18 West 11th Street

If you've ever walked through the West Village, you've probably been pretty envious that you don't live there. It is one of New York's most historic and unique neighborhoods as it was part of the early Dutch Settlement of New Amsterdam. That alone would require you to know that the Dutch actually settled this lovely island of Manahatta in which we live. The Village is comprised of charming narrow streets with many houses that were built before the Commissioners Plan of 1811 (the Grid) was even proposed. So one might conclude that houses this grand, historic and unique cost a pretty (stunning, hot, smokeshow) penny.

 If you concluded yes, then you're right on the money, literally. 

Walk down West 11th Street between 5th & 6th Avenue and you'll see a row of identical red brick Greek Revival Townhouses...Except for no. 18, which has triangular wedge angling from its facade. Maybe in 1845 the architect, Henry Brevoort Jr. decided to get all avant garde with no. 18 and give it some flare! But alas he didn't. The story is way juicier than that.

The townhouses Nos. 14 to 24 on West 11th Street

In the Spring of 1970, the owners of no. 18, the Wilkersons, headed to St. Kitts for a couple of Mai Tais on the beach. Now, if you've ever tinkered with the idea of leaving your teenage kids alone while on vacay.... DON'T.
They might just be a part of a radical leftist organization known as the Weathermen Underground, and might just blow up your townhouse whilst trying to make bombs with dynamite intended for Columbia University. Just before noon, Cathlyn Wilkerson (the very responsible daughter and Weathermen bomb manufacturer) blew up her parents four bedroom and four bathroom townhouse. I mean seriously, you couldn't have used someone elses junky apartment to make explosives?.... now you're just being rude.

Needles to say, her parents were pissssed, and so was their nextdoor neighbor, Dustin Hoffman. Cathlyn took Home Alone to a whole different level. So you ground your kid for life and probably shun them, but what do you do with your nineteenth century townhouse? #BallsInYourCourt

Clearly, your best bet is to hire architect Hugh Hardy to trick the place out in the most classic of 1970s architectural fashion. Completely weird and modernist to the point that it might just be kind of cool. After fighting the Landmarks Commission, the house finally got approved  in 1978 for the triangular facelift as it appears today.

Private backyard                                     The living room 

So what's the price on this 5,000 square foot, 5 story, four bedroom, four bathroom townhouse with an elevator and a furnished backyard/garden??? It sold in 2013 for $9,250,000. Which really isn't all that bad since it was originally listed for $10,995,000. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

Oh, and if you're wondering what happened to Cathlyn, she did the right thing and disappeared for ten years.
#HIDEYOURKIDS

The Schinasi Mansion @ 351 Riverside Drive

The mansion as it appears today

Ever wonder where all the mansions in New York City went? Did you even know that NY was once populated with sprawling limestone mansions?? 

Unfortunately for us, nearly almost all of New York's mansions have been torn down and replaced with hideous 1970s architecture, but as the only single family free-standing mansion left in NYC, 351 Riverside Drive gives us a glimpse into the luxury living of New York's past. 

Having lived three blocks from the mansion throughout my teenage years, the Morris Schniasi mansion is undoubtedly one of my favorite buildings in New York. In so few works, its freakin' SICK...now let me tell you why. 

The Schinasi Mansion was built in 1909 by William F. Tuthill, who later went on to build a fairly recognizable landmark in New York known as Carnegie Hall. Did Schinasi, the millionaire Turkish tobacco baron actually pay Tuthill for the 12,000 square foot, 12 bedroom, 11 bathroom, 4 story limestone mansion with a private tunnel to the Hudson River... Absolutely Not. But that's chill right? 

The Schinasi's lived in the mansion until the baron's death in 1928. It       was during this period when most wealthy New York families were selling  their mansions to real estate developers and reconstructing their mansionettes  atop luxury apartment buildings. The Schinasi mansion was sold to the  Semple School for Girls in 1930 for a mere $200,000 (someone invent time  travel for me PLZ) and then again in 1960 to Columbia University and  turned into a Day Care..(Like actually ew). After being passed around like a  kid in foster care, the battered and deteriorating gem was purchased by Hans  Smit, a Columbia Law Professor, in 1979 for $325,000..OK--but like FOR REAL THOUGH?!

The original library

In 2006, 351 Riverside Drive was put back on the market for a whopping $31,000,000 (just say it with the Dr. Evil accent). After sitting on the market for years, the inevitable happened and the price was reduced to $25,000,000 At that point, I was ready to rob a bank or sell a kidney. Like whichever. I guess things got a little desperate after the market crashed in 2008/09 and the owner let USA film a few seasons of White Collar in it. Just when I had given up all hope, my sweet darling princess decided to stop playing hard to get and reduced her price to a mere $14,000,000. But alas, Mark Schwartz of Goldman beat me to the punch and purchased my limestone lover. Better luck next time Kenz.