New York's position at the center of the finance, literary, and entertainment industries has attracted luminaries of all stripes for years, and continues to do so. But after going about their days in the limelight, it can be gratifying to have some privacy at the end of the day. Some get it by buying in highly selective cooperatives with vigilant door staff, while others are prepared to go one step further and buy a townhouse for the ultimate in privacy. Interestingly enough, townhouses and coops accounted for the majority of celebrity listings, purchases, and sales in July 2024.
In this article:
Emily Weiss — Bought for $22,000,000
1 Sidney Place, #TH (Matthew Williams)
1 Sidney Place (CityRealty)
Before 1 Sidney Place hit the market, Glossier founder Emily Weiss made an offer and signed a contract in April 2024, and the sale closed for an even $22 million this July. When The Real Deal announced the contract, it noted that it was the second-most expensive single-family sale in Brooklyn.
John Dos Passos — Price reduced to $18,500,000
11 Bank Street, #TH (Douglas Elliman); John Dos Passos (BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1271828)
While working on his acclaimed novel Manhattan Transfer from 1924 to 1925, author John Dos Passos rented a room at 11 Bank Street. It still has multiple dwelling units one hundred years later, but can be converted to a single-family home. It was listed for $21 million in January 2024 but experienced a series of small price cuts since then, coming down to $18.75 million at the end of July. A few days into August, another price cut brought it down to $18.5 million.
From the Listing:
Located on the most desirable tree lined street in the West Village, this magnificent 24 foot wide five story Greek Revival townhouse offers everything one dreams of in a Village house: Celebrated West Village location and one of a long row of houses set back from the street, elegant scale, exquisite and gracious rooms that are dappled in sunlight, original historic detail, and a large garden which overlooks neighboring gardens in all directions.
The house has been in the same family for over 60 years and among the many marvelous historic details are original pine floorboards, moldings, and marble mantles throughout the house. While grand scale gestures abound the atmosphere is relaxed, open and inviting.
From the Listing:
Located on the most desirable tree lined street in the West Village, this magnificent 24 foot wide five story Greek Revival townhouse offers everything one dreams of in a Village house: Celebrated West Village location and one of a long row of houses set back from the street, elegant scale, exquisite and gracious rooms that are dappled in sunlight, original historic detail, and a large garden which overlooks neighboring gardens in all directions.
The house has been in the same family for over 60 years and among the many marvelous historic details are original pine floorboards, moldings, and marble mantles throughout the house. While grand scale gestures abound the atmosphere is relaxed, open and inviting.
John Philip Sousa and Travis Scott — Sold for $17,000,000
Most people wouldn’t put John Philip Sousa and Travis Scott on the same playlist, but the musicians lived in the same Greenwich Village townhouse centuries apart. It was initially listed for $31.5 million in 2012 and was on and off the market ever since, appearing on an episode of The Kardashians sometime in between. When it entered contract with a $19.995 million ask in February 2024, it was noted that the domestic buyers were paying all cash for it. Most recently, public records indicate that it has sold.
From the Listing:
19th-century charm meets cutting-edge 21st-century design with this one-of-a-kind single-family mansion on Washington Place, a 6-bedroom, 8-bathroom masterpiece with a wine cellar, tasting lounge, outdoor hot tub, custom glass elevator, Crestron home automation, private spa, and a trio of tranquil outdoor oases designed for entertaining and lounging. Exposed brick and stone combine with glass, steel, and wood to create an alluring palette of surfaces and textures. Gut-renovated by world-renowned Clodagh Design, this stunning 22.33' wide compound spreads 6 stories across approximately 8,757 square feet of immaculate interiors. Ideal for impressive entertaining and luxurious living, 80 Washington Place is a true trophy home.
From the Listing:
19th-century charm meets cutting-edge 21st-century design with this one-of-a-kind single-family mansion on Washington Place, a 6-bedroom, 8-bathroom masterpiece with a wine cellar, tasting lounge, outdoor hot tub, custom glass elevator, Crestron home automation, private spa, and a trio of tranquil outdoor oases designed for entertaining and lounging. Exposed brick and stone combine with glass, steel, and wood to create an alluring palette of surfaces and textures. Gut-renovated by world-renowned Clodagh Design, this stunning 22.33' wide compound spreads 6 stories across approximately 8,757 square feet of immaculate interiors. Ideal for impressive entertaining and luxurious living, 80 Washington Place is a true trophy home.
Kitty Carlisle Hart and Moss Hart — Price reduced to $13,900,000
1185 Park Avenue, #16/17F (Corcoran Group); Moss Hart (Photographer-Vandamm, New York - eBay itemphoto frontphoto back, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=20549519); Kitty Carlisle (Carl Van Vechten - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID van.5a51789.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2766665)
Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Moss Hart and his wife, actress/singer Kitty Carlisle Hart, frequently entertained famous friends in their Park Avenue duplex, and Ms. Carlisle did not slow down in the decades following Mr. Hart’s death in 1961. Following Ms. Carlisle’s death in 2007, the apartment was redesigned by acclaimed architect Stephen Wang and updated with Crestron smart home technology, central air conditioning, and electronic window treatments. It was originally listed for $21.5 million in September 2021, but the most recent price cut brings it down to $13.9 million.
From the Listing:
Chic sophistication awaits you in this sprawling pre-war showpiece. This residence, designed by Stephen Wang, boasts perfectly proportioned rooms for endless entertaining and everyday modern living, and enhanced by three terraces with stunning open city views.
Upon entering the home, you are immediately struck by the double height entrance, staircase and skylight, shedding sunshine throughout the entire apartment. The first floor contains the main living quarter drenched in southern light. Off the 27’ gallery, is a library, with a working fireplace and the 31’ ft great room also featuring a fireplace and bar area, complete with marble countertops and seating, and 2 wine refrigerators.
From the Listing:
Chic sophistication awaits you in this sprawling pre-war showpiece. This residence, designed by Stephen Wang, boasts perfectly proportioned rooms for endless entertaining and everyday modern living, and enhanced by three terraces with stunning open city views.
Upon entering the home, you are immediately struck by the double height entrance, staircase and skylight, shedding sunshine throughout the entire apartment. The first floor contains the main living quarter drenched in southern light. Off the 27’ gallery, is a library, with a working fireplace and the 31’ ft great room also featuring a fireplace and bar area, complete with marble countertops and seating, and 2 wine refrigerators.
3 Available Listings for Sale from $2,750,000
Eleanor Roosevelt — Listed for $10,750,000
Eleanor Roosevelt (Underwood & Underwood - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID cph.3b16000.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26357393)
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During the last years of her life, former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt rented an apartment in an Upper East Side townhouse, where she wrote her syndicated newspaper column and entertained dignitaries of all stripes. More recently, the townhouse has been converted to a single-family dwelling and undergone a meticulous renovation by Maria Masi. It was listed for $11.95 million in August 2023 and has been on and off the market ever since, returning most recently in mid-July.
From the Listing:
Situated in the exclusive Treadwell Farm Historic District in Lenox Hill, this exceptional 4-bedroom, 5-bathroom townhome offers a modern luxury lifestyle set against the grandeur and promise of ages gone by. Its storybook past includes being the former residence of Eleanor Roosevelt and playing host to foreign dignitaries, political functions, celebrity trunk shows, and non-profit events.
Built in 1873 and recently renovated by Maria Masi, this 19-foot-wide townhome rises five stories with a gorgeous redbrick facade. An elevator serves every floor, and a trio of private outdoor spaces include a classical courtyard garden, a terrace, and a rooftop deck with a dog run and skyline views. On the FIRST floor, a resplendent verde marble foyer with a brass entry gate and chandelier flows into an inviting reception hall with a powder room and custom printed wall panels depicting a 17th century Italian landscape.
From the Listing:
Situated in the exclusive Treadwell Farm Historic District in Lenox Hill, this exceptional 4-bedroom, 5-bathroom townhome offers a modern luxury lifestyle set against the grandeur and promise of ages gone by. Its storybook past includes being the former residence of Eleanor Roosevelt and playing host to foreign dignitaries, political functions, celebrity trunk shows, and non-profit events.
Built in 1873 and recently renovated by Maria Masi, this 19-foot-wide townhome rises five stories with a gorgeous redbrick facade. An elevator serves every floor, and a trio of private outdoor spaces include a classical courtyard garden, a terrace, and a rooftop deck with a dog run and skyline views. On the FIRST floor, a resplendent verde marble foyer with a brass entry gate and chandelier flows into an inviting reception hall with a powder room and custom printed wall panels depicting a 17th century Italian landscape.
Mary Martin — Listed for $9,800,000
The Campanile, #PH (The Agency); Mary Martin (Jerome Robbins/Winter Garden - eBay itemfrontback, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=29122288)
At the height of her celebrated Broadway career, Mary Martin lived in a penthouse in The Campanile, a prestigious Sutton Place cooperative that has counted Greta Garbo, Rex Harrison, and Noel Coward among past residents. The New York Post notes that the current sellers bought it in estate condition and embarked on an extensive renovation.
From the Listing:
This two-bedroom penthouse spans two levels, offering a total of approximately 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including the city’s most spectacular planted terraces that total over 2,000 square feet, providing sweeping panoramas of the East River and city skyline. Located atop the Venetian-Gothic Campanile, a landmark cooperative on a serene cul-de-sac at 450 East 52nd Street, this residence exudes Jazz Age grandeur with its distinct allure. Arrive via the private elevator, which ushers you directly into the penthouse, where meticulously restored bronze bank vault doors unveil a haven of luxury.
From the Listing:
This two-bedroom penthouse spans two levels, offering a total of approximately 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor space, including the city’s most spectacular planted terraces that total over 2,000 square feet, providing sweeping panoramas of the East River and city skyline. Located atop the Venetian-Gothic Campanile, a landmark cooperative on a serene cul-de-sac at 450 East 52nd Street, this residence exudes Jazz Age grandeur with its distinct allure. Arrive via the private elevator, which ushers you directly into the penthouse, where meticulously restored bronze bank vault doors unveil a haven of luxury.
4 Available Listings for Sale from $5,150,000
David Gregory — Bought for $6,550,000
One High Line, #W30D (Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group); David Gregory (Marissa Rauch - David Gregory, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=40719122)
Breaking news: According to public records, former Meet the Press host and current CNN analyst David Gregory and his wife, lawyer Beth Wilkinson, have purchased an apartment at One High Line, a two-towered building down the road from CNN’s headquarters in Hudson Yards. When Crain’s New York Business announced the sale, it noted that the apartment was listed for $6.8 million in November 2023 and came in just under ask.
Norman Mailer — Entered contract with $4,925,000 ask
320 East 55th Street, #TH (Leslie J. Garfield)
Near the end of a 1955 letter to fellow novelist William Styron, Norman Mailer said, “Our new address is 320 East 55th Street.” Nearly 70 years later, the townhouse at this address has entered contract. The signing comes months after the Brooklyn Heights townhouse where Mr. Mailer rented a room as an up-and-coming author closed for $11.35 million.
From the Listing:
Welcome to 320 East 55th, where luxury meets convenience in this exquisite 5-story townhouse equipped with an elevator. As you enter through the formal foyer, you’re greeted by a grand living space that offers versatility and features luxurious french limestone floors. Whether you envision it as an expansive office, a sophisticated dining room, a spacious living room, or even an art gallery, this area caters to your every need. Complete with a convenient wet bar and adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows, the space seamlessly connects to the manicured backyard through French doors, inviting natural light throughout the space. Ascending to the parlor level, the living room boasts wall-to-wall windows and French doors leading out to a charming balcony.
From the Listing:
Welcome to 320 East 55th, where luxury meets convenience in this exquisite 5-story townhouse equipped with an elevator. As you enter through the formal foyer, you’re greeted by a grand living space that offers versatility and features luxurious french limestone floors. Whether you envision it as an expansive office, a sophisticated dining room, a spacious living room, or even an art gallery, this area caters to your every need. Complete with a convenient wet bar and adorned with floor-to-ceiling windows, the space seamlessly connects to the manicured backyard through French doors, inviting natural light throughout the space. Ascending to the parlor level, the living room boasts wall-to-wall windows and French doors leading out to a charming balcony.
Brandon Blackwood — Listed and entered contract with $3,250,000 ask
44 Madison Street, #TH (Keller WIlliams)
In early July 2024, the New York Post announced that fashion designer and celebrity favorite Brandon Blackwood was listing the Brooklyn townhouse he’d bought after falling in love with it as a renter. The house appeared to move as quickly as some of his most popular designs: It entered contract at the asking price three weeks later.
From the Listing:
Sleek, smart and stylish 44 Madison checks all the boxes. This gorgeous two-family brick home has been completely gut renovated including wide plank oak floors, central air, soaring 9’ ceilings, surround sound, video intercoms and an alarm system. This magnificent home is over 4,000 square feet including the finished basement, boasts multiple outdoor spaces, and a modern open floorplan.
Perfect for entertaining the chef’s kitchen features oversize marble countertops, a breakfast bar, custom cabinetry, a Gagganau refrigerator, 5 burner cooktop, Bosch oven, Bosch convection oven/microwave unit, and a Bosch dishwasher. There is also a separate extra large wine fridge. The lofty living/ dining space has floor to ceiling windows and sliding glass doors that open up to a large deck and a completely redone backyard featuring a firepit , bamboo and a mature peach tree.
From the Listing:
Sleek, smart and stylish 44 Madison checks all the boxes. This gorgeous two-family brick home has been completely gut renovated including wide plank oak floors, central air, soaring 9’ ceilings, surround sound, video intercoms and an alarm system. This magnificent home is over 4,000 square feet including the finished basement, boasts multiple outdoor spaces, and a modern open floorplan.
Perfect for entertaining the chef’s kitchen features oversize marble countertops, a breakfast bar, custom cabinetry, a Gagganau refrigerator, 5 burner cooktop, Bosch oven, Bosch convection oven/microwave unit, and a Bosch dishwasher. There is also a separate extra large wine fridge. The lofty living/ dining space has floor to ceiling windows and sliding glass doors that open up to a large deck and a completely redone backyard featuring a firepit , bamboo and a mature peach tree.
Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz — Sold for $1,625,000
West Village Houses, #4B (Douglas Elliman); Ad-Rock (bakameh - Flickr, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2247671)
Beastie Boys are in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but the Downtown real estate holdings of founding member Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz have generated more attention as of late: The Landmarks-approved Spring + Thompson rose on the former site of a townhouse he owned, and his childhood home in West Village Houses has just sold. The New York Post notes that a bidding war for the Village apartment ensued and it ultimately closed above the $1.59 million ask. (P.S. Mr. Horovitz is not the only Beastie Boy who grew up in what is now one of Manhattan’s hottest neighborhoods: Mike D’s childhood home at The Eldorado sold in October 2023.)
From the Listing:
Extra-sunny duplex unit surrounded by quiet streets features three king-sized bedrooms, washer/dryer in-unit, a bonus mezzanine loft (perfect for work from home), and renovated bathrooms. Bedrooms facing east are greeted with brilliant sunlight every morning over a pretty West Village skyline delivering impressive views all the way up to Hudson Yards day and night. Living areas and the third bedroom face west, bathing the apartment in fantastic all-day sunshine.
Perhaps best of all: This free-standing building is directly connected, through the back door, to a delightful greenspace mini-park- shared among your co-op neighbors and nobody else- with mature trees, BBQ grills, patio tables and plantings maintained by the building and grounds staff.
From the Listing:
Extra-sunny duplex unit surrounded by quiet streets features three king-sized bedrooms, washer/dryer in-unit, a bonus mezzanine loft (perfect for work from home), and renovated bathrooms. Bedrooms facing east are greeted with brilliant sunlight every morning over a pretty West Village skyline delivering impressive views all the way up to Hudson Yards day and night. Living areas and the third bedroom face west, bathing the apartment in fantastic all-day sunshine.
Perhaps best of all: This free-standing building is directly connected, through the back door, to a delightful greenspace mini-park- shared among your co-op neighbors and nobody else- with mature trees, BBQ grills, patio tables and plantings maintained by the building and grounds staff.
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
Just complete the info below.
Or call us at (212) 755-5544
Would you like to tour any of these properties?
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