NYC’s Skinniest Townhouse Hits the Market
Introduction to the Skinniest Townhouse
Buying this $4.19 million townhouse will be quite the squeeze.
At just 9½ feet across, the charming residence at 75½ Bedford St. is widely regarded as the skinniest house in New York City. But buyers of the bite-size home will inherit an outsize slice of West Village history.
History of the Townhouse
The narrow walls of the 152-year-old Millay House have hosted a number of old Hollywood icons and a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet.
Reports place the home’s interior width at roughly 8½ feet.
The red brick townhouse (center) was built in 1873 along a carriage entryway.
Features of the Townhouse
The fresh listing, located between Commerce and Morton streets, was first reported by the New York Times. Broker Cortnee Glasser of Sotheby’s International Realty holds the listing.
“There’s nothing claustrophobic about it,” Glasser told The Post, describing the interior as bright, light and European.
“It does not feel like a Manhattan home.”
The Dutch-style gabled facade spans three stories, plus a finished lower level and a quaint rear garden.
Despite roughly 1,000 square feet of space, you’d be hard-pressed to fit a king bed. Past reports place the home’s interior width at roughly 8½ feet.
The home offers three bedrooms and two bathrooms in total, plus the possibility for a fourth bedroom in the lower level. A quaint garden off of the kitchen adds another 150 square feet of elbow room.
A Dutch door connects the eat-in kitchen to the quaint garden.
The narrow kitchen offers ample storage — and a mirror adds the illusion of more space.
An upstairs office space.
Unique Characteristics
The oddball dimensions recall the home’s past life as a carriage entryway for 77 Bedford, the oldest surviving house in the neighborhood.
Original details are lovingly maintained, including four woodburning fireplaces, wood-beamed ceilings and oak flooring throughout. Walls of windows, floor-to-ceiling French doors and a skylight for the 12-foot-tall top story keep the townhome from things feeling too confined. The home’s efficient built-ins and tidy pocket doors are a necessity.
Famous Residents
It was one of the home’s most famous residents, poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, who installed the skylight. Millay rented the property in 1923 and 1924, according to a plaque above the door. The top floor served as a writing retreat where she wrote her Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Ballad of the Harp-Weaver.”
Each bedroom includes a woodburning fireplace and lots of natural light.
The primary bathroom includes a claw-foot soaking tub and colorful views.
Millay and her husband also added the gabled roof, Dutch-style doors and wood casement windows on each story, the Times reported.
The house was leased to a range of artists during that time, largely to those working at the nearby Cherry Lane Theatre. Cary Grant and John Barrymore were among its tenants, as well as anthropologist Margaret Mead and cartoonist William Steig.
Preservation and Current Owners
Andrew Berman, the director of Village Preservation, told the Times that the historic home is “an icon of the neighborhood.” Tour groups and photo-takers regularly pause outside the home, according to Glasser.
An upstairs bedroom.
The rear garden entrance.
The most recent occupants purchased 75½ Bedford St. in 2023, according to city records. Dr. Tandra Hammer, an obstetrician and gynecologist, paid $3.41 million for the home. Her daughter, Donte Calarco, lives there most of the year, the Times reported. Both real estate investors, the pair told the outlet that they are ready for their next project.
Recent Renovations
The mother-daughter duo’s improvements to the home included closet upgrades, electrical work and “a lot of TLC into the garden,” Glasser said.
More extensive renovations by previous owners included the installation of Italian marble countertops in the eat-in kitchen and a claw-foot soaking tub in the second-floor primary suite.
“It’s a needle in a haystack kind of a listing,” Glasser said. “There’s nothing like it out there that’s currently on the market.”
Conclusion
The skinniest townhouse in NYC is a unique and historic property that offers a glimpse into the city’s past. With its narrow dimensions and charming features, it is a true gem in the West Village. Whether you’re a history buff, a fan of old Hollywood, or simply looking for a one-of-a-kind home, this townhouse is sure to impress.
FAQs
What is the address of the skinniest townhouse in NYC?
The address of the skinniest townhouse in NYC is 75½ Bedford St.
How much does the townhouse cost?
The townhouse is listed for $4.19 million.
How wide is the townhouse?
The townhouse is approximately 9½ feet wide.
Who are some of the famous residents of the townhouse?
Some of the famous residents of the townhouse include poet Edna St. Vincent Millay, Cary Grant, and John Barrymore.
What are some of the unique features of the townhouse?
Some of the unique features of the townhouse include its narrow dimensions, Dutch-style gabled facade, and quaint rear garden.
