11 Sylvan Terrace- Wood Frame House in NYC
It’s uncommon to find many wood frame houses in Manhattan these days, but in the case of 11 Sylvan Terrace it’s a hidden gem in Washington Heights that has stood the test of time. Built in 1882, this home is one of twenty row houses on the private cobble stoned street that intersects with Jumel Terrace. It has been featured in Curbed, An 1882 Wood-Frame House in Washington Heights, Streeteasy’s Instagram page as one of the most aesthetically interesting homes, and the NY Post, Now’s your best chance to live in an Old World-style home on a secret, ‘enchanting’ Manhattan street for it’s rich history and success of being preserved for so long!
Most wood frame houses are long extinct in Manhattan; they have either burned down or are banned from being build because construction codes continue to change with new fire rating materials and advances. New York City itself is about 400 years old, and each day there is a tug of war between revitalizing old structures and building new housing stock completely from the ground up. The city’s streetscape and road map is from the colonial era, yet if you’re lucky - you’ll find a way certain charm about what was laid here 142 years ago. You’ll find 11 Sylvan Terrace, a 142 year old house has the power to transport you back in time. A time when Washington Heights was the country side for the bourgeoisie of old New York. A place where families rooted in politics retreated for the summers, native plants and animals dominated this territory, and the elevation of this neighborhood rendered the best views of the Harlem and Hudson Rivers.
Today people are trained to seek immediate satisfaction and instant gratification for everything they do. They press an elevator button and expect to be flown to their penthouse in under 3 minutes. They expect bags to be carried in for them, their names to be remembered, and a level of prestige to be earned based on the building address they call him. 11 Sylvan Terrace and the enclave of Sylvan Terrace is for the autonomous New Yorker who appreciates fine workmanship and being a steward of their own abode. Someone who has pride, an appetite for history, and collects memories ( not praise) will fall in love with this home.
The whole house can be run for under $700 a month ( sans mortgage), which may be the most efficient carrying costs for a whole single family house I’ve ever sold.
I welcome you to take a tour, please contact me at teresa.alessandro@compass.com
Photo Credit: Gloria Kilbourne | DD-reps
Photo Credit: Gloria Kilbourne | DD-reps