Spuyten Duyvil — Geoffrey Weiss talks to Brick Underground about Buying Real Estate in the Neighborhood

The northwestern Bronx community of Spuyten Duyvil, where innovative sculptor Alexander Calder lived for a year while growing up, is a small, largely residential area that’s known for its waterfront views, serene parks, and limits on new development.

Its fancy Dutch appellation, variously translated as “Spouting Devil,” “Spewing Devil,” or even “Spinning Devil,” comes from the creek of the same name.

In this week’s Buy Curious, Geoffrey Weiss, an agent at Compass, and Chanda Colón, an agent at Douglas Elliman, give us the inside story on Spuyten Duyvil.

The question:

I’ve heard that Spuyten Duyvil is one of the higher-priced sections of the Bronx. Are there any bargains to be had?

The reality: 

It all depends on what you’re looking for, according to Weiss. Single-family houses, which are scarce and don’t come on the market frequently, can be expensive, though co-ops can be more affordable and available. “The co-op buildings are large, so there tends to be a lot of turnover,” he says.

Colón adds that housing prices are far less expensive than those in Manhattan, and it has high-rises that “can easily pass for luxury towers in Manhattan. It’s a hidden gem. Very few New York City residents are familiar with the neighborhood.”

Where is it?

Spuyten Duyvil is bounded on the north by Riverdale (some people consider Spuyten Duyvil to be a part of Riverdale while others vehemently disagree), on the south by the Spuyten Duyvil Creek, on the east by Kingsbridge and Marble Hill, and on the west by the Hudson River.

Why would NYers want to move to Spuyten Duyvil?

“Compared with Manhattan and Brooklyn, prices in Spuyten Duyvil are still much cheaper,” Weiss says. “And you have a good shot at being able to afford something with a river view.”

He adds that the swift commute to Manhattan—it takes about 25 minutes on Metro-North—and the large number of parks make Spuyten Duyvil attractive to young professionals.

Colón notes that the abundance of green spaces in a city setting and Spuyten Duyvil’s spirited sense of community are other attractions. “You have high-rises with concierge service and doormen and historical homes that have a Westchester vibe,” she says.

Where in Spuyten Duyvil should you live?

There are no named sections of Spuyten Duyvil, but the Henry Hudson Parkway divides the community in half from east and west.

The west side of the parkway commands higher prices because it has bigger luxury co-op buildings on the waterfront. “These are the most desirable properties in the neighborhood,” Colón says.

The east side has more single-family houses, which can be more costly than many of the co-ops. “This section is a little closer to Central Riverdale and its shops and restaurants,” she says.  

What are housing and pricing like?

Spuyten Duyvil is pretty much a seller’s market, especially for single-family houses, Weiss says, adding that with co-ops, because there’s a lot more inventory, buyers “have their pick and will pass them by if they are overpriced.”

There are 100 single-family houses, condos, and co-ops in Spuyten Duyvil, according to StreetEasy, which Weiss says “is not a ton of inventory.”

He breaks down the pricing as follows: Single families can start as low as $750,000 for a house that needs to be gut-renovated and range up to $5 million and $6 million.

Co-op prices start at around $150,000 to $200,000 for a one-bedroom unit. Two bedrooms generally are $250,000 to $350,000, and four bedrooms with two baths typically command $700,000 or $800,000 to $1 million. Condos are much rarer but are similar in price. 

One of the prime co-ops is Villa Charlotte Bronte, which has only 17 units and dates to the 1920s. Set on a hill over the Hudson River, it has views of the Palisades. StreetEasy shows only one unit, which is listed for $1.349 million and under contract.

Most of the other co-op buildings, including The Winston Churchill and Presidential, are large and date to the 1960s and 1970s.

Single-family properties date from the 1900s to the 1920s, and there are some townhouses built in the 1960s, 1970s, and early 2000s.

Is there a lot of new development?

Because Spuyten Duyvil is in a Special Natural Area District (SNAD), zoning restrictions have kept new development at a minimum, Colón notes, explaining that “the department of city planning asserts tight control over development in SNADs to protect their unique historical sites and sensitive ecological features.”

In fact, the only new residential construction, Weiss says, is for rental buildings such as The Henry, a six-story luxury project completed in 2022 with 55 units.

What’s the transportation situation?

There is no direct subway service in Spuyten Duyvil, but the No. 1 train in neighboring Kingsbridge is a 15- to 20-minute walk away.

The BXM1 and BXM2 express buses go to and from Manhattan, and the Metro-North Railroad runs to Grand Central Station and Westchester County.

Residents can drive to Manhattan on the Henry Hudson Parkway.

What is there to do?

There are four main green spaces.

Seton Park, a dog-friendly area, has baseball, football, and soccer fields, tennis and basketball courts, and playgrounds.

Henry Hudson Park has areas for dogs, baseball fields, basketball and handball courts, playgrounds, and spray showers.

Ewen Park, which is defined by a long stairway that connects Kingsbridge and Riverdale, has wooded areas, picnic spots, a dog run, playground, and basketball courts.

Spuyten Duyvil Playground has playgrounds, of course, as well as basketball courts and spray showers.

The Club of Riverdale, in The Century rental apartment complex, is a fitness center with indoor swimming pool that offers membership to residents and non-residents of the building.

What’s the restaurant/nightlife situation?

“The neighborhood does not have a nightlife, however, there are local bars and restaurants found within walking distance in Central Riverdale,” Colón says.

Knolls Crescent, a tiny commercial corner of the community, has a couple of take-out restaurants, including the longtime favorite Siam Square Thai Cuisine.

Another takeout option is Famous Pizza Express.

For other restaurants, residents head not only to Riverdale but also to Kingsbridge and Inwood, which are also are within walking distance.