GOLD COAST TOWNHOUSE

THE HISTORY

On this site, two substantial town houses were erected in 1846-47 for Augustus W. Clason, Jr., an attorney, who originally built No. 12 West 10th Street. No. 22 reveals how the row from 16-20 once appeared. The houses are transitional in style from Greek Revival to Italianate. Although the wrought iron railings of the high stoop and areaway replace the cast iron originals, the windows retain their muntined sash, and those at the first floor are full length with extra long lower sash having nine panes. At the top floor of the house there are attic windows and a fine modillion roof cornice. No. 20 has been remodeled with a simple basement entrance. It has a parapet at the roof and just below it a large, central studio window with steel sash, set off by horizontal band courses, above and below it, and by two recessed, circular panels, one on each side.

THE GOLD COAST BLOCK

As on West Eleventh Street, the chief contrast on this street is between the north and south sides. Rows of relatively uniform town houses extend along the south side, and opposite them is a block in which large apartment houses predominate. Both sides add the contrast of mid-Twentieth Century architecture. Many of the most handsome Anglo-Italianate houses in New York, with entrances at street level, enhance the south side. Together they form one of the most distinguished examples of street architecture of the mid-Nineteenth Century. The unbroken stretch of relatively uniform three and four-story town houses is highlighted at the Fifth Avenue end by a fine contemporary church house. In more recent times the block has been home to legends such as Jimi Hendrix who resided at the Emery Roth designed Art Deco building at number 59. The Forbes buildings on the corner of Fifth Avenue now house offices for the magazine as well as galleries that once contained the world's largest Faberge Egg collection as well as numerous other special collections. Across the street from the Forbes building is a beautiful Gothic Revival church modeled after the tower of Magdalene College, Oxford.

THE RESIDENCE

Built 26 feet wide, this extraordinarily large residence is replete with high ceilings and natural light. With windows on three sides of its extension and a charming L-shaped brick garden, the home is built at its deepest 77 feet on the lot. Presently divided into an owner's triplex and three larger apartments on the upper floors, this property represents a unique opportunity to create a magnificent single-family residence on one of Greenwich Village's finest blocks.

With a total of 10 fireplaces, 9 bedrooms and 9 baths in its present configuration, the scale of this massive 26-foot wide townhouse allows for the creation of large entertaining spaces, gracious bedroom suites, and bright outdoor vistas on a quiet Village block renowned for its history and majesty.