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New York City carriage house with a rich history is back on the market for $9.5 million, the same price it was listed for last year. The property at 155 E. 69th St., where abstract painter Mark Rothko created his art in the mid-20th century, boasts elegant touches like fireplaces and a grand layout.
The duplex has been owned by one family since the 1970s, but the Japanese company that owns the other half of the building operates a non-profit tea society foundation there. According to listing brokers Jeremy Stein and Jennifer Henson, both parties agreed when they bought the property that they would sell it 50 years later if neither wanted to hold on to it.
That's 12 years from now, but Stein notes that the property will likely be worth much more by then, estimated at around $24 million. If someone buys the duplex now and lives in it, they could make a significant profit when they sell it in the future.
The property has a fascinating history, having been divided into music studios in the 1950s where Elvis Presley re-recorded the end of the soundtrack for his first film, "Love Me Tender." Rothko often worked in the space and would cover the skylight with a parachute to create different types of light when he painted.
The building was designed by architect William Schickel in 1884 as part of a "stable row" where wealthy Manhattanites kept their horses and carriages during the Gilded Age. The double-wide red brick structure features arched windows, a large arched door, and an enclosed garden.
Inside, the property has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a formal dining room, and a working woodburning fireplace in the living area. There's also a glass-enclosed terrace, a home office, and a tea room on the upper level. An elevator connects the top floor to the garage, and there's additional storage and a wine cellar on a mezzanine level.
The landscaped roof deck offers views of the neighborhood, making this property a unique opportunity for someone looking for a piece of New York City history.
