Doublewide Townhouse Compound in New York’s West Village Asks $31 Million

The historic streets of New York’s Greenwich Village have been host to scores of writers, musicians, and artists over the years. Two who called charming Bedford Street home include Edna St. Vincent Millay and Jack Kerouac. In fact, it’s said that Kerouac based the apartment house in his 1958 novella “The Subterraneans” on one of two side-by-side townhouses that are available for a single price of $31.5 million.

In addition to the townhouses, which are currently connected only at the parlor level but could be easily split into two independent homes again, the one-of-a-kind property additionally offers a small separate carriage house and — a rare amenities in the West Village — a private curb cut and secured parking for three cars. Tax records show the seller acquired the compound’s three properties in a trio of transactions between 2006 and 2011 that totaled $13.4 million.

Built in 1899, both townhouses have been beautifully restored. With 37.5 feet of street frontage, there are more than 5,600 square feet of living space with nine wood-burning fireplaces and a total of four bedrooms and six bathrooms, plus two powder rooms.

Classic Village townhouse charm has been blended with modern conveniences making the double-wide townhouse a fantastic home for entertaining on a grand scale as well as for hosting smaller intimate gatherings. Both houses boast multiple living and dining areas and full chef’s kitchens that open to private gardens. Each garden provides access to the carriage house and parking area.

Equipped with an elevator, the southern townhouse stands four floors atop a cellar that includes three wine chillers with the capacity for 200 bottles. The parlor-level double living room has two fireplaces and a balcony with exterior stairs to the garden, and there’s a larger terrace outside the third-floor primary suite. The top floor, perfect as an art studio or media lounge, features 12-foot ceilings and skylights.

The northern townhouse does not have an elevator but does have two fireplaces in its parlor-level living and dining room as well as a balcony with stairs to the lower garden. A wet bar with refrigeration and an ice maker makes entertaining a snap.

Within a walled courtyard garden, the carriage house is currently configured as a pint-sized office/studio apartment.

Truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the most discerning (and wealthy) of buyers, the urban compound is listed by Jed Garfield, Matthew Lesser, Matthew Pravda, Caylyn Sullivan, and Ravi Kantha at Leslie J. Garfield. Property taxes are $67,000 a year.