parks (which proved to be so necessary this summer) and the current health crisis still raging, New Yorkers will have to find creative ways to get some fresh air safely this fall and winter. For those looking for some outdoor space without having to leave home, we're rounding up the best New York City apartments with outside amenities currently available to rent for $5,000/month and under, whether it's in the form of a private garden, balconies, or a shared roof deck.
See the full list
September 10, 2020

The best apartments in NYC you can rent for less than $3,000/month

With New York City's listing inventory hitting its highest level in 14 years and net effective rents still falling, according to a new report by real estate appraisers at Miller Samuel, this may be the best time for renters to snag a good deal on an apartment. This week, we're taking a look at the best rentals currently on the market for under $3,000/month. From a Brooklyn studio with outdoor space and on-site laundry to a bright corner one-bedroom on the Lower East Side, find out just how far $3,000 will get you in NYC right now.
Find your next place
September 2, 2020

$5.75M brownstone in historic Harlem has a secret garden

The brownstones of Harlem's Mount Morris Park Historic District are some of the most beautiful in Manhattan, like this one at 105 West 122nd Street, which is breathtaking inside and out. This grand, Italianate home was built in 1920 and underwent a gut renovation in 2008 in which historic details like stained glass, woodwork, and moldings were all restored. It also included a new design for the rear garden, which is now a magical retreat. The five-bedroom home is now listed for $5,750,000.
Take the tour
August 12, 2020

Target to open at major mixed-use development in Harlem

A deal to bring the National Urban League back to Harlem was reached last month as part of a mixed-use development project planned for 125th Street. In addition to affordable housing, office space for nonprofits, and the city's first museum dedicated to civil rights, the $242 million project, known as the Urban League Empowerment Center, includes a new 44,000-square-foot Target, as the New York Post first reported.
Get the details