232 W 135th Street
$2,590,000
MLS# RLS20118138 · West Harlem
Listed September 29, 2026 · 37 days on the market
7 Beds 3 Baths 4,130 Sq.Ft.
About This Property
Unlock the remarkable potential of this historic Romanesque Revival Harlem Rowhouse.
Currently configured as a legal two-family residence, the house is zoned R7-2 in a C1-4 overlay and sits on a tree-lined street blending commercial and residential structures. It has undergone several transformations over the past century. The house offers a rare cultural provenance, having once contained the studio of renowned photographer Austin Hansen, whose decades-long work documenting Harlem life is unparalleled. The current owners conducted a major renovation of the building in the 1990s and have thoughtfully maintained the house as a multi-generational residence. Updated mechanicals and regular maintenance offer a move-in condition option for potential buyers.
Possibilities abound:
***The Garden Level and Parlor Level comprise a two-bedroom, 1.5 bath residence with excellent income potential. Use the upper floors as an owner’s unit with 5 bedrooms, 1.5 bath. Or, reconfigure the space to suit your needs. The northern-facing front of the building offers access to the bustling energy of the city, while the rear of the building offers peaceful, sun-flooded southern exposure. The private backyard, accessible from both units, is large and awaits your magic touch.
***Try a live-work situation and use the lower unit for your business endeavors.
***Convert the house back to a single-family with an abundance of space and comfort.
The house is centrally located, with numerous shopping options as well as easy access to the B, C, 2, and 3 subway lines. St. Nicholas Park, City College, Strivers Row, and Harlem Hospital are nearby. Over-all, this opportunity offers a rare chance to create an exciting new chapter for an historic building.
Please note: Information herein comes from sources deemed reliable but must be independently verified to determine the zoning rules applicable to this specific property. Buyers should engage an architect to perform a zoning analysis. Some photos have been virtually staged or AI-enhanced. Showings are by appointment only.
Agent's Note
From Curtis Bain. Details about the apartment are drawn from the listing information provided through RLS by Find Properties.
Right now 232 W 135th Street is configured as a legal two-family residence across three stories, and both units reach a private backyard that's large. The house has 4,130 square feet and seven bedrooms, so the arrangement can suit a multi-generational household or an owner who wants to reconfigure the space.
The rear of the house faces south, and the listing describes it as flooded with sun. A south-facing window can get about 8.5 hours of direct sun on the winter solstice and about 10 hours on the spring and fall equinoxes, though nearby buildings can block that. The front faces north toward the energy of the city, and there's a city view.
The house dates to 1910 and has a Romanesque Revival facade. The listing says it once held the studio of photographer Austin Hansen, and the current owners renovated it in the 1990s. That gives you an older house with a documented history and a more recent major renovation behind it.
The 135 St station serves the B and C and the 2 and 3, each about 6 minutes on foot, so you're close to several lines. St. Nicholas Park is about 5 minutes away, and the 125 St station, with the A, B, C and D, is about 13 minutes on foot.
Quick answers+
Is there private outdoor space?
Yes. There's a private backyard that's accessible from both units and is large.
How many units does the house have?
It's configured as a legal two-family residence with two units.
Does the house have a view?
Yes, there's a city view.
Curtis Bain
Brown Harris Stevens
Property Features
Policies
- Pets allowed
Home features
- City view
Estimate
Monthly Cost & Closing Costs
The rate is a placeholder, not a quote. Enter the one your lender gives you.
$13,628 / month
- Principal and interest$13,096
- Property taxes$532
Due at closing
- Down payment (20%)$518,000
- NYS “mansion tax” (1.25%)$32,375
- Mortgage recording tax (1.925%)$39,886
Not included: attorney, title insurance, lender and appraisal fees, board application and move-in fees, flip tax and prepaid items. Estimates only, based on the published New York State rates. Your attorney and lender will confirm the real figures.
About the Building
232 W 135th Street is a 3-story two-family dwelling in West Harlem, completed in 1910 and home to 2 residential units.
The closest subway is 135 St (B, C), about a 6-minute walk. St. Nicholas Park is roughly 5 minutes away on foot.
Compiled from NYC public records and open data.
- Year Built
- 1910
- Stories
- 3
- Units
- 2
- Building Type
- Two-Family Dwelling
Location & Nearby
Map
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232 W 135th Street
Subway
- BC135 StAbout 6 min walk
- 23135 StAbout 6 min walk · Accessible
- ABCD125 StAbout 13 min walk · Accessible
Parks
- St. Nicholas ParkAbout 5 min walk
- Howard Bennett PlaygroundAbout 8 min walk
- Annunciation PlaygroundAbout 10 min walk
Public schools · Elementary schools
- P.S. 92 Mary Mcleod BethuneAbout 2 min walk
- Democracy Preparatory Harlem Charter School · CharterAbout 2 min walk
- P.S. 175 Henry H GarnetAbout 4 min walk
Middle schools
- St. Hope Leadership Academy Charter School · CharterAbout 2 min walk
- School of Earth Exploration and Discovery Harlem (Seed Harlem)About 10 min walk
High schools
- Thurgood Marshall Academy for Learning and Social ChangeAbout 1 min walk
- Mott Hall High SchoolAbout 4 min walk
Colleges & universities
- City College of New York (CUNY)About 11 min walk
- New York College of Podiatric MedicineAbout 20 min walk
- Manhattan School of MusicAbout 23 min walk
- Teachers College, Columbia UniversityAbout 23 min walk
Museums
- Museum of African American CinemaAbout 12 min walk
Walking times are estimates. Schools shown are the nearest public and charter schools and are not zone assignments; a nearby school is not necessarily the one an address is zoned for. Confirm zoning with the NYC Department of Education. Sources: MTA, NYC Parks and NYC Department of City Planning open data.
Gallery
Property Photos
Listing Courtesy of Find Properties
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.