A walk down Sylvan Terrace in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood is a true trip back in time.
Located right next to the historic Morris-Jumel Mansion, this quiet, one-block street is completely paved with cobblestone. It is lined on both sides with charming, fully restored wooden townhouses built in 1882.
Finding wooden homes in New York City is incredibly rare, making this perfectly preserved row a spectacular hidden gem to explore.
A carriage drive turned middle-class haven
Before these stunning townhouses were built, the street actually served as a carriage drive. It connected the nearby mansion to Kingsbridge Road, which is now St. Nicholas Avenue. If you look eastward today, you can still catch a perfectly framed view of the mansion between the bright yellow houses.
The twenty wooden townhouses were designed by architect Gilbert Robinson Jr. and were one of the first residential projects in the area. At the time, Washington Heights was mostly farmland. Contrary to popular belief, the homes were not occupied by the mansion’s servants. They were built for middle-class residents, housing locals like grocers and feed dealers.
The stunning 1980s restoration project
Over the decades, the street lost much of its original charm. Wooden facades were covered in faux brick or aluminum siding, and many original decorative details disappeared. Thankfully, the area was designated as part of the Jumel Terrace Historic District in 1970.
By 1981, a massive federally funded restoration project was completed. Using a photograph from 1910, the street was brought back to its former glory. Decorative cornices, green canopies, and wooden shutters were reinstalled to create a perfectly uniform look.
A real-life movie set
Today, strolling down the cobblestones feels exactly like walking onto a movie set. In fact, its unspoiled 19th-century charm makes it a highly desirable location for film and television shoots.
You might even recognize the street from the first season of the hit show Boardwalk Empire.
While it is sometimes erroneously confused with Sylvan Place or Sylvan Court down in East Harlem, Sylvan Terrace remains a distinct and unparalleled slice of Manhattan history.
Wish you could move into one of these historic gems? You actually can—if you have the budget. 8 Sylvan Terrace is currently listed for sale for $1.8 million.
📍 Sylvan Terrace, Washington Heights, Manhattan (Just west of Roger Morris Park)