Townhouses

Our 4,700sqft: How European expats found a family home in a historic Hamilton Heights brownstone

Our ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to Laurence and Antoine’s 19th-century Hamilton Heights townhouse. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

December 4, 2018

Our 4,700sqft: How European expats found a family home in a historic Hamilton Heights brownstone

France natives Laurence and Antoine moved to NYC in 2006, after spending 12 years in Frankfurt, Germany. Antoine's career as a software developer brought the family of six across the pond, where they landed in Turtle Bay. But once they got acclimated, they knew they wanted a neighborhood with more character. So eight years ago, they bought a historic brownstone in Hamilton Heights. When asked if they miss anything about living in Midtown they quickly say "no," as they've fallen in love with Hamilton Heights' charm, convenience, and friendly neighborhood feel. But take away what's outside, and Laurence and Antoine's home alone would be enough to make any New Yorker fall in love. Built in 1890, the 21-foot-wide brownstone retains almost all of its original details, such as elaborately carved moldings and fireplaces (five, to be exact), cozy window seats, and jaw-dropping foliated screens in the master bedroom. However, with their children now out of the house, the couple is ready to downsize and has put their home on the market. But before they depart, Laurence and Antoine invited us in for a personal tour.
Have a look around

This $8M Chelsea townhouse has a soap opera past, a new renovation, and a flexible future

December 3, 2018

This $8M Chelsea townhouse has a soap opera past, a new renovation, and a flexible future

By Michelle Cohen

Back in 2015, 6sqft featured this charm-filled brick townhouse for sale at 426 West 22nd Street; the 19-foot-wide beauty, built in 1843, was listed for $9.5 million by Emmy-winning soap opera actress Ellen Parker, best known for a long run as Maureen Reardon Bauer on “Guiding Light.” The West Chelsea home on a tree-lined block near Clement Clarke Moore Park was divided into three residences for lots of options. The home has been renovated since then, still-charming but updated and restored, with modern finishes and fixtures. It's back on the market for $7.995 million–possibilities intact.
Take a look

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Upper East Side townhouse once home to Michael Jackson and Marc Chagall sells for $32M

November 2, 2018

Upper East Side townhouse once home to Michael Jackson and Marc Chagall sells for $32M

By Michelle Cohen

The six-story Beaux-Arts mansion at 4 East 74th Street on the Upper East Side has been home to several prominent occupants throughout history from President Grover Cleveland’s law partner to artist Marc Chagall; Michael Jackson rented the house the '90s, and it served as the exterior of Nate Archibald’s residence in “Gossip Girl.” According to The New York Times and property records, the 16-room mansion sold in October for nearly $32 million.
Have a last look

Colorful $13M East Village building could be the perfect modernist townhouse

October 26, 2018

Colorful $13M East Village building could be the perfect modernist townhouse

By Michelle Cohen

This unusual listing at 56 East 1st Street on a picturesque and perfectly-located East Village block offers a wealth of cool options for anyone willing to pay its $13.25 million ask. The 22-foot-wide, three-unit property spans 6,090 square feet over five stories. Built in 2002 by CTA Architects, the eye-catching modern building is distinguished by double-height, red-steel-framed windows. In its current configuration, with a commercial space on the ground floor, the building could be an investment opportunity, it could be converted to a grand single-family townhouse or a combination of both.
Plenty of space, modern interiors

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At $4.8M, this historic Upper West Side townhouse costs less than a Midtown condo

October 24, 2018

At $4.8M, this historic Upper West Side townhouse costs less than a Midtown condo

By Michelle Cohen

With its crimson brick facade, stepped gables, and graceful archways, this four-story 1886 townhouse at 383 West End Avenue is one in a row of eight. It's a legal two-family dwelling (so there's rental income potential) currently being used as a single-family home. The building's stained glass transoms, original fireplaces, and winding staircase reflect the artistry and Victorian stylings of designer Frederick B. White. Currently asking $4.795 million, it's a house in one of the city's most beloved neighborhoods with plenty of room for living, and it rings in at far less than the average luxury condominium, where you probably wouldn't even get a sunken garden and a magical third-floor terrace.
Gorgeous townhouse tour, this way

Contemporary ‘upside down’ townhouse in Boerum Hill asks $1.6M

October 22, 2018

Contemporary ‘upside down’ townhouse in Boerum Hill asks $1.6M

By Michelle Cohen

Located in the quintessentially Brooklyn neighborhood of Boerum Hill, this contemporary-design carriage house is a dramatic example of loft-meets-townhouse on a landmarked block. Seeking $1.649 million, the home at 139 Bond Street offers modern perks that you'd expect in a new apartment, such as split-system A/C and a washer-dryer, with the added bonus of multi-level townhouse living and a gorgeous roof deck
Take a look

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$16M Upper West Side mansion with NYC’s third-largest ballroom will also accept bitcoin

October 19, 2018

$16M Upper West Side mansion with NYC’s third-largest ballroom will also accept bitcoin

By Michelle Cohen

This 10,720-square-foot, 32-foot-wide mansion with Riverside Park as a backyard and river views was built in 1879 as part of the Upper West Side's "gold coast." When hedge fund manager Roy Niederhoffer purchased the home for $12.9 million in 2013, it had been split up into multiple units. Niederhoffer restored the six-story home to its original mansion-style glory and is now selling the home for just under $16 million. The grand home at 40 Riverside Drive is possessed of the city's third largest ballroom in a private house, and as Bloomberg reports, the seller is accepting bitcoin, as he's a fan of the cryptocurrency.
Tour this impressive West Side manse

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This $8M Carroll Gardens home is five stories of Brooklyn townhouse fantasy, elevator included

October 19, 2018

This $8M Carroll Gardens home is five stories of Brooklyn townhouse fantasy, elevator included

By Michelle Cohen

Anyone with Brooklyn brownstone dreams will be entranced by this 5,500+ square-foot Carroll Gardens townhouse whose considered design and addition of every possible luxury of modern living come courtesy of a thorough reconstruction by CWB architects and Manhattan-based interior designer Tamara Eaton. Even better news: 2,000 square feet of outdoor space and an elevator to access all of it. The six-bedroom residence at 32 1st Place, which has been featured in New York Cottages & Gardens, rings in at $8 million.
Take the grand tour

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‘Law & Order’ leading lady Mariska Hargitay lists stylish UWS brownstone for $10.75M

October 17, 2018

‘Law & Order’ leading lady Mariska Hargitay lists stylish UWS brownstone for $10.75M

It's hard to believe actress Mariska Hargitay has been starring as NYPD Lieutenant Olivia Benson on "Law & Order: SVU" for nearly two decades, but when it comes to her living situation, she likes to change things up a bit more. She and her husband, actor Peter Hermann, bought a stunning Upper West Side brownstone for $10.7 million in 2012, and they've now put it on the market for $10.75 million. Hermann told the Wall Street Journal that they've decided to sell because their "family needs have changed," but they'd remain in the neighborhood. The six-story, 6,000+ square-foot home is located at 45 West 84th Street, between Central Park West and Columbus, and is "loaded with color and vibrancy,” according to Hermann, thanks to a collaboration with designer Jeffrey Bilhuber.
Take the grand tour

The Village’s beloved pink townhouse lists as an $11M fixer-upper

October 15, 2018

The Village’s beloved pink townhouse lists as an $11M fixer-upper

By Michelle Cohen

Often noted for its unusual studio window and bright coral hue, the five-story townhouse at 114 Waverly Place was built in 1826 as part of a row of nine houses constructed for Thomas R. Mercein, who was at the time city comptroller and president of New York Equitable Fire Insurance Company. A dramatic overhaul in 1920 designed by William Sanger for portrait painter Murray P. Bewley is responsible for the building's quirkier design elements, which are credited to a German Expressionist style known as Jugendstil, a mix of English Art Nouveau and Japanese applied arts. This unusual Village house is now on the market for $11 million–with a few caveats.
Check it out

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For $29M, an Upper East Side townhouse designed by the historic architects of NYC’s elite

October 15, 2018

For $29M, an Upper East Side townhouse designed by the historic architects of NYC’s elite

The NYC architectural firm of Delano & Aldrich designed some of the turn-of-the-century's most sophisticated structures, from the Knickerbocker and Colony Clubs to the Rockefeller's upstate estate Kykuit to a slew of uptown mansions. At the time, they veered away from the popular Beaux-Arts style and popularized an Anglo-American mix of Neo-Classical and -Federal designs. One such example is this grand townhouse at 15 East 88th Street, just listed for $28.8 million. As the listing states, it's one of their few intact mansions remaining in private hands. And since it's had only a few owners over the years, it retains its historic details and stately facades.
See more

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Troubled Upper East Side mansion tries again for $88M after record-breaking deal fell through

October 11, 2018

Troubled Upper East Side mansion tries again for $88M after record-breaking deal fell through

By Devin Gannon

Fourth time's the charm? A 20,000-square-foot townhouse on the Upper East Side with its own movie theater and a panic room has hit the market again for $88 million. While the palatial home at 12 East 69th Street went into contract last December for $80 million, which at the time would have been the most expensive townhouse ever sold in New York City, the deal fell through this summer. The seven-bedroom home, built in 1884, was previously listed in 2013 for $114 million and then for $98 million in 2014. But if you're not ready to commit permanently to the mansion lifestyle, the home is also available to rent for $175,000.
See inside

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For $1.7M this designer-renovated Kensington townhouse is a gorgeous condo alternative

October 8, 2018

For $1.7M this designer-renovated Kensington townhouse is a gorgeous condo alternative

By Michelle Cohen

Located on a tree-lined block in Brooklyn's Kensington neighborhood at 214 East 9th Street, a short walk from Prospect Park and near the Beverley Road Q subway, this single-family townhouse is the picture of considered design. Framed by turn-of-the-century bones, the home's four floors–including the fully-finished basement–have been given a modern renovation that's as livable as it is pretty. The four-bedroom house is for sale by its owners–professional designer/developers who have lived in the home since purchasing it in 2015 for $780,000.
Take a look at what good design can do

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Bradley Cooper drops $13.5M on a Greenwich Village townhouse with a garden oasis

Photo of Bradley Cooper via Wikimedia

October 5, 2018

Bradley Cooper drops $13.5M on a Greenwich Village townhouse with a garden oasis

Bradley Cooper purchased a $13.5 million Greenwich Village townhouse in May, the Wall Street Journal just reported. The actor, who currently stars in the new movie "A Star is Born," registered the property under the "Cool Trust" to keep the sale hush-hush, city documents reveal. The home at 224 West 10th Street contains six bedrooms, a 1,100-square-foot garden oasis, and plenty of romantic, rustic details. And Bradley seems to be enjoying all the Village has to offer; a source tells us he dined last Friday at Fifty, a new American-South American restaurant on Commerce Street.
See Cooper's coop

$3.5M brownstone in Carroll Gardens shows off its architectural bones with eccentric decor

October 1, 2018

$3.5M brownstone in Carroll Gardens shows off its architectural bones with eccentric decor

By Devin Gannon

In the picture-perfect Brooklyn neighborhood of Carroll Gardens, a charming four-bedroom townhouse at 207 President Street has hit the market for $3.475 million. Built in 1890, the home boasts stunning architectural details like arched doorways, raw ceiling beams, exposed ductwork, rustic brick walls, and tin ceilings, as well as coveted outdoor space and a deck that overlooks the garden.
Take the tour

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$5.5M West Village townhouse offers location, history, charm–and income potential

September 26, 2018

$5.5M West Village townhouse offers location, history, charm–and income potential

By Michelle Cohen

In an especially photogenic corner of the uber-desirable West Village where Hudson Street meets Jane Street, this classic townhouse at 613 Hudson Street boasts direct views of Abingdon Square Park. Asking $5.45 million, this 20-foot-wide four-and-a-half story home has elegant historic details befitting an 1842 townhouse and stylish modern updates to the kitchen and baths. It also has commercial zoning–something most townhomes don't offer–for added options.
More West Village townhouse goodness this way

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Bullet-proof Upper East Side townhouse designed by Rafael Viñoly lists for $50M

Photos by Aaron Thompson of Esto

September 25, 2018

Bullet-proof Upper East Side townhouse designed by Rafael Viñoly lists for $50M

Uruguayan-born architect Rafael Viñoly is best known for designing 432 Park, the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, but apparently, he makes time for private homes, too--at least when they come with headline-making features like a bullet-proof glass facade. His firm was first tapped to design the townhouse at 162 East 64th Street back in 2015 by Argentinian business mogul and billionaire Eduardo Eurnekian. Originally, the seven-story (don't worry, there's an elevator) residence was to serve as both his home and U.S. headquarters, but it looks like he instead decided to list the finished product for $50 million (h/t CityRealty).
Check this out

$3M Victorian gem in Prospect Park South is blessed with gorgeous details and outdoor space

September 25, 2018

$3M Victorian gem in Prospect Park South is blessed with gorgeous details and outdoor space

By Michelle Cohen

Just under $3 million may seem steep for a house in Prospect Park South, but–in addition to being three blocks from the park–this beautifully preserved 1901 townhouse at 214 Marlborough Road is likely someone's Victorian Flatbush dream come true. The rambling and colorful home was designed by Benjamin Dreisler, who was among the area's most prominent architects of the day. Nearly 4,000 square feet provides room for seven bedrooms and grand living spaces, and there's a finished basement in addition. The home's millwork and moldings are among the neighborhood's finest–and in this neighborhood that's saying a lot.
Get a closer look

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Hell’s Kitchen penthouse-in-a-mansion in former Christian Brothers HQ gets a price chop to $11M

September 24, 2018

Hell’s Kitchen penthouse-in-a-mansion in former Christian Brothers HQ gets a price chop to $11M

By Michelle Cohen

If a massive, multi-storied townhouse is what you're looking for, you don't have to worry about penthouse FOMO with this listing. Spanning 7,000 square feet, with a two-story master bedroom that cantilevers out eight feet over the back garden, a back wall of glass and smart-everything, this single-family modern masterpiece at 416 West 51st Street, now asking just under $11 million, lets you keep your Billionaires' Row penthouse dreams–with the rest of the 25-foot-wide mansion just a quick elevator ride away. 6sqft featured the modern manse in 2016, when it was listed at $15 million. Built in 1910, this six-story building was the headquarters of the Christian Brothers, whose main role was to keep neighborhood youth out of trouble, from 1953 until 2011.
Still impressive

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Will 2018 be the year quirky and historic Hamilton Heights ‘Art House’ sells for $2.7M?

September 21, 2018

Will 2018 be the year quirky and historic Hamilton Heights ‘Art House’ sells for $2.7M?

By Michelle Cohen

This unusual three-family townhouse at 532 West 148th Street in Hamilton Heights was purchased by Portuguese-born architect Luis Da Cruz in 2006 for $995,000 and thoroughly renovated as a canvas for the artist's personal creative vision. Cruz restored the 1920 home's carved wood stairways and railings, moldings, five fireplaces, beamed ceiling, and exposed brick walls, and added his signature art pieces to an eclectic, bohemian decor, calling the house Musée Maison (Museum House) and making it his studio and workshop. He also hosted art events during which all of the work was for sale and he would perform tricks on aerial silks suspended from the ceiling. The house itself has been on and off the market since 2007. In 2015 6sqft featured the artsy listing at $2.5 million and again after a broker change in 2017 asking $2.7M. Now, another broker switch and more conventional photos–but no change in price–herald the latest attempt to find a suitably visionary buyer.
Tour the toned-down version of this unusual townhouse

An architect’s historic UES townhouse with an elevator and a floating circular staircase asks $20M

September 19, 2018

An architect’s historic UES townhouse with an elevator and a floating circular staircase asks $20M

By Michelle Cohen

This neo-Federal townhouse, less than a block from Central Park at 9 East 81st Street, received recent exterior and interior renovations from architect Peter Pennoyer–whose work epitomizes Upper East Side style–in partnership with the renowned landscape architect Madison Cox. Better yet, the home's owners since 2014 are Christopher Davis and Sharon Davis, who is herself a celebrated New York City-based architect (you can see her work featured on 6sqft here and here.). The listing says the house has been "fully and continually renovated by the current owner," so we can see why it's so stunning. It was last purchased for $22 million, and it's currently asking $19,950,000. But with features like an elevator, a grand floating spiral staircase, and 6,150 square feet of living space over five floors, we wouldn't rule out a bidding war.
Take the grand tour

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$13.5M UES mansion has a glass elevator, a 50-foot-wide garden, and two floors of the mansion next door

September 14, 2018

$13.5M UES mansion has a glass elevator, a 50-foot-wide garden, and two floors of the mansion next door

By Michelle Cohen

Manhattan's Upper East Side is filled with enormous private mansions with configurations that you'd never guess from looking at their tidy facades, and the five-story, 20-room bow-fronted house at 207 East 71st Street, asking $13.5 million, is no exception. This 10,550-square-foot brick manse, built in 1982, is one of three in a row erected by friends who happened to be prominent real estate professionals. In this particular case, the already massive house includes a long-term lease on the first two floors of the adjacent mansion, allowing for a 50-foot-wide garden–one of the widest in Manhattan.
Tour the mansion

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Live in a historic Williamsburg firehouse with a garage/studio and Japanese garden for $5.2M

September 12, 2018

Live in a historic Williamsburg firehouse with a garage/studio and Japanese garden for $5.2M

By Michelle Cohen

Living in a historic firehouse is cool enough as it is, but this 4,652-square-foot carriage house at 11 Scholes Street in Williamsburg also comes with just about every other cool thing you could imagine finding in a Brooklyn pad. The three-story home, asking $5.2 million, starts with a garage and a sleek workspace/art studio and adds walls of glass and a private outdoor paradise, complete with a Japanese-style bamboo garden and luxurious outdoor shower.
Take a look, you won't want to leave

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Historic Bed-Stuy mansion smashes neighborhood record with $6.3M sale

September 6, 2018

Historic Bed-Stuy mansion smashes neighborhood record with $6.3M sale

By Michelle Cohen

Bedford-Stuyvesant's most expensive home has sold for $6.3 million, setting a record price for the neighborhood and sending a message that rising property prices are making their way further into Brooklyn, according to the Wall Street Journal. At nearly twice the previous record sale of $3.3 million in 2017, the Renaissance Revival-style John C. Kelley mansion at 247 Hancock Street is the most expensive single-family house ever sold in Bed-Stuy. The 8,000-square-foot, 10-bedroom townhouse was built in 1887 for water-meter magnate John Kelley, designed by noted architect Montrose Morris and modeled after a Gilded Age Vanderbilt mansion along Fifth Avenue.
Take a look inside this incredible mansion

This $2.4M Prospect Park South house is a Victorian fantasy of colonnades, turrets, and a veranda

September 5, 2018

This $2.4M Prospect Park South house is a Victorian fantasy of colonnades, turrets, and a veranda

By Michelle Cohen

In Brooklyn's Prospect Park South Historic District, a block from the park, this Victorian beauty built in 1908 is asking $2,395,000. Per the listing, the home at 85 Westminster Road is a "unique blend of Greek Revival temple style with the asymmetry and turrets of a Queen Anne." In addition to 3,578 square feet of historic detail-filled living space, it has tons of curb appeal with a grassy green paint job, two-story colonnade, and wrap-around veranda that follows the curve of the turrets.
Take a tour

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