If you’re looking for Harlem real estate, join the club. Harlem is one of the most storied, celebrated parts of the city, and its legend continues to grow. Beautiful brownstones, beautiful landmarks, a beautiful and diverse community — it’s no wonder that people from all over yearn to move here. Harlem is known for its regal brownstones, pre-war buildings, and townhomes, but there are many new types of luxury housing developments for people who are looking for more contemporary living options.

Circa Central Park
285 West 110th Street
New York, NY
212-280-0285

Located on the northern part of Central Park where Harlem and the Upper West Side meet, the newly built Circa Central Park is a LEED-certified, louvered beauty that represents one of the newest builds on the Harlem real estate scene. There are not many architects that will go out of their way to make sure that southern-facing units are sheltered from extreme sunlight with louvers, but that’s exactly what architects FXFOWLE have done. The gorgeous building features 49 residences, 10 of which have been set aside for affordable housing. What’s unique — and supremely interesting for design freaks — is that the building has been built on a rarely occurring curved site thanks to its location on a portion of a traffic circle, giving the building its unique, semicircular shape. FXFOWLE chief architect Dan Kaplan said that the firm’s goal has always been to respect and take into account land, sky, and community when building so that the end result is one that blends into the community instead of overshadowing it. Units are pricey — they start at $1 million — but people who qualify for affordable housing in the building are able to spend anywhere from $232,000 for a studio to over $381,000 for a two bedroom. Along with the usual building amenities associated with buildings at this price point, other special yummies include an electric car charging station, a communal rooftop terrace with a grill, a study room for teens and tweens chock full of computers and gaming areas, and fully stocked picnic baskets for when you’re attacked by the sudden urge to picnic and nosh across the street in Central Park.

Aurum Harlem
2231 Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard
New York, NY
212-521-5740

Located in the center of Harlem on Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard, the Aurum Harlem is a 115-unit building that seems to attract people who are drawn to the vibrant energy of Harlem but who are also looking for the amenities that make life a bit easier for city dwellers. You can nab a one-bedroom apartment for $678,000 (studios are sold out), and prices go up from there. White oak, wide-plank flooring; Kohler deep-soaking tubs; Florentine Carrera wall tiles; double-paned windows with trickle vent; and in-unit washer/dryers are just some of the amenities that have been luring in the buyers.

1399 Park Avenue
New York NY
212-369-1399

Located on the corner of East 104th, the Goldstein Hill & West-designed 1399 Park is being looked at as a harbinger of good fortune to Harlem’s east side. East Harlem has struggled in part to achieve the cache and hip rep of its west side sister thanks it part to its (generally speaking) less grand architecture and kind of difficult to reach location. If developers in the area have their way, they’ll be welcoming a new wave of buyers both old and new to the area. The 23-story, 72-condo building will offer studios starting in the mid $640s, all the way up to $3 million for three bedrooms.

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