A 140-year-old townhouse at 238 West 74th Street on Manhattan’s Upper West Side is on the market for $10.45 million. The asking price follows a $1 million price cut, according to a report by Realtor.com. The house spans approximately 6,460 square feet across five levels. It has six bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms, according to the listing on Compass.
Pic credit: Compass
The 41-foot indoor pool
Pic credit: Compass
Walk down West 74th Street and 238 looks like its neighbours. There’s brick, brownstone trim and a tall bay window. Nothing from the street hints that the house has a massive pool. That’s right. On the lowest level sits a 41-foot heated pool beneath a skylight. The pool is the centrepiece. Carl Gambino, the listing agent with Compass, says the pool is the feature most likely to catch a buyer’s eye. “A 41-foot heated indoor pool is an exceptionally rare find in an Upper West Side townhouse. It’s a private retreat for swimming and unwinding year-round,” he told the outlet. The pool is accompanied by a spa, a steam shower, a wet bar and a dressing room. The floors are heated, so bare feet stay warm on cold mornings. A dehumidification system keeps the air from becoming too humid.
Pic credit: Compass
Inside the five-storey townhouse
Pic credit: Compass
The townhouse was originally built in 1885–86 by William J. Merritt. Located in the West End–Collegiate Historic District, it retains its original brick and brownstone exterior. The interior is fully modernised. The turnkey house has six bedrooms in total. Five bedrooms sit on the upper floors, including a south-facing suite with its own terrace. The bathrooms have heated floors.
Pic credit: Compass
“The character of these side streets with the row houses is something that was impressed upon the Upper West Side by Merritt,” Douglas Wagner of Bond New York, who listed the property in March this year, told Mansion Global. “Their signature runs all the way up the Upper West Side.”
Pic credit: Compass
Two lifts connect all five levels. Behind the house, a 34-foot landscaped garden offers a quiet break from the street. The property has a total of 6,460 square feet of living space. In 2022, the townhouse underwent a gut renovation that added two lifts, central air conditioning, abundant natural light and two private outdoor spaces.
Pic credit: Compass
Climb the stairs and the house feels more like a traditional home. The kitchen is equipped with Wolf, Viking and Bosch appliances. There is also a chef’s kitchen. The dining room and lounge have floor-to-ceiling windows and open onto a private 34-foot landscaped garden. The parlour floor holds two separate living areas, a fireplace and another wet bar.Other features of the home include automatic shades, integrated audio, video security, two laundry areas and a rooftop generator.
Pic credit: Compass
“It pairs classic New York character with contemporary interiors and exceptional private amenities. At its current asking price, it offers compelling value for the space, renovation and private amenities,” Gambino says.“This home will appeal to someone who wants townhouse privacy and scale, loves to entertain and would make the most of year-round swimming. It offers historic character and modern comforts in a move-in-ready home.”
Pic credit: Compass
The house came on the market in March 2026, with an asking price of $14.945 million. The price was reduced several times before reaching $11.45 million, then cut by another $1 million to $10.45 million in September 2026.For a townhouse with a 41-foot indoor pool, the price is relatively reasonable. Indoor pools are still rare on the Upper West Side, but they aren’t unheard of. A townhouse at 48–50 West 69th Street is listed for $85 million and includes a 55-foot indoor lap pool. Another townhouse at 45 West 95th Street advertises its own indoor lap pool, complete with a waterfall feature.
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