The house at 75½ Bedford Street, off Seventh Avenue is famous for a number of reasons, but mostly because of its size.
Associated Press on August 26, 2009 gave its dimensions: “On the inside, it measures 8 ft. 7 in. wide; at its narrowest, it’s 2 ft. wide. From the facade to the rear garden the house is a cozy 30 ft. deep.” Several other sources give its depth as 42 feet. Either way it’s a pretty small dwelling.
House Built to Fill in a Carriage Way
The tiny property probably was built in 1873 between 75 and 77 Bedford Street. It may have been built earlier according Christopher Gray in the New York Times. In a November 10, 1996, article he wrote that, “The assessed value of the entire parcel did not change, suggesting that the house had been built before then but simply not noted.”
Greenwich Village was a working class area at the time and the small building was variously used by a cobbler and a candy maker.
Greenwich Village Becomes Trendy
At nyc-architecture.com some of the home’s more illustrious occupants are noted. They include:
- Poet Edna St. Vincent Millay 1923-1924;
- “In the 1930s, the cartoonist William Steig, his wife and her sister, anthropologist Margaret Mead, lived in the house; and,
- “According to an Italian guidebook that an Italian tourist had with him in front of the house recently, actors John Barrymore and Cary Grant also had a brief run in the place.”
Value of House has Skyrocketed
In 1982, the house was put up for sale for $350,000. In the mid-1990s it was given a thorough renovation and according to CBS News (August 27, 2009) the “current owners bought the house for $1.6 million in 2000.”
Now it’s up for sale again and real estate agent Alex Nicholas of the Corcoran Real Estate Group has listed an asking price of $2.75 million.
Desirable Property in Manhattan
The real estate agent describes the home as being “Situated in one of NYC’s most desirable neighbourhoods, surrounded by stately and historic homes alike, is one of the most unique and storied properties in all of Manhattan.
“The house has been renovated to accentuate its unique architecture and features abundant light on all three floors, from the garret skylight to the over-sized windows and doors that open to a lovely garden.”
Home Attracts a lot of Tourists
The house is a bit of a curiosity and is on the walking tours of many New York City tour guides. Being inside must a bit like living in a fishbowl
The current resident told Bonnie Rosenstock of nyc-architecture.com that, “There are people out there all the time. I can hear their comments like, ‘Someone really lives in that tiny house?’ I want to poke my head out and say, ‘Yes, and I’m really proud of this little house.’ ”
Rupert Taylor - Rupert Taylor is the editor of a magazine that provides background to current events.
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