From April 27 - May 3, 2026, 252 residential contracts were signed in Manhattan. This marks a small week-over-week change and brings the total number of April 2026 contracts to 1,058, a slight year-over-year increase and Manhattan's highest monthly contract total since May 2023.
While the past several weeks have been dominated by high-priced contracts in new development condos, six of last week's ten highest-priced contracts were for prewar townhouses in protected areas. This comes at a time when conversions of multi-family buildings to single-family townhouses and combinations of two buildings into one double-wide mansion are extremely popular among New York's wealthiest; Bloomberg cites 105-107 Bank Street, which recently entered contract with a $75 million ask, as well as the double-wide West Village mansions of Chipotle founder Steven Ells and power couple Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick.
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"A double-wide is like a Picasso" - Robert Kaliner, Founder, RoundSquare Development
Bloomberg also notes that the practice of consolidating prewar rentals into mega-mansions has led to the loss of housing units, not to mention tax revenue under the arcana of New York City's property tax system. New York State Senator Erik Bottcher and Assemblymember Grace Lee recently proposed a "Teardown Tax Act" that would impose a $10,000 surcharge for every housing unit that is eliminated and not replaced, noting that in addition to building new housing, the city's existing stock must be preserved. However, this is still in early stages.
Notable townhouse contracts
The highest-priced contract of the week was for 34 East 70th Street, which was asking $24.5 million. It is also known as the James P. Warburg Mansion in honor of an early resident, James P. Warburg, a member of a prominent banking family and early investor in Polaroid who served as an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The house is being delivered vacant with Landmarks-approved plans for exterior alterations and gut-renovated interiors. The buyer has not been identified, and public records indicate that the seller paid $18.25 million for it in November 2018.
In Greenwich Village, 112 West 13th Street entered contract with an asking price just under $11 million, the seventh-highest deal of the week. In 1925, following his graduation from Cornell University, Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little author E.B. White rented a third-floor apartment in the building with three of his fraternity brothers. More than 100 years later, it has been renovated into a single-family mansion with five bedrooms, five and a half baths, a magnificent double parlor, a skylit sunroom/artist's studio, and outdoor spaces that include a private garden, multiple terraces, and a finished roof deck.
Public records note that the seller, listed as an LLC, bought the house for $9.5 million in March 2015. The buyer has note been identified.
Malabar Residences leads sponsor contracts
The week's top sponsor contract took place at Malabar Residences, the pixelated-looking new condominium located a short distance from 432 Park Avenue on the eastern end of Billionaires' Row. Penthouse #2B, one of four residences in the building's Penthouse Collection, was asking $13.5 million in the week's third-highest contract overall. The penthouse has three bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, nearly 3,000 interior square feet, and a total of 1,517 square feet of private outdoor space, including a rooftop terrace. The signing comes as Malabar Residences looks to be winding down exterior construction.
The top Brooklyn apartment contract took place at Boerum Place, a new development condominium in Cobble Hill. Penthouse #501 entered contract with an asking price of $7.5 million, one of four contracts recorded in the building last week. The development is over 50% sold about three months after launching sales, and public availabilities start at $4.95 million.
Apartments at 32 Walker Street in Tribeca and Selene in Midtown East were among New York City's highest-priced apartment contracts of the week. Moreover, multiple contracts were signed at Claremont Hall and Vandewater in Morningside Heights, 155W68 in Lincoln Center, The Strathmore in Yorkville, The Sixth in Williamsburg, and The Austin in Forest Hills.
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Supermodel's Chelsea penthouse finds a buyer
Also of note, Penthouse D at The Spears Building entered contract with an asking price just under $8 million, or about $1.45 million less than the seller, supermodel Linda Evangelista, initially sought when she listed it in May 2024. If it sells for this price, she will take a loss; public records indicate that she paid $8.4 million for the penthouse and a storage space in 2001.
Located in a factory-to-residence conversion in West Chelsea, the penthouse remains rich in original details like exposed brick and skylights, while offering such modern luxuries as a chef's kitchen, a primary suite with six floor-to-ceiling custom closets, and a private roof terrace. The buyer has not been identified, but actor Keanu Reeves rented it for $45K/month during his Broadway run in Waiting for Godot last fall.
Top NYC Contracts: April 27 - May 3, 2026
#10. 258 West 12th Street, #TH
Last Ask: $10,000,000
West Village | Townhouse | 6+ Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths | 5,170 ft2
258 West 12th Street, #TH (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
#9. 126 Pacific Street, #TH
Last Ask: $10,495,000 (-12.5%)
Cobble Hill | Townhouse | 6+ Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths | 6,504 ft2
126 Pacific Street, #TH (Compass)
#7. 112 West 13th Street, #TH
Last Ask: $10,995,000 (-8.3%)
Greenwich Village | Townhouse | 5 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths | 4,256 ft2
112 West 13th Street, #TH (Compass)
#6. 135 West 77th Street, #TH
Last Ask: $11,995,000
Broadway Corridor | Townhouse | 5 Bedrooms, 6+ Baths | 7,200 ft2
135 West 77th Street, #TH (Compass)
#5. The Heroy House, #TH
Last Ask: $12,500,000
West Village | Townhouse | 6+ Bedrooms, 5 Baths | 5,100 ft2
The Heroy House, #TH (Compass)
#3. Malabar Residences, #PH2B
Last Ask: $13,500,000
Midtown East | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 3.5 Baths | 2,992 ft2
Malabar Residences, #PH2B (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
#2. 459 West Broadway, #PHS
Last Ask: $13,995,000
SoHo | Cooperative | 4 Bedrooms, 4.5 Baths | 4,315 ft2
459 West Broadway, #PHS (Serhant)
#1. 34 East 70th Street, #TH
Last Ask: $24,500,000
Park/Fifth Ave. to 79th St. | Townhouse | 6+ Bedrooms, 6+ Baths | 12,500 ft2
34 East 70th Street, #TH (Modlin Group LLC)
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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