Estate Of Play: July

These six peculiar properties need owners. One’s an island.

July 26, 2017 9:00 am

This is Estate of Play, a monthly rundown (with pictures!) of some of the most over-the-top properties currently on sale in or about this fair(ish) city. This month: we round up the city’s most peculiar properties, from a cottage in the sky a luxurious private island.

72 East 1st Street – $3,500,000
East Village
We’ve always wondered what the heck was up with this sky-sweeping cottage. And now we know. Because that oddly perched penthouse is now available. The artist atelier is a quaint, custom Nantucket style duplex with unobstructed Manhattan views. No, seriously, there are 22 windows. Coming in at 3,000 interior and exterior square-feet, the home is also complete with two wood-burning fireplaces, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a wraparound terrace. A little gem in the city if there ever was one. But we should probably mention that this is a walk-up. Consider it a daily workout.

520 West 28th Street – $50,000,000
Chelsea
We wouldn’t mind living in a piece of art. Especially one designed by Zaha Hadid and right on the High Line. It just doesn’t get more beautiful than this when it comes to city living. The rare 5-bedroom find is 6,853-square-feet with a 2,218-square-foot terrace and two private balconies. The master suite houses two master baths and two windowed dressing rooms. And the Great Room boasts its own balcony and fireplace. You’ll also enjoy a marble-clad eat-in kitchen, as well as an outdoor kitchen, a library and a private elevator. No waiting for you. No way. And those stunning sculptural windows are, of course, motorized for when you’ve had enough of the city hum. As if the space itself wasn’t enough, residents enjoy access to the private IMAX theatre and entertaining suite, a 75-foot saline system sky lit swimming pool and automated robotic parking. This is the life.

16 Mathews Avenue – $889,000
Staten Island
The plus side, you’re getting a free-standing home for under a mil. The negative, you’re moving to Staten Island. But this ranch-esque home doesn’t feel like the city at all anyhow. And we like it. The quirky lil’ split-level is top-to-bottom a page out midcentury style 101. ASide from the custom open kitchen. But a family has got to eat, amirite? The logistics include three bedrooms, 1.5 baths, a garage, a finished basement and a bragging rights-worthy, darling backyard.

44 Gramercy Park – $3,750,000
Gramercy Park
A little creepy. A lot fantastic. A bonafide medieval castle, the home includes a stone fireplace, ornate wooden doors, a 500-square-foot terrace and detailed stained glass windows. This urban lair is a 2-bedroom, 2-bath co-op that’s been on the market since 2014 with a starting price of $7,000,000. That’s a healthy deal. The current owner has lived there for 60-some years. Maybe there’s some spooky history to the place that’s scaring buyers off? But, hell, we’d put up with some paranormal activity for a key to Gramercy Park —included — any day of the week.

Tavern Island – $10,995,000
Norwalk, Connecticut … sort of
Dream with us. You wake up. It’s quiet. You stretch as you look over the water. You cross the 6,000-square-feet of your English Country Colonial residence, passed the game room and the fireplace. You pass your children playing in the pool, wave to your guests staying in The Pilot House, telling them you’ll meet them later in The Tea House or, perhaps, on one of the private beaches, on your way to The Boat House. Just a quick 8-minute boat ride from your private island compound to your launch property in Rowayton and you’re on your way to Midtown Manhattan, just a shave over an hour’s drive away. You’re living the dream.

8220 Narrows Avenue – $9,000,000
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
A horse of a different color this one. The Arts ‘n’ Crafts-style “Gingerbread House” just knocked a cool $2,000,000 of its asking price. The home is 5,746-square-feet with six bedrooms and five baths. Although, the entire property weighs in at 20,000-square-feet including all the green space goodness. Inside, it’s dressed with stained glass windows, hand-carved stone fireplaces and wood relief carving here and there. Someone please move their rad grandma in here and invite us over for cake.

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