Milton Coste

Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker

(917) 416-7433

SOLD FOR $3,300,000

· Closed May 30, 2023

Closed For Sale Multi Family

$3,300,000

255 E 78TH Street #House

Upper East Side, Manhattan

MLS® #RLS10851131

RLS at REBNY

Listing by Sotheby's International Realty, Inc.

4

Bedrooms

3.5

Baths

N/A

Sq. Ft.

1899

Year Built

Quick Summary

Bedrooms 4
Bathrooms 3 full, 2 half
Lot Size 1,413 sq ft
Year Built 1899
Neighborhood Upper East Side

Property Highlights

  • Views: City
  • Exposure: North,South facing
  • Style: Prewar architecture

Property Details

Type Multi Family
Total Rooms 8
Baths 2 Full, 2 Half
View City
Exposure North,South
Pets Yes
Year Built 1899
Architectural Style Prewar
Lot Size 1,413 sq ft
Parcel # 1433-0019

Description

In 1867 the completion of this Italianate style home at 255 East 78th Street became one of a long row of identical, three story brick faced residences with a discreet charm and storybook provenance. Originally the home in 1890 of New York Senator John Gilmore Boyd and most recently the former residence of New York Literary Icon John Leonard, literary, television, film and cultural critic, author, Former Editor of the New York Times Book Review, and a Featured Critic for CBS Sunday Morning for 16 years. This unique home has hosted many literary giants such as Nobel Prize-winner Toni Morrison to name a few. Rarely today with the vast large scale of so many townhouses presented for purchase does a home of this unique size and disposition become available for acquisition in Manhattan. Approximately fourteen feet wide and fifty feet deep with nearly 2,700 square feet of interior space. There are air rights available to add two upper set back floors if desired. Originally a single family home until around 1955 when it was converted to a two family class, currently the home consists of four floors plus a basement, four bedrooms, two full and two half bathrooms with a large eat-in windowed kitchen on the second floor. There are period wood floors, beams, a skylight, spiral staircase, high ceilings and a large rear yard. Bring your imagination and architect. This historic home is ready for its next chapter.

Features & Amenities

Interior Features

Den Separate Formal Dining Room Entrance Foyer Eat In Kitchen

Exterior Features

Building Garden Garden

Building Information

Total Units 2
Stories 3
Style Prewar

The Upper East Side remains the gold standard for classic New York elegance. Known for 'Museum Mile' and its quiet, tree-lined streets, the neighborhood offers a refined lifestyle away from the midtown bustle. While famous for its historic cooperatives, the area has seen a recent surge in ultra-luxury new construction condos, particularly along the Second Avenue Subway corridor, making it a top choice for both traditionalists and modern buyers.

Upper East Side Live Market Data

View Neighborhood

Active Listings

318

Median Asking Price

$1.32M

Median $/Sqft

$1,479

Avg Days on Market

N/A

New This Week

17

Price Reduced

23%

Sold (30 Days)

31

Median Sale Price

$1.40M

Live data from RLS at REBNY • Updated 3/29/26, 7:06 PM EST

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Location

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255 E 78TH Street #House, Upper East Side, New York County

Virtual Tour

Floor Plans

Floor Plan
Floor Plan
MLS® ID: RLS10851131
First Listed: 2/21/2023
Price Changed: 5/30/2023
Closed: 5/30/2023
Contract Date: 2/21/2023

Listing Courtesy of Sotheby's International Realty, Inc. - Gina M. Kuhlenkamp

Listing Contact: (212) 606-7610

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 advertisement does not suggest that the broker has a listing in this property or properties or that any property is currently available.

Broker Commission Disclosure: Broker commissions are not set by law and are fully negotiable.

Buyer Notice: Planning to work with a buyer's broker? A Buyer Representation Agreement is required before your broker can show you properties, per REBNY/UCBA guidelines (effective 2025). You may attend open houses independently without one.

RLS at REBNY

RLS Data display by Keller Williams NYC. Data last updated on 3/29/2026 at 11:06 PM UTC

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