Riverdale

The shingle-style home at 5031 Grosvenor Avenue in the sought-after Bronx neighborhood of Riverdale was designed in the 1890s style often associated with the architects McKim, Mead & White. Atop a stone bluff overlooking Riverdale and neighboring Fieldston, the five-bedroom house, asking $4,900,000, has family-sized charm, an elevator, a pool, and outdoor living spaces, adding up to the subtle grandeur of homes much further afield, without the hassle of a traffic-filled commute.
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Distinctive Homes

This $8.75M mansion designed by Robert A.M. Stern is the most expensive listing in the Bronx

Photo credit: Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

September 29, 2023

This $8.75M mansion designed by Robert A.M. Stern is the most expensive listing in the Bronx

This 11,135-square-foot four-story home at 421 West 250th Street in the Riverdale section of the Bronx has the distinction of being the borough's record-holding big-ticket residential listing, according to Mansion Global. Designed by prolific New York City firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects in 2005, the gingerbread-esque mansion sits on just over a half-acre in the private Villanova Heights subdivision. A pitched roof with a trio of whimsical dormers and delphinium blue window shutters provide a rustic air to its architectural simplicity. Within, an elevator makes travel between living, sleeping, and recreation floors convenient to all residents. Previously, the borough's highest-price listing was a $7 million neo-Georgian brick home in Fieldston.
Riverdale townhouse tour, this way

Distinctive Homes

Listed for $7M, this Bronx mansion could be the borough’s most expensive sale ever

Photo credit: Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

August 21, 2023

Listed for $7M, this Bronx mansion could be the borough’s most expensive sale ever

Located in the historic Fieldston section of Riverdale in the Bronx, this 10,000-square-foot neo-Georgian home at 5020 Grosvenor Avenue was built to resemble the grand estates of the 1920s, with a formal driveway and an elegant motor court highlighted by a colonnaded portico. The home is one of 15 contemporary mansions in a private community known as Villanova Heights, with homes designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the firm behind high-profile Manhattan residences like 15 Central Park West. If it sells for its current $7 million ask, the Bronx residence would be the borough's most expensive sale, as the New York Post reported. That record is currently held by the $6.25 million sale of a 17-room Fieldston mansion that was built in anticipation of a visit from Jesus, as 6sqft previously reported.
Mcmansion tour, this way

Distinctive Homes

1920s Riverdale estate has magnificent indoor pool house and landscaped grounds for $7.25M

All photos courtesy of Real Estate Production Network for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 24, 2023

1920s Riverdale estate has magnificent indoor pool house and landscaped grounds for $7.25M

A cliffside estate in one of New York City's most exclusive neighborhoods is now available for $7,250,000. Located at 700 West 247th Street in Riverdale, the 1920s Georgian home sits tucked away from the Hudson River waterfront on over an acre of flourishing landscape. In addition to containing five bedrooms and a six-car garage, the main house has a stunning fitness center with an indoor swimming pool and jacuzzi.
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Distinctive Homes

Photo courtesy of Douglas Elliman

January 23, 2023

This $4.5M historic Riverdale home overlooks the Hudson River from an elegant veranda

Known as the Henry Atherton Villa, this extraordinary home at 5247 Independence Avenue was known at the turn of the 20th century as a gathering place for artists, poets, and society notables. Looking out over the Hudson River and the Palisades beyond, the property is 15 minutes away from Midtown Manhattan, surrounded by the verdant historic Bronx neighborhood of Riverdale. Built in 1830, the Gothic Revival style home received a Colonial Revival addition at the turn of the century. Asking $4,500,000, the home spans 10,000 square feet, with nine bedrooms, gracious lawns, a solarium, and a veranda with breathtaking river views.
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Lottery opens for 23 middle-income units next to Van Cortlandt Park in Riverdale, from $1,800/month

All renderings courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

May 31, 2022

Lottery opens for 23 middle-income units next to Van Cortlandt Park in Riverdale, from $1,800/month

By Aaron Ginsburg

Applications are being accepted for 23 middle-income units at a new residential development in the Bronx. Located at 6375 Broadway in North Riverdale, the seven-story building sits across the street from Van Cortlandt Park, the city's third-largest park at more than a thousand acres. New Yorkers earning 130 percent of the area median income–or between $61,715 annually for a single person and $187,330 for a family of five–are eligible to apply for the apartments, which range from $1,800/month studios to $2,350/month two bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Historic grandeur, renovated interiors, and city convenience at this $3.8M Fieldston home

Photo credit: Daniel Milstein

March 29, 2022

Historic grandeur, renovated interiors, and city convenience at this $3.8M Fieldston home

Located in the Riverdale neighborhood of Fieldston in the Bronx, the former home of noted New York labor attorney and mediator Theodore Kheel is for sale for $3,800,000. Built in 1918, the Georgian Revival-style brick home at 407 West 246th Street–known locally as Kheel House–received a complete renovation in 2008, two years after the home's current owners purchased it from Kheel; still very much in evidence are its classic brick facade, graciously-proportioned rooms, high ceilings, bespoke millwork, and four fireplaces.
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Distinctive Homes

Historic Gothic-Revival mansion in Riverdale asks $7M

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

May 19, 2021

Historic Gothic-Revival mansion in Riverdale asks $7M

Known as the Alderbrook Mansion, this Gothic-Revival home in the Bronx is one of the two oldest villas in the historic Park-Riverdale neighborhood, and it can now be yours for $6,995,000. It was built in 1858 as a summer residence for Percy R. Pyne, president of the National City Bank of New York, and its architecture was inspired by the designs and writings of Andrew Jackson Downing and Calvert Vaux. In the early 20th century, the mansion was home to famed sculptor Elie Nadelman. Designated a NYC landmark in 2010, the home today offers stunning landscaping and three floors of living space including eight bedrooms, six-and-a-half bathrooms, and a home gym.
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August 27, 2020

The best NYC apartments for sale under $500K

Like New York City, the real estate market is slowly starting to recover, with hundreds of new apartment listings posted each day. With some industry experts calling it a buyer's market due to an increase in inventory citywide, we're taking a look at some of the best deals for apartments on the market that are listed for under $500,000. From a spacious two-bedroom with a balcony and an outdoor pool in Riverdale to a charming studio with unique architectural details in Prospect Heights, find out what $500,000 can get you in NYC right now.
More here

Distinctive Homes

July 20, 2020

Greek Revival mansion with views of the Hudson asks $5.9M in Riverdale

Leave it up to Riverdale to supply some of the most jaw-dropping, "is it really in New York City?" properties. This Greek Revival mansion at 5501 Palisade Avenue looks like it belongs upstate, but it's located right here in the Bronx, in a neighborhood known for impressive properties with views. The 1.7-acre property is situated on the top of the hill, so it has prime views of the Hudson River and the Palisades. The interior, which boasts five bedrooms, isn't too shabby, either.
See inside the mansion

Distinctive Homes

Images courtesy of The Corcoran Group.

December 10, 2019

This warm, contemporary home surrounded by the suburban greenery of Riverdale asks $2.6M

The spacious, laid-back architect-designed modern home at 5253 Arlington Avenue in the Hudson Hill section of Riverdale near Wave Hill was built in 1940 on one of the neighborhood's deepest plots (79 feet by 323 feet). The cedar-clad four-bedroom home, asking $2.599 million, is surrounded by private flagstone patios, rolling lawns, and lush plantings. The residence has been well-maintained and tastefully updated over time, but there's potential and space for significant expansion if you're looking for even more room.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

November 5, 2019

Best of the Bronx: What to do and see in the northernmost borough now

You're probably familiar with the big attractions in the Bronx: Yankee Stadium, the New York Botanical Garden, and the Bronx Zoo. But the borough has a lot more going on, from historic and cultural treats and treasures to new breweries and restaurants and acres of beaches, parks, trails, and gardens. Read on for a collection of destinations in the city's northernmost, greenest, and most diverse borough that are worth the trip, wherever you’re coming from.
More to do in the Bronx, this way

May 16, 2018

Former home of Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia lists for $3.5M in Fieldston section of Riverdale

By Michelle Sinclair Colman

A stately English Tudor mansion in the historic Fieldston neighborhood of Riverdale, considered one of the city’s best preserved early 20th century suburbs, has just hit the market for $3.5 million, and it's oozing history filled ghosts, science fiction, New York master politicians, and urban planners. Former Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia moved to 5020 Goodridge Avenue after serving three consecutive terms as mayor and living in Gracie Mansion. He lived a quiet life after politics but is said to have hosted people like Robert Moses in his house. The home was originally built for magazine illustrator Arthur I. Keller. LaGuardia died in the house in 1947.
Find out even more history

May 11, 2018

Four $2,425/month two-bedrooms near Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx up for grabs

While this housing lottery won't save you a ton on rent, the four middle-income units available do sit in a prime location-- near the beautiful and historic Van Cortlandt Park. According to the city's parks department, the park is home to the country's first public golf course, the oldest house in the borough and the largest freshwater lake in the Bronx. Located at the nexus of the Bronx neighborhoods of Riverdale and Kingsbridge Heights, the building at 3190 Riverdale Avenue offers residents a parking garage and bike storage. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 120 percent of the area median income can apply for the four $2,425/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Lottery opens for 15 affordable apartments in Riverdale, just across from Van Cortlandt Park

Photo of Van Cortlandt House Museum via mtchlra via photopin cc

April 30, 2018

Lottery opens for 15 affordable apartments in Riverdale, just across from Van Cortlandt Park

If you're looking for a bit of the suburban lifestyle without leaving the boroughs, this affordable housing lottery in the Bronx may be for you. Fifteen apartments at Stagg Group’s Riverdale project The Station (so named for being adjacent to the 1 train station) at 5959 Broadway are up for grabs for New Yorkers earning 80 percent of the area median income. These include 12 $1,292/month one-bedrooms and three $1,458/month two-bedrooms. Just as good as the price is the location; the mixed-use building is directly across from the southeast entrance to Van Cortlandt Park, right near the swimming pool and Van Cortlandt House Museum. And for families, it's also just a couple blocks from the prestigious Horace Mann School and Manhattan College.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

April 6, 2017

Outrageous Bronx mansion built for Jesus’ second coming finally sells

Atop the city's second-highest peak, in Riverdale, the Bronx, this opulent mansion has been beckoning the heavens–and seeking a buyer–since 2009 when it hit the market with an ask of $14 million; As 6sqft previously reported, the 17-room 1home was built in 1928 for an eccentric owner who never actually lived there herself, but rather constructed it for Jesus’ second coming. The house was asking $11 million in 2013 and re-listed with a $10 million price tag in 2015. Welcome2TheBronx reports that the home finally sold for $6,250,000 on January 9th of this year.
Tour this unusual home

March 24, 2017

This $4M Riverdale mansion, known as the Esmeralda, was built in 1899 and still impresses today

The historic mansions of Riverdale never fail to impress, and this gem is no exception. Built in 1899 and known as the Esmeralda, the home has maintained many of its historic details over the years. Throughout formal dining and living areas, as well as all nine bedrooms, you'll find finishes like hardwood flooring, oak doors, wood-beamed ceilings and fireplaces. The property also comes with an impressive degree of privacy, as you enter through a long, gated driveway. For this level of exclusivity and historic charm, the price tag is $4.129 million.
Take the grand tour

February 17, 2017

1924 cliffside Riverdale castle-cottage has magical river views, a Broadway pedigree and a $2.6M ask

In case you need another reason to love New York City, this singular gem of a seven-unit apartment building perched on a wild cliff overlooking the Palisades where the Harlem River meets the mighty Hudson just hit the market. Built in 1924 as a co-operative by a super-literary lawyer/developer who also happened to be the first editor-in-chief of the Harvard Law Review, the Villa Rosa Bonheur at 2395 Palisade Avenue in Riverdale, the Bronx, is one of three; her sister buildings go by Villa Charlotte Brontë and Villa Victoria. Their creator, John J. McKelvey, was looking beyond the bottom line when he built what would be the first apartment buildings in the Bronx. Ms. Rosa is now on the market for a mere $2.595 million. There's more: Her current owners are the family of the late "Beatlemania" creator Robert Rabinowitz.
Get a closer look

August 12, 2016

Live in Riverdale’s Historic Fieldston Neighborhood For Just $1,230 a Month

While the Bronx has been busting at the seams with affordable housing lotteries, most of them have been clustered in the southern areas of the borough. The latest, however, takes us up to the historic Fieldston neighborhood of Riverdale, considered one of the city’s best preserved early 20th century suburbs. These nine available units, $1,230/month one-bedrooms and $1,403/month two-bedrooms, may not be located in one of the area's signature revival style homes, but they are in a brand new building at 6155 Broadway, right on Van Cortlandt Park and steps away from the prestigious Horace Mann school.
See more interiors and find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

June 10, 2016

The Historic Henry F. Spaulding Estate in Riverdale Looks Like it Belongs Upstate

Riverdale is a neighborhood known for its incredible mansion properties. But this one at 4970 Independence Avenue--now on the market asking $3.69 million--really stands out among them all. First there's the architecture -- the home is a fine example of the Stick-Eastlake style, rarely seen in New York City. Then there's its "utterly fascinating history," as reported by Cured. Known as the Henry F. Spaulding Estate, it was constructed in 1880 in Riverdale when the area was a private community of country estates. To make way for the development of Wave Hill, the sprawling property was picked up and moved to its current location in 1909. If all that sounds interesting, just wait until you see the interior.
Take a tour

February 25, 2016

Lottery Open for 77 Affordable Units for Seniors at Dattner Architects’ Van Cortlandt Green

It's been widely noted that New York has an ever-growing population of low-income elders, and a new affordable housing project in Riverdale seeks to address the issue. Designed by Dattner Architects (who are also behind the Bronx's huge West Farm Redevelopment Plan), the brand-new building at 6469 Broadway is known as Van Cortlandt Green and overlooks the park. It will offer 77 studios for $832/month for those age 62 and older. They're available to one person earning between $26,430 and $36,300 annually and two persons earning between $26,430 and $41,460, according to the NYC HDC.
Find out how to apply

Affordable Housing

January 4, 2016

Dr. Zizmor of Subway Ad Fame Retires and Sells Bronx Mansion All in One Day

Local celebrity Dr. Jonathan Zizmor has been both charming and perplexing subway riders for decades, thanks to his dermatology ads that subtly peddle cosmetic surgery against a rainbow background. But these will soon be a thing of the past, as the Daily News reported this morning that Dr. Zizmor has officially retired and closed his Upper East Side practice. And just hours later, Curbed broke the news that the doctor's Mediterranean Revival mansion in the Fieldston section of the Bronx has gone into contract for $3.075 million after three years on the market. (Bet you never thought you'd hear so much Dr. Zizmor news in day!)
Take a tour of his grand home

Real Estate Trends

December 29, 2015

Outrageous Bronx Mansion Built for Jesus’ Second Coming Can Be Yours for $10M

Up in Riverdale, atop the second-highest peak in the city, is an opulent mansion that beckons to the heavens–literally–that's about to hit the market for $10 million. The grand, 17-room home was built back in 1928 by its eccentric owner who never actually lived in the home herself, but rather constructed it for Jesus' second coming. Genevieve Ludlow Griscom was by then the widow of Clement Acton Griscom Jr., a prominent shipping executive. She was a member of a cult-like religious group called the Outer Court of the Order of the Living Christ, which was rooted in Episcopalian beliefs, but focused on "reincarnation and Christian mysticism," according to the Post. "The property was built as the group’s summer retreat and was surrounded by a high fence, leading neighbors to speculate that it was home to strange rituals," they added.
Get the rest of the strange history ahead

July 23, 2015

$2.6M Mediterranean-Style Mansion Is Up for Sale in Riverdale