A stoop is the set of steps leading up to the front door of a townhouse or brownstone, often raised above street level by a garden or basement level. The term comes from the Dutch word stoep, meaning “step” or “front porch,” a reminder of New York’s early Dutch roots.
Stoops became a defining feature of 19th-century rowhouses across Manhattan and Brooklyn. They lifted homes above the dust and bustle of the street while creating a semi-private outdoor space that blurred the line between public and private life. Neighbors would gather on stoops to talk, children would play on them, and families would watch the rhythm of the city from their steps.
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Beyond their cultural charm, stoops add measurable value to a home. Stoops enhance curb appeal, give the building's façade a stately presence, and often increase resale interest, particularly in historic districts where architectural character is cherished. A well-maintained stoop can also function as an inviting outdoor extension of the home, great for hanging with friends and loved ones. However, be advised that some multi-family rowhomes may discourage hanging out on the front stoop.
During the holidays, stoops come alive with seasonal decor. In October, pumpkins, skeletons, and cobwebs spill across their steps, creating some of the city’s most photogenic Halloween scenes. As winter approaches, twinkling garlands and evergreen wreaths take their place, continuing a long-standing tradition of New Yorkers using their stoops to celebrate and express neighborhood pride.
Between the Village Halloween Parade, themed parties at venues across the city, and countless haunted houses, there seems to be no shortage of ways to celebrate Halloween in New York. For those who prefer something more low-key, townhouses and maisonettes throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn offer the perfect setting to display carved pumpkins or welcome trick-or-treaters in timeless New York style.
Select brownstone listings with front stoops
317 East 73rd Street, #4RE (Compass)
1370 Dean Street, #B (Compass)
6 West 71st Street, #4B (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
223 West 21st Street, #1M (Compass)
134 West 80th Street, #PARLOR (Compass)
472 West 144th Street, #1
$1,250,000
Hamilton Heights | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 1,550 ft2
472 West 144th Street, #1 (Compass)
321 Clinton Avenue, #7 (Compass)
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31 Eighth Avenue, #5 (Compass)
129 West 131st Street, #1 (Compass)
199 Clinton Street, #2 (Compass)
320 State Street, #4 (Compass)
257 West 131st Street, # (Compass)
347 West 22nd Street, #3 (Corcoran Group)
393 4th Street, #2 (Corcoran Group)
482 Jefferson Avenue, #TH
$2,825,000
Bedford-Stuyvesant | Townhouse | 6+ Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths | 3,240 ft2
482 Jefferson Avenue, #TH (Compass)
521 Monroe Street, #TWNHS
$2,895,000
Bedford-Stuyvesant | Townhouse | 6+ Bedrooms, 5.5 Baths | 3,931 ft2
521 Monroe Street, #TWNHS (Compass)
408 Macon Street, #TH
$2,950,000
Bedford-Stuyvesant | Townhouse | 4 Bedrooms, Unknown Baths | 4,100 ft2
408 Macon Street, #TH (Sothebys International Realty)
410 Hancock Street, #TH
$2,975,000 (-2.5%)
Bedford-Stuyvesant | Townhouse | 6+ Bedrooms, 6+ Baths | 4,050 ft2
410 Hancock Street, # (Compass)
295 Sixth Avenue, #3 (Compass)
16 2nd Place, #3 (Brennan Realty Services LLC)
311 West 78th Street, # (Compass)
222 East 11th Street, #GARDEN (Compass)
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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