I visited 11 of the skinniest homes in New York City, and the narrowest one is a mere 9 feet wide

Joey HaddenJun 12, 2021, 20:34 IST

I explored the skinniest residential buildings in my city, New York.Joey Hadden/Insider

New York City is jam-packed with unique-looking homes and towers of all shapes and sizes.
I explored the city in search of the most narrow residential homes in the five boroughs.
The 11 skinny homes measuring less than 13 feet wide each seemed to have their own character.

I took a tour of the most narrow residences in New York City, and I found so much diversity.

I went to skinny homes across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Joey Hadden/Insider

Skinny houses exist in cities across the world. A $1 million home in London, a spite house in Boston, and a luxury townhouse in New York City are just a few examples of these thin-looking structures where people live.

I went to 11 different narrow homes around Brooklyn and Manhattan, and none of them appeared the same. Each home had its own character, and price points varied tremendously.

The skinniest townhouse in New York City is at 75.5 Bedford St. in the West Village, and it clocks in at 9 feet and 6 inches wide.

The narrow house at 75.5 Bedford St. Joey Hadden/Insider

The residence at 75.5 Bedford St. is considered the narrowest townhome in New York City, according to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The home was built in 1873 between two townhouses in a Greenwich Village alleyway, as Insider previously reported. While it was sold for $3.25 million in 2013, the 999-square-foot home is likely worth double that now, according to the same article.

The residence at 75.5 Bedford St. is considered the narrowest townhome in New York City, according to the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

There's an even narrower house at 39 St. Marks Place in Manhattan's East Village.

The narrow house at 39 St. Marks Place. Joey Hadden/Insider

The townhome at 39 St. Marks Place measures 8.5 feet wide, which is actually more narrow than the house at 75.5 Bedford St., according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

However, since the St. Marks Place home was technically built as an extension of the address's original building, it's not considered the narrowest home in the city, according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

The townhome at 39 St. Marks Place measures 8.5 feet wide, which is actually more narrow than the house at 75.5 Bedford St., according to the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

Lower Manhattan is home to a modern-looking skinny residence. Located at 267.5 Water St., the home measures 13 feet wide, listing agent Gordon von Broock of Douglas Elliman previously told Insider.

The narrow house at 267.5 Water St. Joey Hadden/Insider

"There's high ceilings, very low profile, there's no moldings or anything that sticks out," Von Broock told Insider of the interior. "Everything's very clean. I think it just feels — I wouldn't say spacious — but it feels like a normal room."

It was worth $5 million when Insider published the article in 2018.

Lower Manhattan is home to a modern-looking skinny residence. Located at 267.5 Water St., the home measures 13 feet wide, listing agent Gordon von Broock of Douglas Elliman previously told Insider.

There's high ceilings, very low profile, there's no moldings or anything that sticks out, Von Broock told Insider of the interior. Everything's very clean. I think it just feels — I wouldn't say spacious — but it feels like a normal room.

It was worth $5 million when Insider published the article in 2018.

On the Upper West Side, an apartment building at 31 West 94th St. measures 12 feet wide, according to Curbed NY, and the building to the left of it looks to be roughly the same size.

The narrow house at 31 West 94th St. Joey Hadden/Insider

Units in this three-story co-op on Curbed NY's list of narrow buildings that was built in 1900 cost around $600,000, according to the New York City real estate website StreetEasy.

On the Upper West Side, an apartment building at 31 West 94th St. measures 12 feet wide, according to Curbed NY, and the building to the left of it looks to be roughly the same size.

Units in this three-story co-op on Curbed NY's list of narrow buildings that was built in 1900 cost around $600,000, according to the New York City real estate website StreetEasy.

A short walk away, you'll find another narrow apartment building at 261 West 93rd St. This one's even skinnier, measuring just 11 feet wide, according to Curbed NY.

The narrow house at 261 West 93rd St. Joey Hadden/Insider

It's a walk-up building with seven apartments that sold for $184,388 in 2011, according to Curbed NY and Property Shark. It was built in 1900.

A townhome in Manhattan's Upper East Side on 22 East 84th St. is 12 feet wide and has a store on the ground floor, according to Curbed NY.

The narrow house at 22 East 84th St. Joey Hadden/Insider

Built in 1950, the narrow home sold for $1.05 million in 1999, according to Curbed NY.

In South Brooklyn, a three-family home at 1054 62nd St. sits at 12 feet wide, as Curbed NY reported.

The narrow house at 1054 62nd St. Joey Hadden/Insider

Curbed NY reported that the house was last sold in 2000, but its most recent selling price was not published.

There's another 12-foot-wide home south of Prospect Park in Brooklyn: a three-family unit located at 404 Greenwood Ave., according to Curbed NY.

The narrow house at 404 Greenwood Ave. Joey Hadden/Insider

The Brooklyn home was built in 1899, according to Property Shark, and was last sold in 1977, according to Curbed NY.

In Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, one of the city's skinniest homes sits at 481 Lexington Ave., and the building to the right of it appears to be roughly the same size.

The narrow house at 481 Lexington Ave. Joey Hadden/Insider

This home, built in 1899, is about 10.33 feet wide, according to Curbed NY. It last sold in 2017 for $525,500, according to Property Shark.

In Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, one of the city's skinniest homes sits at 481 Lexington Ave., and the building to the right of it appears to be roughly the same size.

This home, built in 1899, is about 10.33 feet wide, according to Curbed NY. It last sold in 2017 for $525,500, according to Property Shark.

Just a few blocks away, 355A Monroe St. is a two-family residence that's 12 feet wide, according to Curbed NY.

The narrow house at 355A Monroe St. Joey Hadden/Insider

The 1920 property sold for $7,500 back in 2012 and $556,500 in 2007, according to Property Shark.

Taking this tour made me realize that buying or renting narrow in New York City isn't limited by one architectural style, neighborhood, or budget.

Me touring the skinniest homes in New York City. Joey Hadden/Insider

Whether you're looking to live in a 19th-century building, a bustling Manhattan neighborhood, or close to Brooklyn's peaceful Prospect Park, it seems like there's a skinny home — each with its own character — around every corner in New York City.

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I visited 11 of the skinniest homes in New York City, and the narrowest one is a mere 9 feet wide

I took a tour of the most narrow residences in New York City, and I found so much diversity.

The skinniest townhouse in New York City is at 75.5 Bedford St. in the West Village, and it clocks in at 9 feet and 6 inches wide.

There's an even narrower house at 39 St. Marks Place in Manhattan's East Village.

Lower Manhattan is home to a modern-looking skinny residence. Located at 267.5 Water St., the home measures 13 feet wide, listing agent Gordon von Broock of Douglas Elliman previously told Insider.

On the Upper West Side, an apartment building at 31 West 94th St. measures 12 feet wide, according to Curbed NY, and the building to the left of it looks to be roughly the same size.

A short walk away, you'll find another narrow apartment building at 261 West 93rd St. This one's even skinnier, measuring just 11 feet wide, according to Curbed NY.

A townhome in Manhattan's Upper East Side on 22 East 84th St. is 12 feet wide and has a store on the ground floor, according to Curbed NY.

In South Brooklyn, a three-family home at 1054 62nd St. sits at 12 feet wide, as Curbed NY reported.

There's another 12-foot-wide home south of Prospect Park in Brooklyn: a three-family unit located at 404 Greenwood Ave., according to Curbed NY.

In Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, one of the city's skinniest homes sits at 481 Lexington Ave., and the building to the right of it appears to be roughly the same size.

Just a few blocks away, 355A Monroe St. is a two-family residence that's 12 feet wide, according to Curbed NY.

Taking this tour made me realize that buying or renting narrow in New York City isn't limited by one architectural style, neighborhood, or budget.