April 16, 2026

170 West 74th Street Photo-Illustration: Curbed; Photos: Susan Finkel, LREB

Headed to the land of Hochul and Mamdani’s pied-à-terre tax this week, and pitted the Upper East Side and Upper West Side against each other. Sadly, there was no winner — just two similarly expensive neighborhoods separated by a park that has the power to multiply the value of your apartment. Next week, I’ll head back downtown and toward the outer boroughs, where the square footage and price points feel a little cozier.

Also, small announcement: Starting next week, the “Listings Edit” will look a little different. The column will publish to Curbed on Friday at 7 a.m., and this newsletter will show up in a new format later that day. Basically, expect my column plus links to the rest of the week’s best apartment stories. (The apartments remain the same, but now they’ll have a chance to haunt you on a slightly larger stage before hitting your inbox along with other good stuff.)

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$14,000, 4-bedroom: This one gives me a good tingle. Completely dreamy and unaffordable 1886 townhouse with all the good bones — fireplaces, shutters, claw-foot tub. The pink bedroom is my highlight here.

$11,000, 2-bedroom: A five-month, fully furnished stay at the Century Condominium with enough prewar grandeur to distract from the fact that you’re living in someone else’s living room? Sort of confused by the price point, but maybe it’s because of all the free furniture and sweeping views of Central Park?

$7,400, 1-bedroom: Had to Google what triple mint bedroom meant — “like new,” apparently — which seems true enough considering the shine on those herringbone floors and Calacatta marble surfaces.

360 Central Park West Photo: Engel & Völkers New York City

$6,400, 1-bedroom: Loftlike prewar gem in the Olcott. But it’s on the small side, and I don’t like all the extra white-glove building costs!

$5,900, 1-bedroom: Pretty straightforward one-bedroom with a south-facing living room and no central AC, which might not bode well for summer, as it’s now 85 degrees in the middle of April. (I say this as someone without AC, who is currently sweating under her laptop.)

$4,600, 1-bedroom: Must find out who lived here — I love their style. The wrought-iron bed frame and pink fabric wallpaper really pull me in. There’s also a Jacuzzi in the marble bathroom so, yeah, you’re welcome.

170 West 74th Street Photo: Susan Finkel, LREB

$4,500, 1-bedroom: Guys, it’s expensive up here … the location is great and it’s not the size of my thumb (i.e., small), but we can do better than the track lighting from 1996 and the sliding-door shower system that needs to be retired.

$3,395, studio: Unlike the listing, I wouldn’t call it oversize, but I am charmed by this little studio right off Riverside Drive.

949 West End Avenue Photo: Metropolitan Equities

$15,000, 3-bedroom: I’ve listed this Epstein-esque lair before, I think, but it still pulls me in. Is it the over-the-top chandeliers, the hundred-pane window in the living room, or the fact that there are no other windows beyond that? Who’s to say.

$11,500, 1-bedroom: This Sherry Netherland one-bedroom is mostly for gawking purposes. As you all should know by now, I admire a commitment to the bit, which, for this listing, means leaning heavily on a high-contrast black and white palette, zebra-pattern rugs, and floor-to-ceiling mirrors — very early-’80s high-end nightclub or early-aughts low-end hotel lobby?

781 Fifth Avenue Photo: Sotheby’s International Realty

$6,650, 2-bedroom: It’s too expensive, but the bay window and tall ceilings make for a covetable pair of handsome features.

$5,500, 1-bedroom: Beyond the bad floors (or maybe I’m just distracted by the strip of rumpled plastic running through the living room), this floor-through townhouse apartment has a lot of personality. Whether or not we like that personality is another story.

$3,500, 1-bedroom: This one’s doing a lot with a little and is very well located.

239 East 60th Street Photo: Douglas Elliman

$2,595, studio: What it lacks in space it makes up for in the marble bathroom. Otherwise clean and charming with good hardwoods!

$3,500, 2-bedroom: Price coming down to a number that makes me feel like I can breathe again. I like this apartment despite it being a little hallwayish.