Grand-Scale Solace
in City Limits
Villanova Heights pairs the convenience of a New York City address — it’s just a 15-minute drive to Midtown — with a peaceful and quiet suburban lifestyle.
BY INHABIT EDITORS
Perched atop the highest point in the historic Fieldston enclave of Riverdale, in the northwest corner of the Bronx, the new 15-home Villanova Heights neighborhood features designs by acclaimed architect Robert A.M. Stern and large leafy lots that bely their New York City address.
Nestled between the Henry Hudson Parkway and Van Cortlandt Park, prestigious Fieldston has long been prized for its majestic oak trees, winding privately-owned streets, and classic architecture. Founded by Dutch settlers in 1669 and developed as a weekend retreat by the early 20th century, this exceptionally leafy section of Riverdale was planned to resemble rustic New England suburbs that felt far in mind — yet were hardly, in distance — from Manhattan.
Villanova Heights channels the timeless draws of this bucolic corner of the city. The new master-planned neighborhood, which features attractive gardens, tree-lined streets, and a wealth of new-build architectural styles was carved out of a 16-acre forest called Chapel Farms, the past owners of which include the founders of the Theosophical Society. Nearby attractions include the 28-acre Wave Hill mansion and public garden, trendy eateries, and the endless recreational opportunities of Van Cortlandt Park, which offers golf, horseback riding, and various sporting facilities along with more than seven miles of hiking trails.
Let’s have a look at three current listings in the community:
5020 Grosvenor Avenue
7 Beds
7 Baths/1 Half Bath
10100 Approx. Sqft
Outdoor Space
This four-level, neo-Georgian mansion on a big and private 0.7-acre lot feels like something from another era but with all of the amenities and finishes that new construction offers.
The 10,100-square-foot home at 5020 Grosvenor Avenue features a symmetrical brick façade, seven bedrooms, seven full bathrooms, and one powder room, and a suite of amenities that includes a fenced pool with handsome wood decking, an elevator, a spacious flat lawn, and multiple balconies, porches, and terraces.
A formal driveway leads to a stately motor court framed by a three-car garage and a colonnaded portico that opens to a double-height entry hall. The ground floor holds a sun-filled living room with a fireplace, a gracious library, a formal dining room, and a chef’s kitchen that opens to a breakfast room on one side and the family room on the other.
Other architectural details include front and back stairs, a two-story mudroom, columns, extensive millwork, arched doorways and windows, hardwood floors, French doors, oversized windows, and high ceilings with moldings.
The upstairs primary bedroom suite offers a sitting room, a private terrace, dual closets, and a spacious bath with a soaking tub and twin vanities. There are two more bedrooms on this level, both with ensuites and walk-in closets.
Take the stairs, or the elevator, up to the third-floor junior suite and soak in the big views of the surrounding hills. This spacious bedroom also has its own bathroom and twin walk-ins as well as an adjacent office space.
Head down to the 3,354-square-foot basement level and its wine cellar, media room, and exercise room with a bathroom. You’ll also find state-of-the-art mechanical rooms, a laundry room, lots of storage, and a tucked-away ensuite bedroom.
VIEW LISTING
421 West 250th Street
One of the five Villanova Heights homes designed by Robert A.M. Stern himself, this three-story, 19-room gem on more than half an acre features a stone façade with a steeply pitched roof, dormers, and a wraparound porch. The bucolic grounds add a pool surrounded by tall privacy hedges, a flat lawn, a side yard pergola, mature trees, and a motor court, with parking for three cars alongside the four-car garage.
The 11,135-square-foot interior of this 2005-built home features two fireplaces, 10-foot ceilings, hardwood floors, oversized windows, tons of storage, and an elevator. The main level of the eight-bedroom, 10-bath home features a double-height entrance hall with an elegant staircase to the upper floors, a teal living room with a beamed ceiling, French doors, and a fireplace, a formal dining room, a library, two powder rooms, and an eat-in kitchen that opens to the family room.
The second floor holds five ensuite bedrooms, including the primary, which offers dual walk-in closets and access to an outdoor porch. The flexible 1,320-square-foot third floor features a you-pick extra ensuite bedroom or a home office. Either way, lots of privacy — plus closet space.
The sumptuous lower level holds an exercise room, a game room, a convenient mudroom just off the garage, a wine cellar, and a staff room with a bath.
VIEW LISTING
11135 Approx. Sqft
8 Beds
9 Baths/1 Half Bath
Outdoor Space
5041 Goodridge Avenue
Taking cues from the timeless shingle-style architecture of Ochre Point in Newport, Rhode Island, this instant four-level classic is perched on one of the highest properties in Villanova Heights, with open views of the neighboring hills.
With 9,000 square feet of interior space, the home at 5041 Goodridge Avenue offers a big 0.86-acre yard with a pool, up to eight bedrooms, six bathrooms, a three-car garage, an elevator, and covered front and rear porches.
From the gracious front walkway, pass through the front door into a sweeping entry hall with immediate views through the home to the back porch. This main level features a formal living room with a fireplace, a library, a dining room with French doors that open to the wraparound front porch, and an eat-in kitchen with an oversized island and adjacent breakfast and family rooms.
The second floor offers a primary bedroom suite with a sitting room and private deck, a practical laundry room, and three bedrooms with distinctive architectural features like corner nooks, bows, and decks. The top level holds two more bedrooms that share a bath and an office with big views and a closet.
The lower level features a convenient mudroom off the garage, a media room, and a spare ensuite bedroom (or a gym/yoga room, perhaps?).
VIEW LISTING
9000 Approx. Sqft
8 Beds
6 Baths/1 Half Bath
Outdoor Space
Jermaine Davis
Lic. RE Salesperson
Chris Cavorti
Lic. Associate RE Broker
Andrea Wintergerst
Lic. RE Salesperson
