251 East 71st Street

4,736 Sq. Ft.
$1,214 / Sq. Ft.
4,736
Sq. Ft.
$1,214
per Sq. Ft.

Description

Offered for the first time in decades, 251 East 71st Street is a one-of-a-kind townhouse that combines historic New York roots with a bold mid-century architectural statement. Originally constructed as a traditional brownstone in the 19th century, the building underwent a visionary redesign in 1969 by architect Maurice Medcalfe of Hills & Medcalfe. Medcalfe transformed the faade into a modernist icon with its smooth stucco exterior and signature convex oval windows a sculptural interpretation of...Offered for the first time in decades, 251 East 71st Street is a one-of-a-kind townhouse that combines historic New York roots with a bold mid-century architectural statement. Originally constructed as a traditional brownstone in the 19th century, the building underwent a visionary redesign in 1969 by architect Maurice Medcalfe of Hills & Medcalfe. Medcalfe transformed the faade into a modernist icon with its smooth stucco exterior and signature convex oval windows a sculptural interpretation of the classic bay window that floods the interiors with natural light while offering a striking presence on the block. Inside, the home offers approximately 4,736 square feet across four stories plus a basement, currently configured with 4 bedrooms, an office, and 5 bathrooms, all in need of renovation. An office occupies the garden level, providing flexibility for live/work use, while the upper floors feature generously proportioned rooms ready to be reimagined for modern living. The home sits on a quiet, tree-lined block in Lenox Hill moments from Central Park, acclaimed restaurants, boutiques, and convenient transit. A rare opportunity to own an iconic piece of New York City architecture, 251 East 71st Street stands out as a testament to originality and craftsmanship, ideal for a discerning buyer who values history, design, and individuality.
  1. Listed by Richard D Pretsfelder • Leslie J Garfield & Co Inc
    P: (212)-371-8200 C: (212)-371-8200 rdp@lesliegarfield.com
  2. Listed by Jed H Garfield • Leslie J Garfield & Co Inc
    P: (212)-574-6980 C: (212)-574-6980 jhg@lesliegarfield.com
  3. Listed by Caylyn Sullivan • Leslie J Garfield & Co Inc
    P: (212)-371-8200 C: (212)-371-8200 cs@lesliegarfield.com
  4. Listed by Sophie Smadbeck • Leslie J Garfield & Co Inc
    P: (212)-371-8200 C: (212)-371-8200 ss@lesliegarfield.com

Property Details for 251 East 71st Street

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LISTING UPDATED: 01/21/2026 03:37 PM

Property Details for 251 East 71st Street

StatusActive
MLS IDRLS20036222
Days on Market197
Taxes$5,744 / month
Maintenance-
Min. Down Pymt-
Total Rooms10.0
Compass TypeTownhouse
MLS TypeSingle Family Townhouse
Year Built1899
Lot Size1,890 SF / 102' x 18'
CountyNew York County

Building

251 E 71st St

1 Units4 StoriesBuilt in 1899

Location

Listing Courtesy of Leslie J Garfield & Co Inc
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Building Information for 251 East 71st Street

Stories4Year Built1899Building Size18.5' x 64.08'Building Sq. Ft4,741.92 SFLot Size1,890 SF / 102' x 18'Building Age-Building Type-

Payment Calculator

$33,768 per month

30 year fixed, 6.15% Interest

Principal and Interest

$28,024

Property Taxes

$5,744

Maintenance/Common Charges

$0

The Payment Calculator is for illustrative purposes only.

Property Information for 251 East 71st Street

Summary
Location and General Information
  • Subdivision Name: Lenox Hill
  • Stories Total: 1
  • Garage Spaces: 0.0
  • View: No
  • Zoning Description: R8B
Taxes and HOA
  • Tax Lot: 0118
  • Tax Block: 01426
  • Association Fee Frequency: Monthly
  • Flip Tax: $0
  • Building Tax Lot: 0118
  • Tax Abatement YN: false
Parking
  • Garage: No
  • Garage Spaces Assigned YN: false
Property
Lot Information
  • Living Area: 4736.0
  • Building Area Total: 4736.0
  • Building Area Units: SquareFeet
  • Lot Size Dimensions: 102.17x18.50
  • Living Area Units: SquareFeet
Building Information
  • Landmark Status YN: false
  • Building Smoke Free YN: true
  • Building Laundry Features: InUnit
  • Building Pets Allowed: BuildingYes
  • Capital Reserves YN: false
  • Green Building YN: true
Property and Assessments
  • New Development: No
  • Sponsor Unit: No
  • Certificate Of Occupancy: Yes
  • Percent Of Common Elements: .00%
  • New Construction: No
  • Structure Type: Townhouse
  • Property Condition: Poor
Interior and Exterior Features
Exterior Features
  • Basement: Other
  • Patio And Porch Features: None
Interior Features
  • Entry Level: 1
  • Fireplace Features: Bedroom
  • Fireplaces Total: 1
  • Fireplace: Yes
  • Furnished: Unfurnished
  • Floor Number: 1
  • Basement: No
  • Cooling: No
  • ElevatorsTotal: 0
  • Size Dimensions: 64.08x18.50
Multi Family
Multi-Family Information
  • Number Of Units Total: 1
Rental
Rental Information
  • Pets Allowed: UnitNo
  • Delivered Vacant: No
  • Attendance Type: None
  • Land Lease: No

Property History for 251 East 71st Street

DateEvent & SourcePriceAppreciationLink
Jul 9, 2025

Listed (Active)

RLS RESO #RLS20036222

$5,750,000
DateEvent & SourcePrice
07/09/2025

Listed (Active)

RLS RESO #RLS20036222

$5,750,000

For completeness, Compass often displays two records for one sale: the MLS record and the public record.

Public Records for 251 East 71st Street

Taxable ValueLand$234,360Additions$89,400Total$323,760
Tax Record2025$65,027 ($5,419 / month) Tax Class1Tax Rate20.085%
Home Facts
Total Finished SqFt2,700 SqFtLot Size1,890 SqFtYear Built1899ZoningR8BAPN1014260118

Schools near 251 East 71st Street

This home is within New York City Geographic District # 2.
Rating
School
Type
Grades
Distance
Public - K to 5
Public - 6 to 8
Public - 6 to 8
Public - 6 to 8
Rating
School
Distance
East Side Elementary School, PS 267
PublicK to 5

Lower Manhattan Community Middle School
Public6 to 8

Nyc Lab Ms For Collaborative Studies
Public6 to 8

Jhs 167 Robert F Wagner
Public6 to 8

School ratings and boundaries are provided by GreatSchools.org and Pitney Bowes. This information should only be used as a reference. Proximity or boundaries shown here are not a guarantee of enrollment. Please reach out to schools directly to verify all information and enrollment eligibility.

Neighborhood Map and Transit

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251 East 71st Street is a townhouse for sale in Lenox Hill. This property was listed for sale on July 9, 2025 by Leslie J Garfield & Co Inc, it's currently listed at $5,750,000. This listing's school district is New York City Geographic District # 2. Nearby schools include East Side Elementary School, PS 267, Lower Manhattan Community Middle School and Nyc Lab Ms For Collaborative Studies. 251 East 71st Street is a 4-bed, 5-bath, 4,736 sqft townhouse built in 1899.

No guarantee, warranty or representation of any kind is made regarding the completeness or accuracy of descriptions or measurements (including square footage measurements and property condition), such should be independently verified, and Compass, Inc., its subsidiaries, affiliates and their agents and associated third parties expressly disclaims any liability in connection therewith. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions. Offers of compensation are subject to change at the discretion of the seller. No financial or legal advice provided. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Listing Courtesy of Leslie J Garfield & Co Inc

This information is not verified for authenticity or accuracy and is not guaranteed and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. ©2026 The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc., All rights reserved. The source of the displayed data is either the property owner or public record provided by non-governmental third parties. It is believed to be reliable but not guaranteed. This information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the IDX Program of OneKey® MLS. Information Copyright 2026, OneKey® MLS. All data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed accurate by Compass. See Terms of Service for additional restrictions. Compass · Tel: 212-913-9058 · New York, NY Listing information for certain New York City properties provided courtesy of the Real Estate Board of New York’s Residential Listing Service (the "RLS"). The information contained in this listing has not been verified by the RLS and should be verified by the consumer. The listing information provided here is for the consumer’s personal, non-commercial use. Retransmission, redistribution or copying of this listing information is strictly prohibited except in connection with a consumer's consideration of the purchase and/or sale of an individual property. This listing information is not verified for authenticity or accuracy and is not guaranteed and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. ©2026 The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc., all rights reserved. This information is not guaranteed, should be independently verified and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. Offers of compensation set forth here are for other RLSParticipants only and may not reflect other agreements between a consumer and their broker.©2026 The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc., All rights reserved.