Features
Rowhomes on the Upper East Side (CityRealty)
New York City townhouses have long been among the city's most extraordinary real estate, and are enjoying a whole new appreciation of late. After months where whole families have been working, studying, and relaxing from one apartment, buyers are embracing the privacy, space, clearly defined rooms, and outdoor space townhouses have to offer. It is important to remember, though, that owning one is more than the sum of the width and height and outdoor area. It’s buying into a lifestyle—privacy, space, numerous bedrooms, gardens, and often landmarked historical details.
“Townhouses are the pinnacle of what a lot of people consider the very finest thing they can buy in New York City after they’ve already bought their condos with the view on a high floor,” says Dexter Guerrieri, founder, co-owner, and president of Vandenberg, Inc.—The Townhouse Experts. “At some point, they want to be near the earth, and they want to live in these historic buildings where they can control their own destiny with their own construction and their own front door. We call it the townhouse lifestyle.”
"Townhouses are the pinnacle of what a lot of people consider the very finest thing they can buy in New York City after they’ve already bought their condos with the view on a high floor"
Some of the ostentatious townhouses of the Upper East Side (CityRealty)
Privacy and vertical living characterize the lifestyle. “The townhouse is really the only way to live self-sufficiently in the city,” S. Christopher Halstead, executive vice president of Halstead, told the New York Observer. “As a result, the way of life is very attractive to some buyers, and equally unattractive to others.” In other words, you’re responsible for salting your icy stoop, taking the garbage to the curb, and maintaining the boiler and HVAC. But on the other hand, you don’t need board approval for renovations, and you won’t have to worry about a downstairs neighbor complaining about how much noise you’re making.
Townhouse Hunting
The experience of buying (or selling) a townhouse is very different from buying an apartment, starting with the process of looking at a property. “I take buyers through it in a completely different way than I would take them through an apartment,” says Guerrieri. “There are so many more spaces to cover and only the finite attention span of the typical New York buyer.”
There’s also a whole different list of items to evaluate. One of those items is width. The wider the townhouse, the more valuable. The average width of New York City townhouses is 18-20 feet. Anything below is considered narrow (and harder to resell), anything above 25 feet is called a trophy property (or a mansion). However, width in a townhouse is about more than value. The wider the townhouse, the more air and light, the better the flow between rooms. Wider, shorter rooms are easier to furnish than longer, narrow ones.
Of course, there’s location location location. But even location parameters are different when looking for a townhouse. “Most difficult, and the most fundamental thing as well, is understanding values vis-à vis location,” says Guerrieri. “It's very different in a townhouse than in apartment buildings. There are apartment buildings that have wonderful amenities, but they're on a slightly inferior block, and it doesn't make such a difference. With the townhouse, what’s on the block can make a huge difference in terms of value.”
"The wider the townhouse, the more valuable."
Park Slope rowhouses (CityRealty)
Price Considerations
What is it that makes one street more valuable than the adjacent one? When you're evaluating townhouses, says Guerrier, it depends on how they back up to the houses behind them, the houses that are beside them, and the houses across the street. The most valuable townhouses are on blocks with rows of townhouses on both sides of the street. The factors that bring the price down include a firehouse, police department, or school on the block. “The values are generally going to be less because there will be more noise and more traffic.”
So what are the hot locations in the townhouse market? That depends, says Guerrieri. If you’re on the Upper West Side, it’s in the 70s on the block between Central Park West and Columbus that has “historically the highest priced sales.” On the Upper East Side, it’s near Fifth Avenue, with the priciest block between East 70th and 71st. In Chelsea, the most valuable townhouses are found on West 21st and 22nd Street between 10th and 11th Avenue. There can be a significant difference in price from street to street. Buyers should do their research to avoid sticker shock.
One factor that can bring the price down for a townhouse on a prime street is tenants. “The best buys are townhouses that have rent-stabilized or rent-controlled tenants in them,” says Guerrieri. “You can only have a limited-sized owners unit for yourself, but then you can afford to be in the neighborhood that you perhaps wouldn't have been able to purchase in. The value has been discounted due to those rent-regulated tenants.” On the flip side, if you are looking to renovate the entire building, rent-regulated tenants can make that difficult.
Park Slope (CityRealty)
For sellers, Guerrieri says that it’s a transition market with a disconnect between the way sellers and buyers appraise a property. “What sellers have continued to do is price their townhouse 15 percent higher than what the neighbor's sold for.” Buyers, however, are bidding 15 percent lower. These days, sellers are being more realistic about what can be achieved and are transitioning to more realistic expectations. There are also things a seller can do to raise the value of their property, such as putting in a garden at the front of the home. "Curb appeal really matters," says Guerrieri, but he does suggest consulting an expert first.
If you're prepared to take on the extra work of the search, not to mention the responsibility that goes into owning and maintaining your dream home once you've finally found it, CityRealty has 405 townhouse listings on the market. Some of them are veritable models of Old World New York (and priced accordingly!), while others have been designed with contemporary buyers in mind.
New and Notable Townhouse Listings
364 Columbia Street, #TH (Compass)
From the Listing: 364 Columbia Street is a beautiful mint modern brownstone at the crossroads of Red Hook and Carroll Gardens. This sun-drenched two-family townhouse comprises a 2-bedroom, 2.5-bath triplex with a large backyard, and a 3-bedroom, 2-bath floor-through apartment above. You will find high end bespoke features, fixtures, and finishes throughout this thoughtfully designed home. The triplex is equipped with central heating and air conditioning, and the top floor is heated and cooled with mini-split units in every room. An elegant chef's kitchen anchors the parlor floor with appliances by Bosch and Wolf, and a large Caesarstone island seats three. The kitchen leads to an expansive great room, with a wall of glass and double doors that open to a sprawling backyard. See floor plan and full details here.
411 Parkside Avenue, #TH (Corcoran)
From the Listing: 409 Parkside Ave is a stately two-family barrel front limestone townhouse in beautiful Prospect Lefferts Gardens. Step into the owner's triplex into a foyer with a coat closet. From here, you can go down into the finished cellar with 7'2" ceilings which houses your laundry room and a half bathroom, and lots of recreation space and access to the backyard. Or, ascend a flight of stairs and your sweeping parlor level awaits. A larger than life living room with bay windows overlooks Parkside Avenue. Towards the back of the home, an L-shaped chef's kitchen that has a giant island, two sinks, high end appliances, and an extra wall of storage on the other side. See floor plan and full details here.
King & Sullivan Red Hook Townhomes, #TH (Compass)
From the Listing: Spectacular and turn-key, 111 King Street is a modern townhouse with private parking in the ever-cool neighborhood of Red Hook. The home's glass and steel front facade greets you with the ultimate city luxury: your own private driveway. Step inside the home and you are immediately struck by the incredibly high ceilings and expansive feel of its parlor level. The entryway has custom cabinetry for storage and organizing all of your outdoor weather gear. The dining area is large and airy with an oversized window and can accommodate a dining table for ten. The open chef's kitchen is beautifully appointed with Dada custom cabinetry, vast kitchen island, Carrara marble countertops and backsplash, and Bosch and Thermador appliances. See floor plan and full details here.
125 Halsey Street, #TH (Compass)
From the Listing: This gorgeous two-family house in the heart of Bedford-Stuyvesant incorporates high-end finishes and appliances and an efficient three-zone central air-conditioning system into a classically-styled symbol of the neighborhood's renaissance. Three years in the making, the thoughtfulness behind its design is reflected in its every detail, from the white oak planks sourced from a centuries-old farmhouse that comprise the parlor floors, to the marble fireplace custom-made and imported from England, to the kitchen - a study in simplicity - complete with high-end German appliances and cabinetry. See floor plan and full details here.
523 Rugby Road, #TH (Compass)
From the Listing: 523 Rugby Road is a prominent Ditmas Park Queen Anne Victorian, recognized as one of the neighborhood's most iconic properties. Perched on the corner of Ditmas Avenue, on a premier block, this stunning home offers a rich historical exterior, as well as quintessential features that today's sophisticated buyer desires; including an expansive wraparound porch with a gas hook-up for grilling and ample outdoor seating areas, stunning architectural details and an open interior layout ideal for today's modern lifestyle. There is an efficient gas fireplace in the living room, streaming light with picturesque views from every window, as well as a renovated contemporary design, with Central A/C and smart home technology. This entire property was renovated down to the studs in 2007 and carefully restored and updated to combine its original splendor with a contemporary feel that makes this home unique in Ditmas Park. See floor plan and full details here.
134 Manhattan Avenue, #TH (Sotheby's International Realty)
From the Listing: A historic house impeccably improved, 134 Manhattan Avenue offers the space and sanctuary of a single-family townhouse with the flexibility of a two-family certificate of occupancy, and a garden floor that can function as a fully-separate guest suite. The townhouse's Queen Anne exterior was meticulously restored to its original glory in 2013, and the entire interior has been continually improved for modern living. The interior palette includes architectural glass for the staircase enclosures, oak floors, updated recessed lighting, and freshly painted white walls throughout. The recently refreshed kitchen opens to the elevated rear terrace, and conveniently connects to the windowed powder room. See floor plan and full details here.
64 Degraw Street, #TH (Triumph Property Group)
From the Listing: This cutting-edge house in the Columbia Waterfront District features 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms, triple pane sound-cancelling windows, a private drive-in garage, roof deck with panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline, Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn, and a 700-square-foot backyard which includes your very own concrete heated pool. The third-floor primary suite features a large walk-in closet, kingsized bedroom, en-suite bathroom with a double vanity, double shower-head and a skylight. There are also two more bedrooms located on the top floor. See floor plan and full details here.
21 Schermerhorn Street, #TH (Corcoran)
From the Listing: Built in 1855, this stately one-family home offers 7-8 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, great light, grand proportions, and museum-quality historic details throughout. Situated on a quiet and picturesque tree-lined block filled with grand townhouses, it also offers proximity to a vast array of amenities just one block in every direction. Systems, structure and mechanical upgrades are numerous and include a split AC system, newly brownstoned stoop, all new Kolbe landmarked windows, recovered roof, hard-wired alarm system, upgraded bluestone sidewalk, and beautifully skim-coated walls and plasterwork. A spacious and pastoral yard has been maintained with professional landscaping, an irrigation system, and a stunning array of planting beds and hardscaping perfect for both relaxing and entertaining. See floor plan and full details here.
240 East 68th Street, #TH (Sotheby's International Realty)
From the Listing: Originally constructed in 1899 and located on one of Manhattan's most charming and picturesque blocks, 240 East 68th Street steals the show with its distinctive mansard roof, a device attributed to the 17th-century French architect Francois Mansart. Featuring seven bedrooms, five full bathrooms, five half-baths, five working fireplaces, roof terrace, a single person elevator, and an excavated subterranean full height office floor, this elegant 18-foot-wide single-family townhouse has several personalities. The front facade is brick, styled after early Williamsburg, starting with the front garden and pedimented main entrance. The rear facade, commissioned by the current owner in 2006, is a glass and steel five story wall of wonder by renowned architect William Georges and featured in his book "Make it Fabulous." See floor plan and full details here.
From the Listing: This beautifully renovated single-family house also has 3-4 bedrooms and 3.5 baths with 3,692 interior square feet and approximately 1,000 exterior square feet. The baronial double-height living room with 20’ ceilings has a grand working fireplace and a wall of windows overlooking the 650 square foot south-facing landscaped garden.
There is also a 150 square foot south-facing terrace off the primary bedroom and a 200 square foot gated forecourt/driveway.
See floor plan and full details here.
232 West 15th Street, #TH (Douglas Elliman)
From the Listing: This meticulously restored 22.5' wide 1901 Greek Revival townhouse at the crossroads of Chelsea and the West Village is the perfect vertical family compound, primary residence with income producing units, investment property, or a 6+ bedroom luxury residence with back yard and roof deck. Behind the stately brick facade, the home opens to reveal a modern interior currently arrayed as an opulent 3-bedroom triplex garden apartment, and two floor-through 2-bedroom apartments. A dramatic 30' long, 8' deep heated saltwater pool beneath a double height solarium, exposed brick and cascading waterfall. There is also a pool-level sauna, poolside wetbar, self-irrigated planters throughout the house and garden, gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances, 4 working fireplaces, and master suite with luxurious free-standing tub overlooking the garden. See floor plan and full details here.
From the Listing: Beautifully designed and replete with original detail, this renovated and grand 20-foot wide, 4-story single-family townhouse with 1,000 square feet or private outdoor space is located on a lovely tree-lined street in the heart of the Treadwell Farms Historic District with 2 parking garages next door. This south-facing and very bright townhouse features 5 large bedrooms, 4-bathrooms, an elegant formal living room with 13-foot ceilings, a library, and a dining room. See floor plan and full details here.
29 Downing Street, #TH (Compass)
From the Listing: This peerless Greenwich Village carriage house with curb cut garage melds old and new, public and private, indoors and outdoors, in a way that nods to life in New York City itself. Painstakingly gut-renovated and ultra-flexible, currently configured as three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and expansive ground-floor space with breathtaking designer interiors throughout. Currently zoned as mixed-use, this 1829 house was built on land owned by the third Vice President of the United States, Aaron Burr. Today, the structure is among the city's oldest and most photographed thanks to star turns in House Beautiful, Elle, The Wall Street Journal and two coffee table books.
See floor plan and full details here.
42 East 81st Street, #TH (Compass)
From the Listing: Originally constructed in 1872, this Upper East Side townhouse measures 5,262 square feet and consists of six bedrooms, five and a half baths, central air, and elevator access to all floors. Upon entering the residence, a large formal dining room awaits, with views of the forecourt's beautiful greenery through an oversized window. The open plan eat-in kitchen is complete with a center island and Italian serpentine marble counters, Thermador four burner cooktop with grill and hood vented to the outside, double Thermador wall ovens with warming drawer, Subzero refrigerator and freezer, with two additional integrated under counter Sub-Zero refrigerator drawers, and two Miele dishwashers. Adjacent the kitchen is a spacious breakfast area overlooking the south facing garden complete with a planted boarder and outdoor lighting. See floor plan and full details here.
127 East 62nd Street, #TH (Corcoran)
From the Listing: Impeccable Upper East Side living awaits you in this magnificently restored 19th century Italianate-style townhouse located at 127 East 62nd Street. This home is immaculately designed and thought through, with every detail executed with the greatest craftsmanship. The 4,700-square-foot interior living space includes four bedrooms, five bathrooms, six working fireplaces, a private gym, library, elevator, and terrace with skyline views. The entire home has new bleached white oak floors and stairs throughout. Upon entering the sun-filled home, you are greeted by a rare single-piece 12-foot Calacatta marble slab, creating a windowed vestibule space with ample closets. Soaring double-height ceilings frame the parlor floor, forming a gallery space and a formal living room. See floor plan and full details here.
From the Listing: This exceptional 25 ft. residence, with a private 3 car garage, is located on one of the Upper East Side's most beautiful and tranquil blocks, on East 64th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues. The home was once owned by John Hay "Jock" Whitney, and has only been offered for sale once before in the past 100 years. See floor plan and full details here.
1305 Albemarle Road, #TH (Brown Harris Stevens)
From the Listing: One of the grandest private homes in Brooklyn, the Gale Mansion was built in 1905 by Henry B. Moore and was strongly influenced by Stanford White's Atlantic Yacht Club in Seagate. The home's original classical design, including the custom details, mantels, paneling, and antique light fixtures, has been fully restored with all-new modern mechanical systems for 21st century comfort and luxury. The home is comprised of 22-rooms, 9 bedrooms, 7.5 bathrooms and 6-fireplaces. The 1,200-square-foot ballroom features a 17-foot ceiling, a full-size antique bar, a home theater, and a billiards area. The eat-in chef's kitchen has 11-foot ceilings, top-of-the-line appliances, a wood-burning carved limestone fireplace, 10' center island, a rolling library ladder, and breakfast table for six. The mahogany-paneled formal dining room, with a working fireplace and a wall of garden-facing windows, will easily accommodate a large dinner party of 12-14. See floor plan and full details here.
156 East 78th Street, #TH (Douglas Elliman
From the Listing: Originally built in 1899 and blending a classic and contemporary design, this unique home is built out at approximately 19 x 66' on a 102-foot lot spanning nearly 6,000 square feet across five levels with approximately 1,700 square feet of outdoor space. Enter through a secure gated entry and utilize a private elevator to access each of the home's 5 floors and their luxurious landings. The house features five generous bedrooms, five full bathrooms, two powder rooms, three wood-burning fireplaces (+1 decorative), as well as a fifth level garden on the front facing terrace. The house's mechanicals, appliances, and chimney have all been recently serviced/replaced. The house has an active alarm, a Crestron operating system and the elevator is regularly serviced. See floor plan and full details here.
37 Sidney Place, #TH (Corcoran)
From the Listing: This grand, elegant, 1846 Greek Revival is now an impeccably renovated Passive House standing mid-block on a beautiful, tree-lined street in the heart of the Brooklyn Heights Historic District. 37 Sidney Place is a 23-foot-wide townhouse, featuring six bedrooms, seven full + two half bathrooms, multiple outdoor spaces- including a landscaped garden and two terraces. Along with an advanced air ERV filtration system, the super insulated, air-tight construction allows for a more energy-efficient and near silent home. Triple pane windows reduce heat gain/loss while the ERV system extracts air toxins and allergens in the home 24 hours a day, filtering in new fresh air with a moderate humidity level. The air insulation and sealing, combined with a consistent humidity level, create a quieter, energy efficient and ideal environment. All landscaping, including potted plants and window boxes, have automatic irrigation systems. See floor plan and full details here.
152 Reade Street, #TH (Compass)
From the Listing: Originally designed by the pioneer of Tribeca's modernization, John L. Petrarca of Guenther Petrarca, this truly unique residence has been completely redesigned and customized by Philip Koether Architects and holds historical significance being one of the first, and very few, single-family homes built in the area in more than a century. Standing seven floors high, the home consists of five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, two half bathrooms, four separate outdoor spaces and fully outfitted cellar floor. This stunning residence features soaring ceiling heights, a private elevator, Italian marble and iron spiral staircase with motion-activated lighting system, Sonos audio system, 100-gallon fish tank, wood-burning fireplace, multiple wine storage units as well as custom closets and cabinetry throughout. See floor plan and full details here.
164 East 70th Street (Corcoran)
From the Listing: Meticulously and beautifully renovated by BWArchitects in partnership with PSA Studios and Kari McCabe, 164 East 70th Street is a magnificently proportioned nearly 20-foot wide mansion, located in the heart of the Upper East Side. This remarkable home was originally built in 1901 and has been transformed into an architectural masterpiece. It has seven levels, six stories plus a finished basement, totaling approximately 7,400 square feet.
See floor plan and full details here.
116 East 61st Street, #TH (Leslie J. Garfield)
From the Listing: Once home to an internationally-renowned interior designer, 116 East 61st Street is one of Lenox Hill's premiere single-family residences. This triple mint, elevator townhouse features approximately 6,000 square feet of space, a roof deck with city views, a fifth-floor terrace, and a stone and trellised, south-facing garden. The house's entry vestibule opens into a contemporary chef's kitchen with a breakfast booth and island seating. Pocket doors permit the kitchen to be closed off from the main entrance for a more formal feel when entertaining. In the rear sits a spacious dining room adorned with a gas fireplace, past which lies the entrance to a beautifully arranged garden. All floors can be accessed through a custom artisan elevator and benefit from central air conditioning and a Crestron System. See floor plan and full details here.
184 East 75th Street, #TH (Corcoran)
From the Listing: The grand scale of this custom-designed, luxury six-story home creates endless possibilities for living and entertaining space. The scale of the home is showcased by its 19' width, 6,000 above-grade interior square feet, 10' ceilings as well as an incredible amount of private outdoor space. Situated with an unusually open south-facing rear yard, highlighted by a full-glass rear facade, and north-facing views showcasing the beautiful architecture of St. John the Baptiste church across the street, the entire house is bathed in an extraordinary amount of natural light enhancing the overall scale and flow of the home. The home is exceptional for large-scale entertaining and well-planned for private living with 4 (or 5) bedrooms, 4 full baths, 2 half baths and 3 formal entertaining floors including a gorgeous den/secondary living room illuminated by the garden on the first floor. Abundant private outdoor space adds to formal entertaining with a beautiful, landscaped garden, double-tiered with large, glass terrace off the kitchen and private roof terraces at the top penthouse level. See floor plan and full details here.
119 East 71st Street, #TH (The Modlin Group)
From the Listing: Located on one of the Upper East Side's most desirable blocks, this 7,600-square-toot, Neo-Federal townhouse boasts eighteen rooms spread over five stories. Behind a stunning brick and limestone-trimmed facade lies this exquisitely crafted 20-foot wide sunlit home with grand, elegantly proportioned rooms and ample outdoor space. Upon entering the home, you are greeted by the spacious entry hall, featuring a regal powder room and huge coat closet. An airy, naturally-lit sitting room opens onto a private garden with space for outdoor dining. A huge chef's kitchen with premium appliances lies beyond with a custom-built, skylit breakfast banquet and also accesses the 1,650-square-foot garden, allowing for an al fresco dining experience. Topping off this spectacular home is a fully-finished roof deck with amazing city views thanks to northern, eastern and southern exposures. See floor plan and full details here.
20 East 94th Street, #TH (Douglas Elliman)
From the Listing: The benchmark for unsurpassed parkside living lies beyond the beautiful character facade of this landmark five-story brownstone residence, merging heritage elegance and sophisticated contemporary design. The vast interior layout will leave you breathless with its grand reception hall and entrance gallery. This level also houses the entertainers' eat-in kitchen. Two staircases lead to the upper levels where you will find the living and dining areas, and 6 luxurious bedroom suites including a stunning primary retreat that has an adjoining study, built-in closet space and its own wood-burning fireplace. See floor plan and full details here.
243 East 17th Street, #TH (Corcoran)
From the Listing: Beckoning the bygone era of the Gilded Age in New York, this exceptional 28-foot-wide, elevator townhome sits perfectly positioned with a centerline view over Stuyvesant Square Park. Beautifully renovated in 2019, this stately home with gracious proportions features a three-bay facade, round-arched doors and windows, a lovely foliate patterned cast-iron balcony that runs the width of the edifice, and a paneled cornice. This elegant townhouse has been featured in numerous design publications including Elle Decor and was one of Elle Decor's top "liked" Instagram posts of 2021. New energy-efficient boiler and HVAC systems in 2019, along with a new roof, roofing membrane, drainage, down piping, and exterior decking are just a few of the many upgrades made by the current owner. The house features extremely high ceilings throughout, hardwood floors, a grand winding staircase, five fireplaces (one wood-burning), arched doorways, skylights, and original moldings. Before the current owners, Clifford Jordan, the renowned jazz tenor saxophonist along with his wife, Sandy Jordan, lived on the fourth-floor studio for decades prior. See floor plan and full details here.
163 East 82nd Street, #TH (The Modlin Group)
From the Listing: Blending state-of-the-art luxury with unrivaled design and detail, this 6-story, 7,000-square-foot Steven Harris-designed townhouse represents the pinnacle of form and function. No expense was spared and no detail overlooked in the thoughtful planning and meticulous execution of this elegant, 19 ft. wide, sun-filled stunner. With approximately 2,000 square feet of gorgeous outdoor space, including a private garden, a French-style bedroom terrace and a spectacularly landscaped roof deck with outdoor kitchen, al fresco opportunities abound. Innovative, high-end lighting, audio, shades, temperature and humidification control and security are accessed through a Savant Smart House with a remote Ipad touch system and the kitchen and all bathrooms are equipped with top-of-the-line reverse osmosis filtration system.. See floor plan and full details here.
6 Sutton Square, #TH (Corcoran)
From the Listing: Perfectly located on one of Manhattan's most prized and iconic enclaves, Sutton Square, this beautiful and sun-filled 33'7" wide Neo-Georgian style residence elegantly stands amongst a handsome row of iconic townhomes where some of New York City's most prominent residents have called home. This Sutton Square residence offers the rare opportunity to live in a beautiful and unique enclave reminiscent of a perfect cross between Eaton Square and Cheyne Walk in London, where all of its homes surround a private and beautifully manicured 12,000 square-foot garden lined by the East River with stunning bridge views while enjoying beautiful light and river breezes throughout the day; truly an exceptional and magical urban oasis. See floor plan and full details here.
