One of NYC's oldest occupied homes is up for sale in Harlem
A pre-Civil War clapboard townhouse — widely considered to be the one of the oldest occupied single-family dwellings in Harlem — has hit the market for $3.25 million.
Tucked between two larger and much newer buildings, the ornamented, light green exterior of the home appears much the same today as it did in the 1800's.
9 The townhome's whimsical facade has been lovingly maintained as the neighborhood has evolved.
Max Mural Photography
The interiors, on the other hand, have undergone a radical makeover.
A 1981 landmark report recognized the property as one of Harlem's few surviving frame houses, calling it 'remarkably intact.'
It was constructed in 1864, according to the report, back when Harlem was just a semi-rural suburb.
The quaint holdout was among the first wave of fashionable row houses on East 128th Street — one of Harlem's first residential developments.
The eclectic gem was built in the once-trendy French Second Empire style, defined by mansard roofs, dormer windows and ornamental flourishes.
9 The pre-Civil War home is a miraculous holdout from Harlem's first wave of residential development.
Max Mural Photography
9 An illustration of rural Harlem in 1869, before the neighborhood joined New York City.
NYPL
9 Ornamental scrollwork and gingerbread carpentry adorn the wide front porch.
Max Mural Photography
9 Original molding, fireplaces and ceramic ceiling medallions remain, but with a fresh coat of paint.
Max Mural Photography
Its neighbors were demolished and replaced over the years, but this stalwart survivor stood the test of time.
The four-story structure last traded hands for $3.6 million in 2015. The pricey purchase made headlines, with outlets reporting buyer Jack Stephenson's plans to host a musical nonprofit in the home.
That arrangement eventually ended in a legal dispute, however, and the property is now owner occupied.
9 The entryway to the four-story home.
Max Mural Photography
The home, which spans 3,225 square feet of living space in addition to an unfinished basement, has been aggressively updated over the past decade.
Practical improvements included all new plumbing and electrical systems, as well as modern amenities like walk-in closets, a backyard irrigation system and an open-concept kitchen.
While the subzero refrigerator may not be period accurate, plenty of original details remain. Stephenson restored and painted the original fireplaces and molding, according to the listing, as well as the ceramic medallions that crown the home's 12-foot ceilings.
9 The home received new hardwood floors after 2015.
Max Mural Photography
9 The open-concept kitchen.
Max Mural Photography
9 The large backyard terrace, also remodeled.
Max Mural Photography
The exterior received a fresh coast of paint as well, listing agent Matthew Langer of Weichert Realtors told The Post, and the backyard's cedar siding was completely replaced.
Despite the massive renovations, the current sale marks a $350,000 discount from the $3.6 million deal in 2015.
Langer said that today's $3.25 million price tag was set by an independent appraiser. It's possible that the comparatively pricey 2015 sale reflected one buyer's enthusiasm for the property's history, rather than its market value.
Still, the clapboard abode is a true standout among Harlem's for-sale single-family homes.
'There's a couple of brownstones, but this is the last wood framed house that I've seen,' Langer said.
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