The brownstone is one of New York City’s most recognizable building types. From Brooklyn Heights and Park Slope to Harlem, these homes have shaped the look of entire neighborhoods for nearly two centuries — and they remain as sought-after as ever.

Whether you have a brownstone, limestone, wood or brick façade, if you own a townhouse in New York City, you are a steward of an important piece of our city’s built history.  Most townhouses were constructed sometime during the late 19th to early 20th century to accommodate the rapidly expanding population of NYC’s merchant class. This prized real estate — with narrow footprints and deep lots — results in homes with historic character, layers of craftsmanship, signature layouts, and specific structural demands that all inform how these homes are renovated today.

While co-ops and condos tend to dominate the New York real estate conversation, Manhattan townhouses sit in a category of their own — defined by their architecture, their history, and what it actually means to own and renovate one. This guide covers where these buildings came from, what defines them architecturally, the neighborhoods they shaped, and what it takes to renovate one well.