A late 19th-century Gramercy Park walk-up, long considered Manhattan’s oldest intact apartment building, has been listed for $15 million. The red-brick, French Gothic–style property at 129 E. 17th St. features original mantelpieces, pocket doors, and oversized windows. Brokers are promoting it as a potential condominium conversion or single-family home in a neighborhood where sales are rare.
Listing And Asking Price
The property quietly made its market debut on Friday. Brokerage Exodus Capital lists the five story walk up at $15,000,000 and names Haley Hasho as the listing agent. The firm's offering materials frame the building as a classic conversion play for buyers who want historic bones instead of another glass box.
History And Why It Matters
Architect Napoleon LeBrun designed the building for Jane Scott in the late 1870s, and architectural historians point to the structure as an unusually early example of genteel multi family housing. A renovation in 1990 kept much of the original trim and finishes in place, which is a big part of why the property is still described as intact rather than "updated," as detailed by Daytonian in Manhattan. That continuity of historic fabric is what makes the building stand out for architecture buffs as well as investors.
Public Records And Listings Do Not All Agree
Online listings and broker materials do not quite line up on how the building is carved up. LoopNet shows four apartments in a five story structure, while the broker's offering and other commercial sites describe five units, including a ground floor office and a one bedroom penthouse, according to Crexi.
Price History And Rents
City records indicate the property last traded in 2005 for roughly $1.79 million, as reported by The New York Post. Rents have climbed dramatically since then. A recent comp shows a three bedroom duplex in the building leasing in 2024 for about $18,500 a month, according to StreetEasy.
What Sellers And Brokers Are Saying
Listing agent Haley Hasho told The New York Post that she anticipates interest primarily from condominium developers, indicating that buyers seeking to convert and sell individual units may pursue the property. As a result, individual purchasers interested in acquiring the entire building could face competition from development firms.
Preservation Note
The 1990 renovation, overseen by preservation architect Joseph Pell Lombardi, left most of the Victorian era trim intact. Local architectural write ups say that level of care sets the building apart for collectors and preservation minded buyers who want original moldings rather than replicas. The combination of sensitive stewardship and free market status is what makes 129 E. 17th St. appealing both to developers looking at spreadsheets and to conservationists looking at cornices.
With its rare availability, preserved historic features, and conversion potential, the walk-up is expected to attract interest from both developers and individual buyers. The broker is coordinating listing materials and property tours as the sales process gets underway.
