The New School's Greenwich Village Townhouse, an elegant 19th-century brick building that has served as the university's president's residence and venue for school events for the past 40 years, is currently for sale.
The asking price is $20 million, according to listing brokers Nikki Field and Mara Flasch Blum of Sotheby's International Realty. Annual property taxes will be determined at closing, he said.
The school recently sold the property known as Scaturro House, located at 21 W. 11th Street, just off campus, amid mounting pressure from faculty and students to find a way to offset its looming budget deficit. decided to do so. The townhouse is currently occupied by interim President Donna Shalala, a former congresswoman and secretary of Health and Human Services under President Bill Clinton.
Four other university presidents have lived in the townhouse since the New School bought it for $990,000 in 1984 from children's science book authors Herman and Nina Schneider. (Public records show he took out and paid off a $740,000 mortgage in 1995.)
This five-story building is 20 feet wide with a classic stoop and window boxes for displaying flowers. It measures 4,038 square feet and has four bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, and a library/media room that can be converted into an additional bedroom. With a total of 900 square feet of outdoor space, there is a spacious terrace off the master bedroom and a well-maintained irrigated backyard with trees, a variety of plants, and perennials, making it a popular backdrop for school events. there is.
“These events will include receptions and community gatherings for students, faculty and staff,” university spokeswoman Amy Marcin said in an email.
Marcin said the home underwent extensive remodeling in 2000 and has been further upgraded in recent years. This monument was dedicated in 2003 to Philip J. Scaturro, the school's former president and trustee.
Bloom said among the various changes made to the building are a new kitchen with radiant heat tile floors, central air conditioning, new windows and bathrooms, and a striking two-story glass wall overlooking the building. It is said that a door panel was added. And it faces the garden.
“The house has been upgraded and renovated, but still retains its charm and history,” Blum said, adding features such as a marble fireplace mantel, painted columns and a staircase with a mahogany balustrade. , he pointed out that details from the time of construction remain. “The bones of the house are beautiful,” she added.
Designed in a Greek Revival style influenced by Federal architecture, the home is located in the Greenwich Village Historic District between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas. It was originally built two and a half stories in 1838 as part of a row of houses along West 11th Street, and was modernized and expanded several decades later.
“West 11th Street is a very popular and highly regarded block,” Field said of the location. “Some people call this the millionaire district of downtown.”
The front entrance to the townhouse is through the foyer on the parlor floor, leading to a large living room with one of the home's two wood-burning fireplaces in active operation.
Beyond the living room is a formal dining room and powder room with garden views.
The eat-in kitchen is located on the downstairs garden level, with a separate entrance externally through a wrought iron gate and access to the rear garden through a glass door. The kitchen features granite countertops, high-end appliances, a center island with breakfast bar, and a large pantry. The garden level also has a mudroom, storage and laundry area, and bathroom.
The primary bedroom suite is located on the third floor and features two bathrooms, two large walk-in closets, and a terrace. Across from the bedroom is a library/media room with a fireplace and built-in shelving. There are two more bedrooms and a shared bathroom on the upper floor, and a guest suite with a bathroom and exercise area on the top floor.
“My favorite room is the living room,” Shalala said through a school spokesperson, adding that she especially enjoys reading the newspaper in front of the fireplace.
Throughout the home there are hardwood floors and oversized windows that let in plenty of sunlight, and many rooms display the university's rotating collection of artwork.
“This is like a living, breathing gallery,” Field said.
“The new owners will have many opportunities to display their collections,” Blum added.
