Top-notch penthouses and tony townhouses may define the pinnacle of NYC living, but there’s also the perk of living on a hidden, off-grid city street.

And now one of those secret alleyways is looking for a new resident.

A 1,600 square foot townhouse in East Harlem returned for sale Monday, asking for $ 1.69 million, according to an update to the StreetEasy listing, after spending four months in the market last year. But more than its complete renovation and two private outdoor spaces, this house stands out for its location on a generally unheard-of street.

Its address is 2 Sylvan Court – a cul-de-sac with only seven houses which is located on East 121st Street between Lexington and Third avenues. Sales are far from common there, with only one transaction recorded since 2017 – this one being for this house, which traded for $ 1.32 million at the end of the year. Prior to that, Sylvan Court’s most recent home at No.4 was sold in 2011. The other homes were last sold in the years 1985-2001, according to city records.

“They are really nice people,” listed home owner, Harlem Lofts founder Robert Pair, said of longtime neighbors on the block. (Pair owns the spread as an investment property and, through their company, markets the property.)

Sylvan Court’s brick houses were probably used as a stable at the end of the 19th century, according to Ephemeral New York. And Sylvan Court has the same reputation as other hidden stables in the city, such as Pomander Walk on the Upper West Side and Warren Place Mews in Cobble Hill, which are among the city’s “secret streets”.

Although their locations vary, these stables share a separate and quieter atmosphere in common.

“What I liked, there is no noise from the street – there are no people hanging out in front of your house,” said Pair. “You walk down this semi-private sidewalk to the [seven homes] … Once you’re up there, you’re really private.

Now, it looks like the chance to live on one of these lanes has become more common, at least in the upscale Manhattan neighborhoods.

Beyond this home, Sylvan Terrace in Washington Heights – a former drivable lane now dotted with 20 charming wooden townhouses, which hardly ever sought new residents – has seen a number of recent listings hit the market. . Last week, 8 Sylvan Terrace went on sale for $ 1.79 million. At least six houses on the cobbled street, separated from the hustle and bustle of neighboring Amsterdam Avenue, have been sold since 2018 – two of them in just the past three months.

No. 2 Sylvan Court has two bedrooms and 2 ½ bathrooms inside. There is also an open plan kitchen with granite countertops, a separate dining area and, on the lower level, a utility room. Everything has a roof terrace.

“Once you’re up there you’re really private,” said Pair.

Pair added that the potential buyers so far are condo owners who want to upgrade to a townhouse, which is more reasonably sized and priced.

“They are getting ready to expand and have a few kids, but don’t want to move into [say] my townhouse, which is 5,900 square feet, so it’s too big, ”Pair joked.