A great investment for New Yorkers who want to stay in the city without paying too much
Leaving New York City does not have to be an option for those who feel priced out of places like Manhattan and Brooklyn. Accessible pricing and proximity to Manhattan make the South Bronx a viable option for those longing to stay within the five boroughs but don’t want to pay high price tags. With its spacious apartments and pre-war details, the 139-unit 811 Walton Ave. — a well-run co-op with solid financials — could be a worthy investment for the right person.
Located within the Grand Concourse Historic District, buyers at 811 Walton are almost guaranteed that Manhattan-style skyscrapers won’t come creeping into their neighborhood. “They can never build higher around me,” says Ariela Heilman, a Morningside Heights transplant and Brown Harris Stevens broker who has owned two units in the building. “I will always have light. I will always have sun. We will always have these parks.” Despite the South Bronx’s sometimes unfavorable reputation amongst some New Yorkers, buyers like Heilman see things differently. “What I saw was the ability to stay in New York,” she says about the stance she took right before her first purchase in the building. “People who don’t have that negative mindset see gorgeous architecture, a beautiful boulevard, parks everywhere. Around the courthouse, around Joyce Kilmer Park, there’s a sense of a town square here.”
Natural light for all, park views from three directions and a ceremonial entrance
Designed by Franklin, Bates & Heindsmann in 1927, the H-shaped 811 Walton Ave. was fashioned according to the Tenement House Law of 1901, which mandated multi-family housing be built with adequate fire protection, light, air and a distinct and private area in each unit for toilets and showers. Each section of 811’s “H” is recessed by three bays which ensures that natural light eases its way into every apartment. Unit lines in each half of the “H” mirror each other. “They're Rorschach,” says Deborah Miller, a real estate salesperson also with Brown Harris Stevens and Heilman’s business partner. Close to transportation and about two blocks from the world-famous Yankee Stadium (a 1930s advertisement in the New York Times implies the building’s original name was the Yankee Arms because of its proximity to the stadium), 811 Walton Ave. directly faces the Franz Sigel Park on the east side and has views of baseball fields on its west side and Joyce Kilmer Park from the north side. Entering through the palatial east gate of the Renaissance Revival building feels almost ceremonial; its wall is a series of small and large arches that frame elaborate wrought iron gates and grills. Residents walk down a large, U-shaped courtyard — whose shrubs and trees bloom in the warmer months with help from a volunteer building committee — leading to another elaborate wrought iron-framed doorway. Behind the door is an expansive lobby with intricately designed coffered ceilings painted white and copper. Terrazzo floors sit below, mapped out in a series of large, dark tiles framed with light borders. Marble wainscoting lines the walls and the space's giant, mirrored columns.
Several pre-war features add to the appeal of the apartments
Original features like nine-foot ceilings, a small foyer, arched doorways and parquet floors with dark and light borders stand out upon walking into D7, a one-bedroom listing Heilman and Miller had on offer for $249,000 during the winter of 2025. Natural light floods every one of the spacious rooms, including a windowed galley kitchen and the bathroom. Although the kitchen’s last renovation seemed to be about 10 or more years ago, it was in great condition. Many units that come to market have been recently renovated and reflect a more contemporary aesthetic. Three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment D8 which was sold by Heilman and Miller for $550,000 in early February of 2025, also had large rooms, including a parlor room facing Franz Sigel Park and a designated dining room with French doors to the front and a door to the side that led directly to a separate kitchen. “Originally, this door was for staff to go in and out of the kitchen,” says Heilman. With living and dining rooms as large as they are, she adds that owners sometimes use either as an additional bedroom and split the other room into a living room with a dining area. Original closets can also be found throughout units.
Retail spaces help off-set costs in the six-story building with mostly one- and two-bedroom units
When the building conversion happened in 1986, the former landlord handed ownership of the building’s first-floor retail spaces to the newly formed co-op. These ground-floor stores help off-set a lot of extra costs for residents, keeping maintenance fees relatively low. “There's a barber shop, a hairdresser, and a dry cleaner. We also rent out a studio space in the basement for yoga and children's music,” the broker says. One-bedrooms make up the majority of units in the building, followed by two- and three-bedrooms; very few studios exist. Prices for a one-bedroom can range anywhere from $225,000 to $345,000. Two-bedrooms start at $349,000 and go up to $435,000. In the past four years, only three three-bedrooms have been sold — two with two-baths — having prices between $410,000 and $550,000.
Pre-war basics plus some
While amenities at pre-war buildings are traditionally spare, 811 Walton has a few uncommon perks that stand out from similar buildings. There is the characteristic live-in super and handyman, two full-time porters, a part-time doorman and laundry in the basement. But residents also benefit from a package room, a small workout room and a community room for hosting events. The courtyard also doubles as a community space that welcomes the neighborhood a few times, annually. “We have a yard sale a couple of times a year there,” Heilman says. “We've picked up a lot of fans and followers in the neighborhood. People bring baked goods to sell. People make soap and cream. A lot of local people sell. There's a lady who does painting. The proceeds go to help out the garden committee.” The building is also pet-friendly and subletting is allowed.
Retail is only half a block away and residents get to two parks in under 10 minutes
“You won’t find the cafe society here like in Brooklyn,” Miller says. “It would drive our prices way up. You’re only four stops to Midtown. People go to Harlem for dinner — it’s just 10 minutes from here.” Non-existent cafes do not mean a shortage of commerce catering to household needs, however. About a three-minute drive going towards the Harlem River is the Bronx Terminal Market which has a Lidl, Home Depot, a Target and discount department stores like Burlington. Ten minutes of walking in the opposite direction gets residents to a smaller shopping complex where there's a Food Bazaar, and a mix of retail like Starbucks, fast food outlets and a multiplex cinema. Directly across the street, sitting entirely on a hill between Grand Concourse and Walton Avenue, is Franz Sigel Park, a 16-acre expanse of lawns, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, basketball courts and dog-friendly areas. A four-minute walk north takes residents to Joyce Kilmer Park, another expansive green space with playgrounds and lawns where Grow NYC holds a farmers market every Tuesday between April and Thanksgiving. “It's where the neighbors meet after the long winter,” Heilman says. “They have cooking lessons. Whatever is in season, they demonstrate how to make it into a dish.” And residents are only a six-minute walk away from watching their home team play or attending a popular concert at the world-famous Yankee Stadium.
Diverse options for transportation are nearby
A five-minute walk from 811 Walton Ave. is the 161 St - Yankee Stadium subway station. There, commuters can take a 15-minute ride to the west side of Harlem’s 125th Street via the B and D lines or to the east side of 125th Street via the 4 train. Those preferring to use the bus have several options as the Bx1, Bx2 and buses with service into Manhattan all stop on Grand Concourse, which is on the opposite side of Franz Sigel Park. An eight-minute walk to the Yankees – East 153 St Station gets commuters to Grand Central in about 25 minutes via the Metro-North train. Drivers get to the FDR in about seven minutes and it takes about five minutes to reach the Major Deegan Expressway.
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Current List Price
Sold Price
Area Factors
Moderate Crime
Crime Score®
5/ 10
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
47/ 100
Walker's Paradise
Walk Score®
93/ 100
Rider's Paradise
Transit Score®
100/ 100
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
Sources: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Walk Score
WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com, Powered by CAP Index provides objective, accurate, and consistent data to help measure, compare, and mitigate crime risks. Walk Score® measures the walkability of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Environmental risk data is provided by First Street Foundation® and is designed to approximate risk and not intended to include all possible scenarios.
Parks in this Area
Joyce Kilmer Park
5 min walk
Playground
Macombs Dam Park
6 min walk
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Football
Rev. T. Wendell Foster Park
11 min walk
Baseball/Softball
Basketball
Dog Park
Railroad Park
12 min walk
Trails
Playground
Mill Pond Park
13 min walk
Grills
Picnic Area
Tennis
Melrose Playground
14 min walk
Playground
Waterpark
Brigadier General Charles Young Triangle
4 min drive
Picnic Area
Trails
Frederick Johnson Playground
4 min drive
Tennis
Trails
Playground
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson Playground
5 min drive
Basketball
Playground
Schools
Source:
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