Originally built in 1924 by architect Mott Schmidt, the 40 foot wide townhouse located at 146 East 65th street in NYC has been occupied by none other than David Rockefeller for the past 69 years. The philanthropist, financier, and grandson of John D. Rockefeller originally purchased the home in 1948 with his wife Peggy. After David Rockefeller passed away at the age of 101 in March, the home was almost immediately listed for sale at 32.5M USD with Brown Harris Stevens, before receiving it’s most recent price cut.
Although, the asking price seems quite reasonable for a 40 foot wide townhouse in the upper east side; there are several characteristics that are not exactly working in the Rockefeller’s favor. Most notably is the residence’s location on the far eastern side of the Upper East side, which is closer to the east river verses the more prime western side of the neighborhood which borders Central Park, such as the properties between Madison and Fifth Ave.
The plush pad offers eight bedrooms and eight bathrooms in a rather plain dated layout. No gym, cinema, or indoor pool here, though, buyers looking for a project with some history may find reward in remodeling this iconic gem. Classic amenities at the nearly 10,000 square foot townhouse include a grand spiral staircase with skylight, full width 40′ foot wide paneled living room, library, wine cellar, six staff rooms, eight fireplaces, an additional 2,500 square foot basement, two vaults, and an elegant yet somewhat modest 3,000 square foot planted garden.
Most well regarded is the home’s illustrious art collection, which famed collector and patron of the arts, David Rockefeller, amassed over his long life. His collection, which was housed at the property, consisted of works by many modern masters including Matisse, Picasso, Cezanne to name a few, as well as a large collection of Chinese and European porcelains, which will be up for auction at Christie’s in the Spring of 2018.
Images courtesy of: Brown Harris Stevens
