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- Two rarely available condos near Central Park are listed for $1.39 million.
- Pomander Walk, a hidden gem in Manhattan, features unique European-style cottages.
- Built in 1921, the landmarked area offers a rare real estate opportunity for the next buyer.
An Irish immigrant designed a neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan that looks more like a European alleyway than a metropolitan side street.
Pomander Walk, a small gated community that’s been around for over 100 years, is wrapped by 94th and 95th Street in Manhattan, only a few blocks away from Central Park. Yet many city residents are completely unaware that this small oasis exists.
Now, there’s an opportunity to own a piece of the picturesque side street. A rare two condos hit the market for a combined $1.39 million. The units for sale are one-bedroom condos on the second and third floors that can be combined into one duplex.
“It really is a hidden gem,” listing agent Kim Shankman told Business Insider of the street. “You’re on it and you can’t even believe you’re in New York City.”
The micro-neighborhood, built in 1921 by Irish developer Thomas Healy, gets its name from the 1910 English play “Pomander Walk.” In 1982, it was designated a New York City landmark.
According to Shankman, the collection of 61 units was supposed to be one large building, but the developer ran out of money and instead built individual Tudor-style homes.
It’s extremely rare that units come on the market, as owners tend to hold onto them for a while — Shankman said her clients owned the two units for at least three decades.
“It’s just time for their family to let it go, but I think it’s really hard for them to let it go,” Shankman said. “One of the things they said to me is they want someone to fall in love with it, just as they did.”
For $699,000 per unit (they’re being sold separately), the next buyer has the opportunity to own in one of New York’s most unique neighborhoods. Take a look inside.
The Tudor-style buildings were built in 1921 by Irish immigrant Thomas Healy, who came to New York at age 15.

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There are currently 61 units, some of which have been combined over the years.
The neighborhood was supposed to be one large building, but instead was turned into 27 three-story condos.

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According to Shankman, the original developer ran out of the money needed to make one big residential building.
Pomander Walk was landmarked by New York City in 1982.

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It’s tucked away between 94th and 95th Street and fenced off by an iron gate on either side.
The neighborhood was inspired by the set of an English play.

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“Pomander Walk, ” written by Louis N. Parker, debuted in 1910 using a single set that took place facing the River Thames in Chiswick, West London.
Pomander Walk is only about three blocks from Central Park.

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After its exterior was renovated in 2009, Pomander Walk won a “Building Rehabilitation” award from the architecture and culture nonprofit Landmark West.
For sale are two one-bedroom, one-bathroom units with the ability to be combined.

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“This particular building has three floors, and the owners owns the second and the third floor,” Shankman said. “Right now, there are separate one-bedroom apartments, but as has been done in other individual buildings, people have combined them to make them into a larger home.”
The family has owned these two units for several decades.

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According to Streeteasy, only six units have been advertised for rent since 2009.
The two units have almost identical floor plans.

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Each unit has one bedroom with closets, a bathroom, a living room, and an eat-in kitchen at 500 square feet, according to Homes.com.
Units on sale are hard to come by.

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According to StreetEasy, a unit was sold in an off-market sale in July. The last recorded sale was in 2023 — a two-bedroom unit that sold for $900,000.
It looks unlike any other neighborhood in Manhattan.

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“It’s just very unique, idyllic,” Shankman said.
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