177 East 78th Street

Own a piece of history! This rare and never before listed house at 177 East 78 Street, is a magnificent 4 story red brick townhouse with a finished basement and an elevator servicing the entire home. Built circa 1899, this stately home is contiguous to its sister house, 175 East 78 Street. Located on a beautiful tree-lined block, 177 East 78 Street was first inhabited in 1871 by hardware merchant Augustus T Chur, at the end of the Civil War.

The wealthy widow Mrs. Mary Sheehan , lived in the single house for a number of years until the real estate firm Lowenfeld & Prager purchased both 177 and 175 East 78 Street in 1902. Miraculously, the two homes have remained bonded under single-ownership ever since. It should be noted that in September of 1946, the two buildings became home to the great American author and Nobel Prize winner, John Steinbeck.

Together with his wife, they lived and owned both homes until 1948. Most recently, the houses have been owned by the same family for over 55 years.177 East 78 Street is 18’ wide and has been completely renovated from top to bottom. Elegantly set off the street, the stately home offers 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, a beautifully landscaped backyard, 2 wood burning fireplaces, split AC system, hardwood floors, finished basements, and one elevator servicing the entire house.

The first floor features a formal entryway with a spacious coat closet and a large eat-in kitchen with top of the line Bosch and SubZero stainless steel appliances. A huge living room/ dining room with oversized bay windows leads outside to a beautiful backyard. Light streams in from North to South through floor-to-ceiling windows on the parlor floor.

An expansive formal living room, library with ensuite bathroom, and wet bar make this grand space perfect for both living and entertaining. The top two floors feature a total of 4 gracious bedrooms, each with its own tastefully renovated bathroom and ample closets. The huge primary suite is outfitted with a marble bathroom and a stall shower.

The finished basement includes a cedar closet storage room, a full laundry room complete with a sink and brand-new full-size Electrolux washer and dryer and easy access to all the updated mechanicals. For your convenience, there is a full-service garage directly across the street. Approx 4,593 of unused Air Rights

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