The Barrington · Upper West Side

203 West 81st Street
Apartment 9B

We are selling our top-floor residence, completely renovated,
in the heart of the Upper West Side

3 Bed
Bedrooms
2 Bath
Bathrooms
1,270
Square Feet
9th Floor
Top Floor
The Residence
Where Pre-War Meets Modern Craft

A quiet, top-floor three-bedroom in a classic Upper West Side pre-war condominium.

On the top floor of The Barrington, this fully gut-renovated home offers the best kind of city living: calm, comfortable, and beautifully connected to the neighborhood. Renovated by the owner with a clean, modern sensibility, the apartment balances the warmth of a pre-war building with the ease of a contemporary home.

The home feels bright and considered, with white oak herringbone flooring, soft neutral finishes, and a practical three-bedroom, two-bath layout. The open kitchen is centered around a custom island, with integrated storage, Miele appliances, and a double-door Liebherr refrigerator. An in-unit Miele washer and dryer add everyday convenience.

The apartment is fitted with Skyline windows for added sound and temperature insulation, while its top-floor position means no neighbors above. Located on a prime West 81st Street block and zoned for PS 9 Sarah Anderson, a highly sought-after Upper West Side elementary school, this is a rare turnkey home in a neighborhood people rarely want to leave.

Details
Inside the Apartment

Chef's Kitchen

A full suite of Miele appliances and a 36-inch double-door Liebherr refrigerator.

In-Unit Miele Laundry

A full-size Miele washer and dryer installed in the apartment.

Skyline Windows

High-end Skyline windows with an additional outer layer of glass for sound and heat insulation — quieter rooms and better energy efficiency.

White Oak Herringbone

White oak herringbone flooring throughout the entire apartment.

Complete Renovation

Gut renovated to the studs — new plumbing, electrical, with every surface and fixture replaced.

Top Floor Living

Ninth floor of nine. No upstairs neighbors, and natural light from the top of the building.

Pre-War Character

Built in 1911. High ceilings, gracious proportions, and original pre-war architectural detail.

Condo Ownership

True condo ownership — straightforward transfer.

PS 9 School District

Zoned for PS 9 (Sarah Anderson), a top-rated Upper West Side elementary. Five-minute walk.

Pet Friendly

Cats and dogs welcome. Riverside Park and Central Park are both a 3-minute walk.

Subletting Permitted

Works as a primary residence or investment property.

Layout
Floor Plan

Floor plan coming soon.

1,270 sqft / 3 Bedrooms / 2 Bathrooms

Location
The Neighborhood
Central Park at your doorstep. The best of the Upper West Side within walking distance.
Sunset over the Upper West Side avenue at the corner crosswalk
Sunset on the Avenue
Classic pre-war brownstone and brick corner buildings on the Upper West Side
Pre-War Streetscape
Education
P.S. 9 Sarah Anderson

203 West 81st is zoned for P.S. 9 Sarah Anderson School, a District 3 public elementary serving Pre-K through 5th grade at 100 West 84th Street — just three blocks north. Named a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, P.S. 9 ranks among the highest-performing and most in-demand elementary schools on the Upper West Side. It pairs exceptionally high academic standards with a warm, collaborative community of teachers, administrators, and deeply involved parents, guided by a simple promise that "every child at P.S. 9 will succeed." Robust enrichment programming, a strong arts and music tradition, and multilingual family support (translation available in 11 languages) round out a school that families specifically move into this zone to attend. For buyers with children, that zoning is one of the most valuable — and increasingly rare — advantages a Manhattan address can offer.

Blue Ribbon

2023 National honoree

Pre-K–5

District 3 public elementary

5-Min Walk

100 West 84th Street

Visit the School Website
Getting Around
Transit & Commute
Steps from the 1 train, minutes from Midtown. The 79th and 86th St stations bracket the building.
1
79th St Station 2 blocks south — 3 min walk
1
86th St Station 5 blocks north — 5 min walk
B C
81st St–Museum of Natural History 2 blocks east — 5 min walk
D A B C 1
59th St–Columbus Circle Express hub — 7 min by subway
Midtown (Times Sq / Penn) 15 min
Downtown (FiDi / WTC) 25 min
Grand Central 20 min
Columbia University 10 min
The Building
The Barrington
Pre-war condominium, converted 1985. Full-time staff, prime Upper West Side address between Amsterdam and Broadway.

Full-Time Doorman

24/7 attended lobby

Pre-War 1911

115 years of character

55 Units

Intimate community

Live-In Super

On-site maintenance

Questions
Frequently Asked
No. The condo board has a Right of First Refusal (ROFR), which is typically waived within 1-2 weeks. There is no board interview, no financial scrutiny beyond the ROFR process, and no application essay.
Common charges are $2,556.40/month, covering doorman, elevator, building maintenance, water, and shared utilities. Property taxes are $1,835/month ($22,018/year), billed separately by NYC. Total monthly carrying cost: approximately $4,391/month. No special assessments are currently pending.
Yes. Subletting is permitted with no restrictions. The apartment works as a primary residence or an investment property.
Yes. Cats and dogs are welcome. Central Park is two blocks east and Riverside Park is three blocks west — both within a 3-minute walk.
Yes. The building is approved for financing, including conventional, FHA, and adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs). Cash and financed offers are both welcome. Estimated monthly payment with 20% down:

30-year fixed (6.53%): ~$16,514/month total (P&I ~$12,123 + common charges $2,556.40 + taxes $1,835). After 2026 SALT savings (~$580/mo): ~$15,934/month.
5/1 ARM (5.78%, WSJ): ~$15,585/month total. After SALT: ~$15,005/month — saves ~$929/mo vs fixed for the first 5 years.
All cash: $3,811/month carrying costs after SALT — and no mortgage recording tax (~$36,800 saved).
The apartment is zoned for PS 9 (Sarah Anderson), one of the Upper West Side's top-rated elementary schools. It's a 5-minute walk at 100 West 84th Street.
The building has a bike room and storage lockers in the basement. On-site laundry is also available on the basement level.
Yes. Buyer's agents are welcome and will be compensated. Contact us for commission details.
Yes. The federal SALT deduction cap quadrupled from $10,000 to $40,400 in 2026. This apartment's property taxes ($22,018/year) are now fully deductible — under the old cap, less than half qualified. For a high-income buyer, that's roughly $7,000+/year in federal tax savings (~$580/month), effectively reducing the after-tax carrying cost. The expanded cap rises annually through 2029, then reverts in 2030. Buying during this window locks in the benefit.
Three bedrooms and two full bathrooms in 1,270 square feet. The primary bedroom, second bedroom, and third bedroom (ideal as a home office or guest room) all have the same white oak herringbone floors throughout. Both bathrooms were completely rebuilt from scratch, with quality fixtures and finishes consistent with every surface in the apartment.
Get In Touch
@
A
Address
203 W 81st St, Apt 9B
New York, NY 10024