If this 17th-century townhouse—with brickwork, a stepped-gable roof, and stained glass windows—looks like it belongs in Amsterdam and not the Big Apple, that’s because it was originally built in the Dutch city, dismantled, and shipped across the ocean in 1845.
It first was planted on the Upper West Side, but in 1910, the residence was moved to its current location on 19th Street, just one block from Gramercy Park. Architect Frederick J. Sterner completed the townhouse, which seems to have nine lives.
After its final move, it became known as the Joseph B. Thomas House for its owner at the time. Oleg Cassini, the late fashion designer known for curating Jacqueline Kennedy’s iconic “Jackie Look,” was the home’s most recent famous owner. Cassini resided here, often throwing large parties, from the 1970s until his death in 2006, according to the New York Post. Earlier this year, the landmark sold at auction for $5 million to an undisclosed investor, the Post reported, who modernized the 19th Street abode while maintaining its European roots. And thank goodness it wasn’t transformed too much. Who could ever in good conscious get rid of the extensive stained glass windows and incredible woodwork?
Totaling 6,798 square feet across four floors, there are six bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms. The living room with barrel-vaulted ceilings, a solarium with a fountain, and a wine cellar and tasting room make this NYC address stand out even more than it already does. Because truly, how often do you find a Manhattan home made with 400-year-old materials and architecture that once stood in Europe?
Jim St. André of Compass holds the hidden treasure listed for the first time in 50 years and asking $13.95 million.
