One of NYC’s final Gilded Age homes enters contract
After four years and a staggering $30 million in price cuts, one of New York’s final remaining single-family townhouses designed by the famed Gilded Age architect Stanford White has finally found a buyer.
The six-story limestone mansion at 973 Fifth Ave., spanning 16,000 square feet, went into contract last week with an asking price of $49.9 million — a steep discount from its original $72.5 million tag in 2023.
According to Olshan Realty’s weekly report, this deal made it the priciest Manhattan home to land a contract in that period. The final sale price, as well as the identity of the forthcoming owner, are not yet known.
The historic property, located directly across from Central Park, briefly reentered the market earlier this month — and this time, it moved fast.
This is “unbelievably rare,” said Andres Perea-Garzon of Corcoran, who co-listed the home alongside Carrie Chiang and Lesley Schulhof.
Indeed, the residence is one of just two remaining townhouses in Manhattan still standing as they were originally intended: a single-family masterpiece crafted by White, whose illustrious career included iconic landmarks like the Washington Square Arch and The Players Club.
Throughout his career, White — one-third of the legendary architecture firm McKim, Mead & White — designed numerous grand residences in the city, though most have since been repurposed.
His surviving projects include a mix of office buildings, hotels and even retail spaces, making this Fifth Avenue gem an exceptionally rare find.
The current owner, who acquired the mansion for $42 million in 2012, poured millions into a meticulous restoration, bringing the home back to its old-world splendor.
“Everything was fully either restored or put in brand new,” said Perea-Garzon. “It’s an homage to Stanford White.”
Inside, the 11-bedroom estate is a step back in time — nine woodburning fireplaces, soaring ceilings, intricately carved woodwork and restored stained-glass windows make the home a showcase of Gilded Age craftsmanship.
While its Beaux-Arts aesthetic remains intact, the mansion isn’t stuck in the past. The home has been upgraded with five kitchens, a new elevator and state-of-the-art air filtration systems.
Among the many extravagant amenities: a climate-controlled wine cellar, a Venetian plaster steam room, a rooftop terrace with 360-degree views of Manhattan, and a jewelry and silver vault.
Despite the lavish renovations, some original design elements have likely evolved over the years.
“Some of the interiors may have been Stanford White,” Samuel White, the architect’s great-grandson, previously told The Post. “But I suspect that the owners over the years have changed the interiors around.
“I’ve only been in the house once, and I photographed it about 25 years ago. There is one room where there are sort of wooden beamed ceilings and another room with a sort of panel molding on the walls.”
The mansion has bounced on and off the market since 2021, initially hitting the market for an eye-popping $80 million. Had it sold at that price, it would have shattered records for the city’s most expensive townhouse sale, surpassing the $77 million paid for financier Phillip Falcone’s East 67th Street residence.
The seller, an LLC tied to former Goldman Sachs partner David Leuschen, ultimately settled for a more realistic price, allowing the deal to enter contract.
While the home stands as a testament to White’s genius, his personal story ended in infamy.
In 1906, he was gunned down at McKim, Mead & White’s Madison Square Garden — a shocking murder at the hands of millionaire heir Harry Kendall Thaw. Thaw, driven by jealousy and obsession, sought revenge over White’s past involvement with Evelyn Nesbit, a model and showgirl with whom White had a controversial relationship.
