Milton Coste

Licensed Real Estate Associate Broker

(917) 416-7433

SOLD FOR $2,250,000

Listed at $2,495,000 · Sold 9.8% below asking · Closed February 28, 2025

234 W 138th Street
Looking for something similar?

$2,495,000

$509 per sq ft

234 W 138th Street

Harlem, Manhattan

234 West 138th Street

MLS® #RLS10977235

RLS at REBNY

Listing by Sothebys International Realty

5

Bedrooms

3.5

Baths

4,900

Sq. Ft.

1891

Year Built

Quick Summary

Bedrooms 5
Bathrooms 3 full, 1 half
Living Area 4,900 sq ft
Lot Size 2,107 sq ft
Year Built 1891
Ownership None
Property Taxes $9,588/yr
Neighborhood Harlem

Property Highlights

  • Exposure: North,South facing
  • Outdoor Space: Building Terrace, Terrace
  • Fireplace: 1 fireplace

Property Details

Type Single Family Residence
Ownership None
Total Rooms 11
Baths 2 Full, 1 Half
Exposure North,South
Pets Yes
Year Built 1891
Living Area 4,900 sq ft
Architectural Style Prewar
Structure Type Townhouse
Furnished Unfurnished
Lot Size 2,107 sq ft
Parcel # 2023-0052
Block/Lot 02023/0052

Description

234 West 138th is a rarely-available Georgian Revival-style townhouse in the grandest section of historic Striver’s Row. Long the artfully curated home of trailblazing publisher Jenette Kahn, who helmed DC Comics and MAD Magazine for over 26 years and is now a movie producer renowned for films like Clint Eastwood's GRAN TORINO. This expansive property features five bedrooms, formal dining room, living room, library, eat-in-kitchen, windowed home office, kitchenette, quiet garden, six fireplaces, exceptional space for storage, and private parking. Parlor Floor The impressive L-shaped stoop of brownstone and black ironwork leads to the grand Parlor floor. A perfect stage for entertaining, it boasts 11-foot high ceilings, a well-proportioned living room, gallery, and library. It retains much of the original and elegant 19th century design with quarter-sawn oak wainscoting, three fireplaces and a majestic staircase that cascades into the central gallery. Garden Level Stairs from the gallery lead down to the garden floor where you're transported to a light and airy kitchen with clean modern lines. The full-width kitchen boasts a custom-designed island, stainless steel cabinetry, and colorfully executed breakfast banquette. Separate cocktail area is framed by a playful illuminated wall of ascending "champagne" bubbles. Adjacent formal dining room is itself a work of art with hardwood floor painted in a marble tromp l'oeil, a decorative coffered ceiling installation, and sculptural wood-burning fireplace. Floor-to-ceiling glass doors open from the kitchen to the private garden with its own mature Japanese Yoschino Cherry tree. Double doors connect to the rear carriage lane where there is a private outdoor parking space behind the house. Third Floor The third floor includes an expansive primary suite with sky-lit five-piece bathroom. A south-lit second bedroom, windowed home office, and two fireplaces complete the floor. Fourth Floor An additional three bedrooms frame the sunny and bright top floor. A central light-way allows for additional windows in the kitchenette and bathroom, and a large skylight crowns the home's grand staircase. Basement A generous 1,350 sq.ft. of additional private space for storage and home mechanicals. Neighborhood Striver's Row was completed in 1893 as a thoughtfully planned townhouse neighborhood. Originally called King's Court after its developer David King, the two blocks are made up of three stylistically-distinct sections designed by Stanford White, Bruce Price and Clarence Luce, and James Brown Lord. The southern-most Lord Houses are the widest at over 21’. Their facades feature fine stonework detail and a handsomely varied color palette with deep brownstone and crimson brick masonry, black ironwork at street-level, and green-hued cornices above. Strivers Row's rear carriage alleyways, a townhouse amenity typically found in pre-war sections of cities like London and Washington D.C., are almost wholly unique in Manhattan and additionally distinguish these two historic blocks.

Features & Amenities

Interior Features

Entrance Foyer Eat In Kitchen Kitchen Window Common Area Laundry Room In Unit Fireplace (1)

Exterior Features

Private Outdoor Space Under60 Sqft Building Terrace Terrace

Appliances

Dishwasher

Building Information

Building 234 West 138th Street
Total Units 2
Stories 3
Structure Townhouse
Style Prewar

Financial Details

RE Taxes $9,588/yr ($799/mo)
Sale Price $2,250,000
Previous Price $2,750,000

Harlem is a neighborhood of immense cultural significance and architectural beauty. Known for its historic 'Strivers' Row' and vibrant jazz heritage, the area offers some of the most impressive townhouse architecture in New York City. The real estate market is wide-ranging, featuring beautifully restored brownstones, value-driven HDFC cooperatives, and a growing number of modern luxury condominiums that offer contemporary amenities in a historic setting.

Harlem Live Market Data

View Neighborhood

Active Listings

63

Median Asking Price

$899K

Median $/Sqft

$852

Avg Days on Market

N/A

New This Week

6

Price Reduced

24%

Sold (30 Days)

0

Median Sale Price

$1.25M

Live data from RLS at REBNY • Updated 3/23/26, 8:14 AM EST

Similar Listings in Harlem

View All

Location

Loading map...

234 W 138th Street, Harlem, New York County

MLS® ID: RLS10977235
First Listed: 4/21/2023
On Market: 4/21/2023
Price Changed: 7/26/2024
Closed: 2/28/2025
Contract Date: 4/21/2023

Listing Courtesy of Sothebys International Realty - Colin Montgomery

Listing Contact: (212) 606-7620

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 3/23/2026 at 12:14 PM UTC

Buying in NYC? Start Here

NYC Closing Costs: Complete Breakdown

Buyer and seller closing costs itemized, including what to budget for.

Read article

NYC Mansion Tax: 2026 Guide

How the tiered mansion tax works for purchases over $1M.

Read article

NYC Real Estate Market Report 2026

Data-driven analysis of prices, inventory, and trends across NYC.

Read article

Interested in this property?

Get a response within 2 hours

Your info is secure and never shared.

View Active Listings Call Milton