A storied Manhattan townhouse with deep literary and political ties has hit the market for USD $13.5 million (roughly AUD $20.2 million).
Located in New York’s Upper East Side, the five-storey Italianate-style residence was once home to Phyllis Cerf Wagner—an actress, socialite, and early collaborator with Dr. Seuss on children’s books through Random House.
Yahoo Lifestyle reports that Wagner purchased the 1870s-era Lenox Hill property in 1941 with her first husband, Bennett Cerf, co-founder of the publishing giant.
After his passing, she married former New York City mayor Robert Wagner Jr. and remained in the home until her death in 2006 at the age of 90.
The home, known for entertaining stars like Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra, later changed hands to jewellery designer Suzanne Sheik and ultimately sold to its current (unnamed) owner for USD $14 million in 2010.
The property has been on and off the market on several occasions, and was listed for US$24M in 2018.
Now back on the market, the 7,200-square-foot (approx. 668 sqm) townhouse features 16 rooms, including five bedrooms and seven bathrooms, and is represented by The Corcoran Group.
Inside, the residence marries old-world charm with modern updates.
Highlights include soaring ceilings, several wood-burning fireplaces, a hydraulic elevator servicing all five floors, and upgraded security and air-conditioning systems.
The marble-clad foyer leads into a designer kitchen fitted with a luxury La Cornue range, which flows into a coffered-ceiling living and dining area that opens to a private garden with a water wall and custom lighting.
On the entry level, visitors will find a reception lounge and a black-and-white-striped living room adjoining a formal library.
The top levels contain additional bedrooms and a skylit home office, while the basement includes a wine cellar and laundry room.
