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Difference Between a Brownstone and Townhouse

Difference Between a Brownstone and Townhouse

by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Apr 1, 2026 | Landmarks, Brownstones & Townhouses

People often use Townhouse and Brownstone interchangeably, but this is only sometimes correct. There is a distinction between the two.   What is the Difference Between a Brownstone and a Townhouse? A Townhouse is an attached home within a city. These are built in a...
Renovating a Townhouse in NYC: Planning, Design, and Approvals

Renovating a Townhouse in NYC: Planning, Design, and Approvals

by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Mar 25, 2026 | Renovating, Brownstones & Townhouses, Landmarks

Renovating a townhouse in New York City is fundamentally different from renovating any other type of home. Between zoning regulations, Department of Buildings approvals, Landmarks Preservation Commission review (where applicable), and the challenge of creating a...
Removing a Fire Escape from a NYC Landmark Townhouse: An Architect’s Guide

Removing a Fire Escape from a NYC Landmark Townhouse: An Architect’s Guide

by Jorge Fontan | Last updated Apr 6, 2026 | Landmarks, Brownstones & Townhouses, Restoration

Removing a fire escape from the front of a New York City landmark townhouse is a common consideration in high-end residential renovations. While fire escapes were often added for life-safety requirements when townhouses were converted to multifamily use, they can...
What Is the Difference Between a Brownstone, Townhouse, and Rowhouse?

What Is the Difference Between a Brownstone, Townhouse, and Rowhouse?

by Jorge Fontan | Last updated May 20, 2026 | General Architecture, Brownstones & Townhouses, Landmarks

Townhouses, brownstones, and rowhouses are ubiquitous residential building types in New York City and other historic urban environments throughout the Northeast. These terms describe attached urban homes with distinct architectural characteristics related to building...
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