Inside a historic Stuyvesant Street home for sale

Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy 

We recently had the opportunity to tour 25 Stuyvesant St., a five-story Anglo-Italianate townhouse for sale on one of the best blocks in the East Village — and NYC. 

This corridor between Ninth Street and 10th Street features homes dating to the 1860s. The home, believed to be designed by James Renwick Jr. (the architect behind St. Patrick's Cathedral), has been on the market since the spring. 

Nina Munk, the writer and photographer, and her husband, artist Peter Soriano, and their three kids have lived in the townhome they bought and restored in 2013. The couple purchased the property from the estate of Jean Schoonover about a year after she died. 

They said it was beautiful and kooky — they loved it right away — but it also desperately needed a total renovation. 

Let's take a look inside... starting with this parlor/den...

... the living room...

Original details of the house...

This bathroom has a greenhouse built into the window...

Peter's basement studio...

So why leave this home? 

Peter's gallery is in France, so the couple has decided to move there. The two are also now empty nesters. (Their youngest is starting freshman year in college.)

Nina told us the home is "beautiful, joyful, comfortable — a wonderful combination of a traditional, historic East Village townhouse yet also a comfortable and casual place to live, relax, raise kids, and have great dinner parties." 

Why hasn’t the home been snatched up immediately? Speculation runs from the location (despite Nina's assertion that the East Village is the best neighborhood); perhaps people are looking at townhomes in other areas like the Upper East Side or Brooklyn, rising mortgage rates, and uncertainty about the election. Also, two previous buyers fell through, one at the last minute. 

Last week, the price dropped from $7.25 million to $6.75 million. 

The family hopes that an artist, author, or playwright — someone who appreciates the East Village artistic community and the historic block — will buy the home they put so much love and attention into restoring.

The historic 64 E. 7th St. is for sale

As we mentioned the other day, the Greek Revival brownstone — now a single-family residence — at 64 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue is getting some attention thanks to David Hajdu, a cultural historian, critic and educator.

He wrote about the circa-1840 building in a widely-shared piece in the Times. There's now a separate article about No. 64 at Places, the journal of public scholarship on the built environment.

Past lives include serving as the parsonage for St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church, the newspaper Russky Golos, the Les Deux Megots coffeehouse, the Paradox (a macrobiotic restaurant where Yoko Ono once worked) and Books 'N Things. 

Turns out the place is also for sale. 

Bill Joy, a founder of Sun Microsystems, bought the townhouse in 2019. And, according to The Wall Street Journal, he put it up for sale last month. Asking price: $13.5 million.

Here's what you get via Corcoran, the broker:

Historic elegance meets modern sophistication in this magnificent, impeccably gut-renovated 25-foot wide, 5-story mansion ...

More recently, the 7,500 square-foot jewel was meticulously restored and transformed into a prized single-family residence with 5 stories of stunning living space connected by stairs and an elevator, a full basement, and generous outdoor space with a parlor floor terrace, a third-floor balcony, remarkable rooftop terrace and a sunny south-facing garden.

  

... The handsome brick building also boasts a planted forecourt, brownstone base, and exquisite cornice heightening curb appeal. Here you'll enjoy the ultimate in downtown luxury living, in one of NYC's most dynamic neighborhoods. Interiors are finely finished and tastefully designed, featuring striking elements throughout like gorgeous wood beamed ceilings, rich wood floors, oversized windows bathing rooms in floor-through natural light, warm exposed brick, 7 fireplaces, tasteful built-ins, and fabulous moldings and millwork.

  

The ground floor, with its own front entrance, is an exceptional space that's beautiful and multifunctional. The front portion features a lounge with a television and ample seating, a wood-burning fireplace divides that space from the open dining area and a well-appointed chef's kitchen that overlooks the garden, perfect for hosting casual get-togethers and movie nights. A wall of glass with glass-paneled doors with screens brings the outdoors in and leads to a wonderful south-facing patio garden for lounging and alfresco dining. 

  

Up the inviting front stoop awaits the grand parlor level for more upscale entertaining. Formal living and dining rooms afford an ideal backdrop for the host and can remain open or privatized by pocket doors. The living room has a state-of-the-art projection TV hidden in the ceiling. A catering kitchen with dishwasher sits nearby for easy serving, and French doors from the dining room open to a lovely terrace with stairs to the garden.

And we still have two floors and the basement to go!

Back on Friday, Hajdu released The Parsonage, a recorded album about the history of 64 E. Seventh St. Hadju and a group of musicians will perform live on April 27 at the Museum of the City of New York. 

Image via Corcoran

44 Stuyvesant St. is on the sale market for the first time — ever

One of the most historic homes in the East Village (and NYC!) — 44 Stuyvesant St. — is now on the sales market for the first time, well, forever, apparently. 

Here's the listing via Corcoran: 

The location of this house within the St. Mark's Historic district cannot be more picturesque than where Stuyvesant Street meets East 10th Street. A wonderful and truly magnificent early Federal House that was built in 1795, for Nicholas William Stuyvesant, the great-great-grandson of Peter Stuyvesant. This house has immense historical significance as it is the oldest building in Manhattan that has been used continuously as a single-family house. 

This is an elegant home ... with large rooms that possess beautiful proportions it also has 8 fireplaces. The scale of the house allows for extremely gracious living with 5 bedrooms and 4 and half bathrooms plus a formal dining room and a great artist studio that is 23' x 28' with a skylight also known as the atelier with soaring 12.5' ceilings! A lovingly landscaped garden is here too. This house has never been on the market for sale before. This is an exceptionally unique opportunity to own a piece of Dutch New York history — a true treasure! 

Asking price: $8.9 million. 

This link has some interior pics. 

And the house was on the sales market very briefly last year, but the listing was pulled.

Anyway, here is some more history from a February 2022 feature at the Post: 

Back in 1795, Nicholas William Stuyvesant — the great-great-grandson of the 17th-century Dutch colonial officer and governor of New Netherland (which became New York and New Jersey), Peter Stuyvesant — built the house for his wife, Catherine. The couple raised their nine children in the house, and more than 200 years later, it remains Manhattan's only building from the 18th century used purely and continually as a residence. 

And via Atlas Obscura: 

In 1969, the house was designated a landmark as part of the St. Mark’s Historic District. At this time it was one of the oldest houses to be used continuously as a residence in Manhattan. It rivals the Jumel Mansion and the Dyckman farmhouse as one of the oldest homes in the city, but it is certainly the furthest downtown.

The stately 122 E. 10th St. is for sale

The two-unit building at 122 E. 10th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue hit the market in recent days. 

Here's what you'll get ... via the listing: 

Rare opportunity to own a stunning, renovated and historically significant 2-unit building on the highly coveted Renwick Triangle. Located on a picturesque tree-lined block in the East Village, this 18' wide, six-story Anglo-Italianate townhouse features original architectural details and is beautifully renovated with luxury sustainable materials to create a true masterpiece of architecture and design. Built by famed architect James Renwick Jr., best known for creating St. Patrick's Cathedral and the Smithsonian Institute, this unique home built in 1858 is where past and present magnificently intersect. 

This home will be delivered vacant and is perfect for either an end-user or as an investment opportunity. It can be used as a single-family residence, or a 2-family home — giving the owner an opportunity for rental income and live/work. 

Asking price: $9.2 million. 

As the Post noted, photographer Alexi Lubomirski and his wife Giada are the current owners. Molly Ringwald and Panio Gianopoulos owned the upstairs apartment before selling it to the Lubomirskis for $1.7 million in 2016. 

Unrelated sort of — Alexander Skarsgård is selling his co-op across the street. Perhaps he's getting a more prominent place — given that GoJo is buying Waystar Royco!

7th Street townhouse with rooftop pizza oven and basketball hoop sells for $15.75 million

[Image via Streeteasy]

The single-family townhouse at 64 E. Seventh St. has sold after nearly a year on the market.

The Real Deal noted the sale last week for the home between First Avenue and Second Avenue. Per TRD, an entity tied to William N. Joy — principal of a Florida-based investment firm Water Street Capital Inc. — paid $15.75 million for the property, which had an original ask of $18 million.

According to Streeteasy, No. 64 has five fireplaces, terraces off of the dining room and master bedroom, and rooftop garden with — why not? — a pizza oven and basketball hoop.

The sellers were two trusts and Lisa J. Fox.

The building received a gut renovation in 2010 that saw the removal of its longtime storefront.

Jeremiah Moss explored the building's history in this post from 2010.

Past occupants of 64 E. Seventh St. include:
• The parsonage for St. Mark's Evangelical Lutheran Church
• The newspaper Russky Golos ("Russian Voice")
• The Les Deux Megots coffeehouse, whose readings featured Allen Ginsberg, Paul Blackburn and Carol Berge
• The Paradox, "said to be the world's first macrobiotic restaurant" where both Yoko Ono and folksinger Loudon Wainwright III worked
• Books 'N Things
• Tokio 7 (moved across the street)

No one seems to want to keep these historic Anglo-Italianate townhouses on 10th Street

Off and on through the [EVG] years, those beautiful single-family Anglo-Italianate townhouses that date to the 1850s at 123-125 E. 10th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue have been for sale.

And now they are both back on the market here in the St. Mark's Historic District. The listings arrived yesterday on Streeteasy. (No. 123 is here... and No. 125 is here.)

The Post first took note of this. We'll let them do the lifting:

One, at 123 E. 10th St., listed with Mark Amadei of Sotheby’s International Realty for $7.69 million. The other, 125 E. 10th St., hit the market for $8.3 million and is represented by Jason Haber of Warburg Realty.

But together, according to the Warburg listing, both can be sold together for $15.99 million.

“123 E. 10th St. was built at the same time as [125 E. 10th St.] and they share one of the largest private gardens in Manhattan,” the Warburg listing adds.

Fun cost-of things fact: In 2011, the two-townhouse combo price was $12.95 million.

A few pics now. These are from No. 125... inside and out...





As TMZ Grieve reported off and on in 2012 and 2013 and, what the hell, 2014, Mary-Kate Olsen and her beau Olivier Sarkozy bought No. 123, and they rented No. 125. Eventually they sold No. 123 and went off elsewhere.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Your chance to see inside a historic townhouse on East 10th Street tonight (complimentary wine alert!)

Report: Historic Anglo-Italianate townhouse on East 10th Street to serve as Olsen twin love nest

Someone has bought the former Olivier Sarkozy, Mary-Kate Olsen 'love nest' on East 10th St.

Welcome to the neighborhood, Mr. Sarkozy

On 3rd Avenue, rooftop cottage back in play, though now it's $19k monthly

Just about one year ago, the penthouse cottage atop the building that houses Kiehl's on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and 13th Street hit the rental market for $17k a month...



The 1,972-square-foot rooftop duplex is once again available as a rental — but this time the asking rent is $19k a month.

Via Corcoran...

Rent an iconic penthouse, featured in a number of publications for its unique rooftop cottages perched atop this historic boutique pre-war condominium. Penthouse 4CD is a breathtaking light-filled, three bedroom, three bath duplex with four wood-burning fireplaces and two private garden terraces totaling 795 square feet.

This loft-like home features soaring 11'8" ceilings, exquisitely restored exposed brick, pristine hardwood oak floors, and carefully crafted carpentry throughout. Spanning nearly forty feet, with bright South and West exposures, the corner living and dining room are separated by a magnificent brick archway and bookended by two gracious wood-burning fireplaces.

The place is available furnished — short term or long term. The owner is listed as Keyland Ny LLC, who bought the unit in 2015 for $4.4 million.

The landmarked building, constructed in the 1850s, is known as Pear Tree Place. It was converted to condos in 1986, according to Streeteasy.

Previously on EV Grieve:
Live in tranquil cottages overlooking … 3rd Avenue (but still)

Updating: Fire reported on the rooftop at Kiehl's on 3rd Avenue

3rd Avenue penthouse cottage returns to market as a $17k monthly rental

That rather nondescript building on 12th Street houses an 'East Village beauty'

I've walked by the residential building at 407 E. 12th St. on my way to and from Academy Records between Avenue A and First Avenue so many times ... and I never thought much of it.

But apparently it's pretty nice on the inside, based on a new listing for this two-bedroom condo. Bond New York has the listing, which describes the home as an "East Village beauty":

Not–to-be-missed gorgeous two bedroom, two bath, condo beauty in the heart of the East Village. This home is a must-see embodying all that a hip, cool, understatedly elegant apartment has to offer, not to mention EXTREMELY LOW MONTHLY CHARGES!!

Leave the hustle bustle of the vibrant East Village behind as you enter this pin-drop quiet home. The unit boasts a comfortable and spacious living room with an open kitchen and gracious dining area perfect for entertaining or just cozy, quiet nights at home. The entire apartment is outfitted with remote controlled ceiling fans and air conditioners in every room for perfect room temperature preference.

The kitchen has been newly appointed with custom made touches that lend a homey country feel with built-in shelving for your favorite cookbooks and nick knacks. The butcher block counter is a wide planked, two toned, deconstructed Cherry wood kitchen island with extra deep, quiet-close drawers. A washer/dryer is included for convenience.

There's also shared space out back and on the roof...





Asking price: $1.75 million. There's an Open House Sunday from noon to 1:30 p.m.

Images via Bond New York

215 E. 12th St. is now available as a rental for $40k per month

Back in June, we noted that the beautiful townhouse at 215 E. 12th St. between Second Avenue and Third Avenue was on the market for $16 million.

However, it turns out that the home with 9 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms is also available as a rental for $40,000 per month, according to a new listing at Streeteasy.

Back in October 2011, the same property was only asking $18,500 a month. The listing at the time referred to the address as a "light-filled, rambling home." Not sure what upgrades justify a $21,500 increase per month.

You can view the full (and most recent) listing at Sloan Square here.

The charming 65 E. 2nd St. is for sale

One of my favorite buildings (from the outside anyway) in the neighborhood, 65 E. Second St., recently arrived on the sales market.

Here are the details on the building between First Avenue and Second Avenue via Leslie J. Garfield:

[T]his 4,600 square foot townhouse has been fully gut renovated into three gracious apartments overlooking the Marble Cemetery, the oldest public cemetery in New York City.



Originally built c. 1834 as a Greek Revival-style row house with cast-iron stoop posts and hand-railings, basket-style iron fire escape, rope moldings and historic wood casement windows and transoms.

65 East 2nd Street is located in the prime East Village, on the cusp of NoHo and the Lower East Side, surrounded by new condominium developments, cafes, boutique shops, and trendy restaurants. This turnkey townhouse is suitable for both end-users and investors alike, with the ability to move into the owner’s duplex immediately, while offering longterm upside in a rapidly developing neighborhood.

APT 1: Currently configured as a three-bedroom, three bath garden duplex featuring central air-conditioning, custom chef’s kitchen and cabinetry, high-end finishes, washer/dryer and two private outdoor spaces. Can be delivered vacant. Current tenant paying $9,500 per month.

APT 2: Currently configured as a fully renovated three bedroom, two bath apartment featuring central air conditioning, gut renovated kitchen and bathrooms, 11’ ceiling heights, and unobstructed, sunlit views north. Can be delivered vacant. Current tenant paying $6,600 per month.

APT 3: Occupied by a life-tenancy, this apartment is currently configured as a fully renovated three bedroom, two bath apartment featuring central air conditioning, gut renovated kitchen and bathrooms, 9.5’ ceiling heights, and unobstructed, sunlit views north. Tenant paying $500 per month for life.

Asking price: $5.75 million

[Updated] How much for this new-to-market home on 1st Avenue?

This arrived on the market this morning on First Avenue at East 12th Street...



Details are scarce. However, as you can tell, this coveted location offers easy access to public crosstown/uptown transportation and the First Avenue bike lane. Close to some of the neighborhood's best restaurants, shops, schools and bone broth.

What are you willing to pay for the chance to live here? (And don't be put off by the small size!)



1 p.m.

This is a project called #smokersnyc via photographer Mark Reigelman II ... taking this around the city and putting it over manhole covers to make it look like the chimney is in use...


[Via our friends at @academyrecords]

The million dollar views from atop 170 2nd Ave.

There's a new listing for a penthouse unit at 170 Second Ave. at East 11th Street.

Here are the details via Core:

This pre-war penthouse with an enormous wraparound terrace is perched atop a majestic Art Deco full-service building in the heart of the Village. A rare offering, this two-bedroom aerie is centrally located at 170 Second Avenue at the corner of 11th Street, and features breathtaking panoramic skyline views to the north, south and west

This lovely residence is a "diamond in the rough," waiting to be updated into a refined "modern classic." Many of the original details have been kept intact including parquet oak floors, beamed ceilings, cut glass doorknobs and original deco light fixtures throughout.

A large central entry foyer/gallery opens onto the spacious dining room and living room which has a wood burning fireplace and 10-foot ceilings. Two sets of French doors lead directly onto that glorious terrace which wraps the home on all sides. Both spacious bedrooms boast abundant northern light and ample closet space. The large, original bathroom features a cast iron soaking tub and separate shower.

Here are more of the rooftop views...







This "diamond in the rough" is asking $3 million.

There's room for your own gym in this East 9th Street loft

[Image via Douglas Elliman]

There's a new listing for 735 E. Ninth St. between Avenue C and Avenue D.

Per Douglas Elliman:

Rare to the market, this quintessential downtown artist loft in an historic East Village building is now available! This magnificent 3,300-square-foot loft is a celebration of light and spaciousness with soaring 12' ceilings, double exposures, abundant oversized windows, and striking original architectural details such as cast iron beams and original wooden columns, and century-old maple flooring.

There's actually no mention of the gym in the listing, so the current owner must be taking it along.

So maybe you'll have to drag your ass over to the incoming New York Sports Club on Avenue A. (Reminder: The Citi Bike stationary workout is free!) Or bring your own gym to the building, which the ad notes "is now filled with resident artists."

Price: $3.3 million.

The drummer of the Spin Doctors is selling his East 13th Street duplex, complete with a recording studio

Aaron Comess, the drummer for the Spin Doctors, is selling his duplex at 124 E. 13th St., Jennifer Gould Keil reports at the Post.

This space between Third Avenue and Fourth Avenue is a 2,796-square-foot duplex with keyed elevator access and a 300-square-foot terrace with an outdoor shower, hot tub and gas line for a grill. The first floor houses the recording studio, which is zoned commercial and can be transformed however the potential buyer sees fit, per the Post. Comess, who has lived in the East Village for 25 years, is moving to South Williamsburg.

That $40,000 townhouse rental that you been waiting for is now available on East 12th Street

A furnished four-floor townhouse is now available to rent over at 327 E. 12th St. between First Avenue and Second Avenue.

Here's part of the Streeteasy listing:

You won’t find a more magical place than East 12th Street, an exquisite five bedroom, three bathroom townhouse with a private terrace in the East Village. Spanning four floors, this home is full of delightful details, including the vintage wallpapers and multi-coloured doorknobs that are sprightly backdrops to your tastemaker host’s beautiful, eclectically chic décor.

The price to enjoy these multi-coloured doorknobs: $40,000 a month.

Oh, and there is a ping-pong table.

Good news! You can now rent the penthouse at 1 Avenue B for $19,500 a month

Back in June, we noted that the "rarely seen Penthouse One" at 1 Avenue B at East Houston was on the market ... with all the amenities that you might expect from a place asking $5.95 million.

To refresh your memory (key words only):

... gracious gallery foyer ... 19-foot ceilings ... Lutron lighting system ... a 63" TV home theater system ... sleek Poggen Pohl kitchen ... wrap-around terrace with built-in hot tub ... outdoor grilling station ... ... Brazilian walnut flooring ... your Ipe pergola draped in wisteria ...

Yeah, that place! Anyway, apparently there weren't any takers just yet ... the place is now on the rental market for $19,500. (A month.)

Previously on EV Grieve:
See this 'rarely seen duplex' at 1 Avenue B

Nice townhouse for sale of the day: 301 E. 10th St.

This fine townhouse at 301 E. 10th St. hit the market this week... along an equally fine block between Avenue A and Avenue B...





Details per the listing at Garfield:

Set in between several row houses, 301 East 10th Street was originally built in the late 19th Century by architect Joseph Trench in Italianate style as a single-family home. This property was later altered in a fine interpretation of Queen Anne style with raised ceiling heights, changed lintels, sills, and cornice into a multi-family home.

Currently configured as five, gracious floor-through units, four that can be delivered vacant. Ceiling heights range from 9’ to 13’ at Parlor level. Unobstructed, sunlit views overlooking Tompkins Square Park in front, 360 degree unobstructed Manhattan views from the roof including the Cooper Hotel, the Williamsburg Bridge, and the Freedom Tower to the South and the Empire State, Chrysler, and New York Life buildings to the North. Large, north-facing garden and terrace in rear abutting a historic carriage house on 11th street.

First public offering in over twenty-five years with endless opportunities to renovate and create a strong rent roll, create a 2,700 garden duplex or an upper duplex with fantastic roof deck. Property is currently under built by approximately 3,300 square feet.

Asking price: $7.5 million.

So is this what James Renwick, Jr. had in mind when he designed 27 Stuyvesant St. in the 1860s?

Via Curbed, we learn that the Anglo-Italianate townhome at 27 Stuyvesant St. is back on the market for $5.25 million. (Original asking price was $6.7 million.)

It's a beautiful townhousehome — especially from the outside. And, per the listing, it was designed in 1861 by James Renwick, renowned architect responsible for the Smithsonian Institution and St. Patrick’s Cathedral, among other renowned structures.

And this inside? It has been staged to sell...





Not sure how to describe this decor — Early 21st Century Real Housewives Revival?