This beautifully-renovated carriage house in Clinton Hill was listed earlier this week (Compass)
At the height of lockdown, New York streets were closed to car traffic to allow pedestrians to practice safe social distancing and let restaurants provide outdoor dining. It is too soon to say whether these changes will become permanent or what effect they will have on the city. However, this would not be the first time New York City has adapted to changing street use - witness the ripple effects of the shift from carriages to cars.
During the days when the city streets were dominated by horse-drawn carriages, New York's wealthiest could own single-family homes with a separate stable for the family's horses, often accessed through a side passage or tunnel through the house. As time passed and modes of transportation changed, these individual stables tended to fare better than the full-block mews. These could be converted to garages for the automobiles that would come to replace carriages, but were more frequently transformed into residences known in today's parlance as carriage houses.
During the days when the city streets were dominated by horse-drawn carriages, New York's wealthiest could own single-family homes with a separate stable for the family's horses, often accessed through a side passage or tunnel through the house. As time passed and modes of transportation changed, these individual stables tended to fare better than the full-block mews. These could be converted to garages for the automobiles that would come to replace carriages, but were more frequently transformed into residences known in today's parlance as carriage houses.
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"Show horses and fine harness horses are transitory. Stables, on the other hand, are permanent." - The Brooklyn Eagle, 1900
As many remaining carriage houses are located in historic districts, their exteriors tend to look much as they did when they were first built. However, appearances can be deceiving - today's owners are free to bring the interiors up to contemporary standards with infrastructure, appliance, finish, and layout upgrades. There was a time that artists were drawn to these spaces (past residents of New York's carriage houses include Jackson Pollock, Edward Albee, Diane Arbus, and Bob Dylan), but today's buyers tend to be mostly moguls and mega-stars (e.g., investor David Aldea who bought a carriage house Taylor Swift once rented).
Carriage House Loft Condominiums, #PHS
$1,699,000
Hamilton Heights | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 1,780 ft2
Carriage House Loft Condominiums, #PHS (Compass)
↓ Soaring ceilings and two skylights bathe the penthouse in natural light.
↓A living room with wood-burning fireplace is the heart of the home.
↓ To truly top it all off, a massive, beautifully landscaped private roof terrace offers a beautiful pergola, separate seating and dining areas, and 360-degree city views.
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329 Vanderbilt Avenue, #TH (Compass)
↓ 329 Vanderbilt Avenue dates back to 1870, and original features have been restored. However, it was recently rebuilt to Passive House standards.
↓ A minimalist Douglas Fir staircase stands in beautiful complement to mass timber ceilings and recycled wood floors.
↓ The kitchen abuts the private backyard and comes outfitted with blue marble countertops, abundant cabinetry with recycled wood veneer, and Fisher & Paykel appliances.
↓ A sunken living area gazes up at a beautifully planted roof deck with views of the adjacent cathedral and Brooklyn cityscape.
121 East 83rd Street, #NA (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)
↓ 121 East 83rd Street was designed as a private stable for Frank W. Woolworth, and the grand cornice on top has been beautifully restored.
↓ The main floor features an open-plan living room with fireplace and ample wall space for art.
↓ The eat-in kitchen features wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and access to a private patio.
↓ The bedrooms are on the top floor, and one of them opens up to a solarium and patio.
112 Waverly Place, #NA
$13,500,000 (-12.9%)
Greenwich Village | Townhouse | 5 Bedrooms, 6+ Baths | 6,321 ft2
112 Waverly Place, #NA (Corcoran Group)
↓ The house measures over 6,300 interior square feet, plus nearly 1,200 square feet of private outdoor space.
↓ Exquisite original interior details include hardwood floors, mahogany molding, exposed brick, and high ceilings.
↓ The carriage house boasts its own private entrance, a wood-burning fireplace, a massive skylight, soaring ceilings, and a private outdoor terrace.
The American Express Carriage House, #PH4A
$14,000,000
Tribeca | Condominium | 5 Bedrooms, 5 Baths | 3,818 ft2
The American Express Carriage House, #PH4A (Bespoke Real Estate LLC)
↓ The open-concept living and dining space is underpinned by an advanced AV system that controls shades, lights, HVAC, and sound.
↓ The eat-in kitchen features new Boffi cabinetry, a large center island with bar seating, and state-of-the-art appliances by Sub-Zero and Miele.
↓ A wraparound terrace extends the length of the penthouse to offer panoramic city views, as well as ample seating and dining space.
66 Bedford Street, #House (Leslie J Garfield & Co Inc)
↓ This impressive prewar property is currently configured as two partially connected, side-by-side single-family residences with a single-story rear carriage house.
↓ Private outdoor space includes side-by-side rear gardens and an abutting triangular garden.
↓ Interiors can be kept separate, or combined into one magnificent Village townhouse.
78 Irving Place, #CARRIAGEPENTHOUSE
$36,000,000
Gramercy Park | Condominium | 6+ Bedrooms, 6+ Baths | 10,303 ft2
78 Irving Place, #CARRIAGEPENTHOUSE (OFFICIAL)
↓ In this Gramercy Park carriage house, a living room with ethanol fireplace is the heart of the home.
↓ The eat-in kitchen comes equipped with top-of-the-line appliances and features a large skylight.
↓ The lavish primary bath boasts heated marble floors, a steam shower, and a soaking tub.
158 West 118th Street, #NA (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)
↓ Interiors combine prewar design details with modern touches like recessed lighting and state-of-the-art sound system.
↓ The expansive dining area flows seamlessly into a south-facing yard, terrace, and private patio.
↓ The kitchen has been updated with marble countertops and restaurant-caliber range and oven.
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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