Eleanor Roosevelt's Grand Upper East Side Townhouse Seeks a Buyer

Did you know First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was a native New Yorker? She was born and died in the bustling borough of Manhattan, and in between those huge life events, she lived in this grand townhouse for a time. Roosevelt had a unit in the Upper East Side building, which is now a single-family townhouse, from 1953 to 1958. If these walls could talk, they would tell stories of the respected diplomat entertaining influential world leaders like Indira Gandhi and John F. Kennedy. Now, they can absorb your special memories as well since the house is on the market for $13.5 million.

Stepping into this circa-1873 residence filled with rich mahogany details, a sense of history is palpable. Even if you didn’t know a First Lady had resided here, a feeling in your gut would tell you it’s special. That feeling is indeed right, as the 5,225-square-foot structure is brimming with old world charm plus luxurious updates from a recent renovation. Designer Maria Masi has curated interiors perfectly to balance old and new, and the result is exceptional.

Within the 5-story abode, there are only four bedrooms and five bathrooms, but two of those bedrooms are exquisite master suites. Splendid living areas designed for entertaining take up the first two floors, while all the bedrooms are tucked privately up on the third, fourth and fifth floors. Thankfully, an elevator exists so you don’t need to over do it when floating up and down the levels, unless you want to hit your 10,000 steps per day by using the charming spiral staircase.

The crowning gem is a rooftop deck, which together with the garden and first floor terrace offers a total of 1,770-square-feet of lush outdoor space. Fancy a few hours out of the house? The East 62nd Street location is close to Central Park and temptations such as Bloomingdales.

Barbara Evans-Butler and Cian Connor of Stribling have the prestigious listing, which Curbed first reported is on the market.