In 1975, the modest but quaint townhouses at 25-41 Harrison Street in TriBeCa were put on the market by the city for $35,000 to $75,000 with renovated exteriors but generally empty interiors.

In January, the price of 27 Harrison Street was $5,625,000 and yesterday its price was raised to $6,500,000.

According to broker Paula Del Nunzio, "the top floor comprises the master suite, graciously laid out with vaulted ceilings, dormer windows, a large fireplace, and an open floor layout allowing light to effortlessly pass end-to-end." "A large stall shower is positioned opposite a copper bathtub which has been carefully installed beneath two skylights providing moonlight views from the bathtub," according to the property's description.

"Designed by New York City's first native-born architect, John McComb, Jr., 27 Harrison Street is positioned on a landmarked row of Federal-style brick and frame houses," the description continues, "individually landmarked in 1969. Originally located less than 100 feet from the Hudson River, McComb built 25 in 1796 as his private residence and in 1819 converted the land at 27 Harrison built in the style of its neighbor. Favoring building sites located near the quays so that he could watch the ships come in to port, 27 Harrison was originally located on Washington Street facing west with the address of 315 Washington."

"Entering just above grade," according to the description, "a gracious front hall includes a closet and powder room. The 25' x 40' footprint of the townhouse is made generously available by the open layout to this garden level. With a large living room and dining room in front, soaring ceilings, and a brick-surround fireplace, this level is flooded with sunlight in front and from the rear garden. A large chef's kitchen with informal dining space makes this a comfortable floor which can accommodate large-scale entertaining or Sunday morning breakfasts. Bathed in southern light, there are three six-on-six windows in the kitchen facing the rear garden, and access to the full-height basement below. A unique collective of common gardens, there are white birch trees and large stone pavers in the rear garden, creating a very private but bright setting, uncommon to New York."

"The second floor, the description continued, "featuring two bedrooms, each with an en-suite bath at the north and south ends of the home....The full-height basement includes a large guest bedroom with en-suite full bath, the residence mechanicals, laundry room, and a media or recreation room."

In his "Streetscapes" column November 4, 2001 in The New York Times, Christopher Gray noted that the "the simple brick houses at 25 to 41 Harrison Street were singled out for preservation in the 1960's in an urban renewal district in which hundreds of 19th-century industrial buildings were demolished. At first, this peculiar little enclave, in the shadow of the giant Independence Plaza housing project, had a synthetic character, but the passage of time has gradually added the patina of age."

Mr. Gray wrote that the "1939 W.P.A. Guide to New York City praised the ''rude vitality'' of the district, especially during its usual nighttime operations: ''A weird spatter of lights provides illumination, and in the glow truck drivers, farmers, tally keepers and inspectors work at a swift pace. In winter, the streets are lined with bonfires around which the men warm themselves.''

"At the same time that the World Trade Center was being built, from 1969 to 1973," Mr. Gray continued, "a wide swath of buildings north of Chambers Street along the Hudson River was being cleared for the Washington Market Urban Renewal Area."

Architect Herbert Oppenheimer said in the article that the ground floors of the houses had been heavily altered or destroyed and the doorways, windows and lower facades were almost all new. He says the contractors sandblasted the replacement brick to age it, but ''we didn't want it to match perfectly,''' the article said.