Eleanor Roosevelt’s $13.5 Million Manhattan Townhouse Makes Tycoons Swoon

Houston Rockets owner/billionaire Tilman Fertitta might have a swell condo in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood while Dallas banker billionaire Gerald Ford and wife Kelli enjoy a jaw-dropping Upper East Side townhouse, but for Texans in the market for something that could surpass them both, we suggest Eleanor Roosevelt’s former townhouse.

Built in 1873 as a brownstone row house on the Upper East Side, the six-story dwelling boasts an impressive pedigree, the highlight of which would be Eleanor Roosevelt’s residency from 1953 to 1958. During that time, the former First Lady welcomed the likes of Indira Gandhi, Adlai Stevenson and John Kennedy to the home.

Most recently the 19-foot wide, six-story, 5,200 square foot residence was reimagined by Fairfield, Connecticut interior designer Maria Masi. The result is a classic homage to elegant living. The beauty of this buy is that it is a turnkey offering. Thus, all of the love and attention to detail that went into the townhouse, stays in the townhouse.

For certain, a width of only 19 feet could feel pinched if not handled so deftly in the design. The first two floors are dedicated to entertaining, the ground floor drawing room opening to a romantically landscaped garden. The third and fourth floors serve as two full-floor master suites, both with wet bars and fireplaces. Two bedrooms with ensuite baths comprise the fifth floor. And the sixth floor is an expansive roof terrace with skyline views of the Lenox Hill neighborhood.

With modern convenience paramount, an elevator connects all floors.

The townhouse by the numbers: 12 rooms in total, four bedrooms (graced with a separate staircase for privacy), five bathrooms, six marble fireplaces, 1,770 square feet of outdoor living, listing price of $13.5 million. Last July, a neighboring townhouse was priced at $13.9.

The property at 211 East 62nd Street is nicely located in the ultra-exclusive Treadwell Farm Historic District, which covers a small area — 61st and 62nd streets between Second and Third avenues.

It is listed with Stribling Private Brokerage, which has succeeded in getting the property highlighted online in Architectural Digest, the Robb Report and other design and real estate related publications.