It\u2019s living history, and a new owner can live in its history, too.<\/p>\n
Listed for $5.49 million for the first time in roughly 25 years, the four-story townhouse at 225 E. 62nd St. is a rare surviving Manhattan residence designed by Richard Morris Hunt, the visionary architect who brought the Beaux-Arts movement to America, The Post has learned.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunt, celebrated for designing the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina and the Breakers in Rhode Island, was also behind the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty and the entrance fa\u00e7ade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A rare Upper East Side townhouse designed by famed Gilded Age architect Richard Morris Hunt \u2014 best known for the Biltmore Estate, the Breakers and the Met\u2019s Fifth Avenue fa\u00e7ade \u2014 has hit the market for $5.49 million. Denis Vlasov for Sotheby’s International Realty<\/p>\n
Located at 225 E. 62nd St., it\u2019s one of just four remaining Hunt-designed residential townhouses in Manhattan. Denis Vlasov for Sotheby’s International Realty<\/p>\n
Hunt was responsible for designing the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty. Getty Images<\/p>\n
Yet despite his towering legacy, \u201cfrom what I understand, this was only one of four small residential townhouses in Manhattan that was designed by him,\u201d listing agent Dianne Weston of Sotheby\u2019s International Realty told The Post.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of the other buildings were either public or large private homes, like the Vanderbilt mansions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Many of those grand mansions, including the Elbridge Gerry residence that once stood where the Pierre Hotel now rises, have long since been lost to the wrecking ball.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other thing that he designed, which was unfortunately demolished, was on the location of the Frick Museum called the Lenox Library,\u201d Weston said. \u201cSo he really designed for people with the best addresses in town.\u201d<\/p>\n
That makes 225 E. 62nd St. a rare survivor, both architecturally and historically.\u00a0And now, a lucky house hunter can claim it for themselves.<\/p>\n
Built in 1873, the 2,850-square-foot home retains many original elements including marble fireplaces, a grand staircase and its French Second Empire fa\u00e7ade. Denis Vlasov for Sotheby’s International Realty<\/p>\n
Richard Morris Hunt, circa 1849. Heritage Images via Getty Images<\/p>\n
An open chef\u2019s kitchen. Denis Vlasov for Sotheby’s International Realty<\/p>\n
Built in 1873 in Hunt\u2019s signature French Second Empire style, the townhouse sits within the Treadwell Farm Historic District, an enclave of just 75 homes stretching across two tranquil blocks between Second and Third avenues.\u00a0<\/p>\n
With its original stoop, wrought-iron railings and a charming Juliet balcony, the fa\u00e7ade retains its 19th-century grandeur.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt has been really well maintained,\u201d Weston said, adding that the current owner purchased it in 2001 and undertook significant renovations the following year.<\/p>\n
Inside, the 2,850-square-foot home is rich with preserved elements<\/p>\n
\u201cThe three marble fireplace \u2026 the balustrades and the spindles going up the staircase \u2026 Most of those are original, as you can tell, because they\u2019re not necessarily up to code,\u201d Weston said. \u201cBut a lot of the other interior details were lost. When my owner bought it, it was a true wreck. And it was in very sad condition.\u201d<\/p>\n
The renovated four-bedroom residence also features a sun-filled double living room, a chef\u2019s kitchen and a finished English basement with its own entrance. Denis Vlasov for Sotheby’s International Realty<\/p>\n
One of four bedrooms. Denis Vlasov for Sotheby’s International Realty<\/p>\n
An expansive walk-in closet. Denis Vlasov for Sotheby’s International Realty<\/p>\n
The resulting renovation deftly marries modern comfort with period character.<\/p>\n
The second-floor double living room spans the entire depth of the house and features 10-foot ceilings, Douglas fir floors, and sun pouring in through oversized windows. A hand-carved marble mantel anchors the space, while discreet lighting systems cater to collectors who might wish to highlight their art.<\/p>\n
The chef\u2019s kitchen on the parlor floor \u2014 fitted with solid maple cabinetry, a six-burner commercial range and a mosaic tile backsplash \u2014 flows into the dining room and opens out to a rear garden.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Beyond that sits one of the home\u2019s most surprising features: a standalone brick garden studio built in the 1930s, reminiscent of a carriage house and outfitted with skylights, radiant heated floors and its own HVAC system.<\/p>\n
The top level leads out to the roof deck and other structure. Denis Vlasov for Sotheby’s International Realty<\/p>\n
One of 3.5 bathrooms. Denis Vlasov for Sotheby’s International Realty<\/p>\n
Reminiscent of a carriage house, this separate structure built on top of the roof has been used as a home office. Denis Vlasov for Sotheby’s International Realty<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone who comes there really likes that feature a lot,\u201d Weston said. \u201cIt affords you additional space for whether it\u2019s a home office as it has been used. It\u2019s a beautiful private space\u2026 quite a comfortable little space. It could be an amazing little yoga studio, meditation space, anything like that.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was no original carriage house back there. It would have been larger,\u201d she said, adding that because the studio \u201cis grandfathered in. You could demolish it if you want to create just a yard. But it really is an interesting little addition to the house.\u201d<\/p>\n
The home includes four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a library, a home office and a finished English basement level with its own street entrance, large bedroom, laundry room and full bath.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunt designed the museum\u2019s main entrance facade of the Met museum. Design Pics Editorial\/Universal Images Group via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Hunt also designed the grand staircase at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Bloomberg via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Hunt built \u201cPetit Chateau\u201d on Fifth Avenue for William K. Vanderbilt between 1878 and 1882. It was demolished in 1926. NYPL Digital Collections<\/p>\n
Weston believes the townhome\u2019s smaller size compared to others, its history and flexibility set it apart from larger, darker townhouses.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou get fabulous sunlight all day. And that\u2019s rare on some of these townhouse blocks,\u201d she said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Hunt was the architect behind the Biltmore Estate \u2014\u00a0a 175,000-square-foot French Renaissance style-ch\u00e2teau that would become known as the largest private residence in the United States. He built it for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895. Flickr Vision<\/p>\n
Hunt built the iconic Rhode Island Gilded Age mansion, known as the Breakers, for Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt II between 1893 and 1895. It remains standing today. De Agostini via Getty Images<\/p>\n
Though the property is steeped in old-world allure, Hunt\u2019s vision was always one of forward movement.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After graduating from the \u00c9cole des Beaux-Arts in Paris \u2014\u00a0where he was later placed in charge of completing the Louvre after the death of its architect \u2014 Hunt returned to the US determined to elevate architecture\u2019s role in shaping national identity. Through civic monuments, society homes, and artistic ideals, he believed America needed culture.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As for the seller, \u201cIt\u2019s sort of part of downsizing and relocating his life elsewhere,\u201d Weston said. \u201cThey have multiple homes overseas. And so they really don\u2019t need the townhouse anymore, even though it has been a precious home to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Weston is co-listing the property with\u00a0Michele Llewelyn and Helene Warrick.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It\u2019s living history, and a new owner can live in its history, too. Listed for $5.49 million for…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":256887,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5122],"tags":[5229,2513,135149,6335,135150,42131,76506,5418,5249,115577,50558,405,403,5226,5225,5228,5227,4329,12216,10204,2737,118684,37850,41012,67,586,132,5230,26318,68,2969],"class_list":{"0":"post-256886","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-new-york","8":"tag-america","9":"tag-architecture","10":"tag-brooke-astor","11":"tag-exclusive","12":"tag-gloria-vanderbilt","13":"tag-historic-buildings","14":"tag-luxe-listings","15":"tag-luxury-real-estate","16":"tag-manhattan","17":"tag-mansions","18":"tag-metropolitan-museum-of-art","19":"tag-new-york","20":"tag-new-york-city","21":"tag-newyork","22":"tag-newyorkcity","23":"tag-ny","24":"tag-nyc","25":"tag-real-estate","26":"tag-renovations","27":"tag-residential-real-estate","28":"tag-rhode-island","29":"tag-statue-of-liberty","30":"tag-townhouse","31":"tag-townhouses","32":"tag-united-states","33":"tag-united-states-of-america","34":"tag-unitedstates","35":"tag-unitedstatesofamerica","36":"tag-upper-east-side","37":"tag-us","38":"tag-usa"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115272391490082750","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=256886"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/256886\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/256887"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=256886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=256886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=256886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}