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$5,750,000

251 E 71st St New York City, NY 10021

4 beds
5 full
4,736 sqft
$1,214 / sqft
House

Property details

About 251 E 71st St

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 façade 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.

Highlights

Home typeSingle Family Residence
StatusActive
Size4,736 sqft
Year built1899
MLS #RLS20036222
FireplaceBedroom, Family/Living/Great Room

Summary

  • Full Bathrooms: 5
  • Fireplace: Bedroom, Family/Living/Great Room
  • Total Bedroom Count: 4
  • List Price: $5,750,000
  • Price/SqFt: $1,214
  • HOA Amount: $0 Monthly
  • Year Built: 1899
  • Living Area: 4,736 SqFt
  • MLS Number: RLS20036222
  • MLS Name: RLS
  • Office Name: Leslie J Garfield & Co Inc
  • Office Phone: (212) 371-8200
  • Listing Agent: Richard D Pretsfelder
  • Agent Phone: (212) 371-8200

The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc., All rights reserved. Website powered by IHR Technology Services.
Listing information for certain New York City properties provided courtesy of the Real Estate Board ofNew 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 forthe consumer’s personal, non-commercial use. Retransmission, redistribution or copying of this listing information is strictly prohibited except in connection with a consumers' 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.
Data displayed may be a portion of, and not a complete set of all listings published in the MLS.
This advertisement does not suggest that the broker has a listing in this property or properties or that any property is currently available
Data displayed may be a portion of, and not a complete set of all listings published in the MLS.

This advertisement does not suggest that the broker has a listing in this property or properties or that any property is currently available.
Last updated on: 7/15/2025, 2:45:32 AM Eastern. If you have any questions regarding the accuracy of this data, please contact us at help@rockethomes.com.

Price information

Property sales

We're sorry, we currently don't have property sales data for this listing.

Tax history

We're sorry, we currently don't have tax history data for this listing.

Nearby schools

8

P.S. 183 Robert L. Stevenson School

Public District KG-5

0.3 mi

419 E 66th St

9

P.S. 267 East Side Elementary School

Public District KG-5

0.4 mi

213 E 63rd St

9

P.S. 158 Bayard Taylor School

Public District KG-6

0.5 mi

1458 York Ave

School ratings are a score out of 10, where 10 is the highest and 1 is the lowest.

All data from GreatSchools

Neighborhood

The neighbors living near this home have an average income of $112,340. Typical income of New York City, NY residents is between $100k-200k annually. Most families are single, no kids. Most residents in this area have post secondary degree education.

How much money do the neighbors make?

19%
<35k
25%
35k-100k
30%
100k-200k
26%
200k+

What level of education do the neighbors have?

High School Diploma
Post Secondary Degree
Masters Degree

What types of families live nearby?

62%
Single, No Kids
5%
Single, with Kids
19%
Married, No Kids
14%
Married, with Kids

Are the neighbors home owners or renters?

Home Owners
Renters

How old are people in this area?

12%
<11 yrs old
4%
12-17 yrs old
33%
18-34 yrs old
36%
35-64 yrs old
15%
65+ yrs old

What do the neighbors do for fun?

  • Art MuseumsArt Museums
  • Music ConcertsMusic Concerts
  • Live TheatreLive Theatre

Where do the neighbors shop?

  • BloomingdalesBloomingdales
  • H&MH&M
  • Crate & BarrelCrate & Barrel

Where do the neighbors go to eat?

  • StarbucksStarbucks
  • ChipotleChipotle
  • Boston MarketBoston Market

What do the neighbors drive?

  • AudiAudi
  • VolkswagenVolkswagen
  • MercedesMercedes

What do the neighbors listen to?

  • NewsNews
  • Rhythmic Contemporary HitsRhythmic Contemporary Hits
  • AlternativeAlternative
All data provided by Home Junction and Claritas

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Frequently asked questions

About 251 E 71st St

The listing price of 251 E 71st St property is $5,750,000.

The property 251 E 71st St is a house located in New York City, New York, 10021.

Active Listing: 251 E 71st St is For Sale (Active/New) which means the seller is accepting offers.

The nearby schools for 251 E 71st St are: P.S. 183 Robert L. Stevenson School (GreatSchools Rating 8/10), P.S. 267 East Side Elementary School (GreatSchools Rating 9/10), P.S. 158 Bayard Taylor School (GreatSchools Rating 9/10), Ella Baker School (GreatSchools Rating 7/10), J.H.S. 167 Robert F. Wagner School (GreatSchools Rating 8/10), Yorkville East Middle School (GreatSchools Rating 9/10), Manhattan International High School (GreatSchools Rating 1/10), Urban Academy Laboratory High School (GreatSchools Rating 1/10), Vanguard High School (GreatSchools Rating 5/10).

The property at 251 E 71st St has 4 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms.

The property 251 E 71st St is 4,736 SqFt (source: MLS/tax record).

The year of construction for 251 E 71st St is 1899.

This home is located at 251 E 71st St in New York City, NY and zip code 10021 in the Upper East Side neighborhood. This 4,736 square foot home was built in 1899. Features: 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms. It has been listed on Rocket Homes since July 11, 2025 and is currently priced at $5,750,000.

New York City, NY housing market in June 2025 saw over 232 listings sold above listed price, more than 1007 sold at listed price and over 715 sold below. The number of listings in New York City, NY decreased by 4.3% between May and June 2025. In June 2025 median list price was $881,252 and the average listing age was 99 days.

From Rocket Homes Real Estate and based on county public records data.

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