A pair of Manhattan townhouses where John Steinbeck once lived have hit the market for $17.9 million.
The East 78th Street residences have been paired since 1902, when they were purchased by real estate firm Lowenfeld & Prager, according to last week’s listing with Elizabeth Sahlman, Meredith Verona, Becca Schreiber and Lorand Kovacs of The Corcoran Group.
“It is extremely rare that you can have two houses that are perfectly aligned and can be joined and be one house and have, an almost 40-foot backyard and on a beautiful townhouse block,” Ms. Sahlman said. “And also that it was once inhabited by John Steinbeck.”
The pair have been in the same family since about 1967, and that family also used one of the two townhouses as an investment property, according to the agents. That side has been renovated within the last few years, and features a modern design with new kitchens and bathrooms, as well as a functional basement with a media room, laundry area and a power room.
On the other side, the “old-school charm” has been retained, Mr. Kovacs noted. It has a classic design with its double-height parlor floor, wood-burning fireplaces and a sculptural staircase. Its bathrooms and kitchen have also been renovated, although not as recently, and it has an elevator servicing every floor.
The townhouses also boast more than 2,000 square feet of outdoor space, primarily in the back garden, and more than 8,000 square feet of air rights, which would allow a buyer to expand the residences. Plus, they’re located on a prime block on the Upper East Side, convenient to amenities and schools.
“It’s right in the center of everything: the best markets, all transportation, you’re close to Central Park, you’ve got a garage right across the street,” Ms. Verona said. “The convenience factor is huge and it’s a very pretty tree-lined street.”
Article Source: Mansion Global
