In 2000, Bob Dylan sold his Harlem townhouse for $560,000; after a preservation-led renovation, the four-storey Strivers’ Row residence has now sold for $2.8 million
The 1893 Renaissance Revival townhouse in Harlem’s historic Strivers’ Row, once home to Bob Dylan, has sold for $2.8 million after nearly a year on the market, according to a report by 6sqft. The four-storey residence at 265 West 139th Street closed at a price below its asking price. Last summer, the sellers listed it on the market asking $3 million, then dropped the price to $2.75 million in January before finding a buyer.The well-preserved townhouse is on one of New York’s most architecturally significant blocks. The 133-year-old structure is everything one would hope for in a historic residence.
Bob Dylan’s home
Pic credit: Chestnut Productions/Yuri Semenyuk for Sotheby’s International Realty.
The Harlem townhouse was once owned by the legendary singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The ‘Blowin’ in the Wind’ singer called this Manhattan residence home from 1986 until 2000, according to a report by the WSJ. The notoriously private artist maintained a low profile on Strivers’ Row. He simply existed, like other residents on a block where privacy was part of the bargain.Originally built in 1893, the Harlem house was designed by the McKim, Mead & White firm. The four-storey, 4,500-square-foot home is every bit as impressive as its history. In 2000, he sold the townhouse for $560,000, according to 6sqft.
New buyers and renovations
Pic credit: Chestnut Productions/Yuri Semenyuk for Sotheby’s International Realty
For the next decade, it passed through hands and listings. In 2018, retired attorney Isam Salah and former editor-in-chief of Elle magazine Elaina Richardson bought it for $3.17 million. For the married couple, Dylan’s legacy wasn’t the major attraction. But they were certainly reminded of it by the groups of tourists and curious passers-by. “Do you know Bob Dylan used to live in your house?” people sometimes asked, Salah told the outlet. And the couple would simply acknowledge, “Yes, we know.”
Pic credit: Chestnut Productions/Yuri Semenyuk for Sotheby’s International Realty
After buying the townhouse, the couple made some renovations. Radiant heating was threaded through 19th-century floors. The kitchen was upgraded with modern appliances, while the vestibule retained its original tilework. Bathrooms were outfitted with marble and high-end fixtures. They added soundproof windows while still preserving the original woodwork. The Palladian windows stayed intact, and the four-foot-tall safe was reused as a bar. Much of the renovation work is not immediately visible. And that was exactly their plan. They wanted modern features such as central HVAC, radiant heating, CitiQuiet windows and mesh Wi-Fi to make it possible to live comfortably while still maintaining the original character. The home’s beautiful architectural features, such as mouldings, pocket doors and galleries, remained untouched. They also rebuilt the rear terrace. The carport and garage also got an upgrade. They upgraded the amenities and kept the exteriors unchanged.
What the new buyer gets
Pic credit: Chestnut Productions/Yuri Semenyuk for Sotheby’s International Realty
The historic townhouse sold for $2.8 million. Though it’s slightly below asking, it reflects the demand for such homes. The new owners not only inherit a piece of Harlem’s history but also a carefully restored home with modern comforts. The four-storey townhouse has five bedrooms. The parlour floor stretches more than 50 feet of connected living and dining space, with 10-foot ceilings. The restored kitchen has premium appliances and is connected via a butler’s pantry to a dining area framed by a trio of Palladian windows that pulls northern light across the original hardwoods.The two bedrooms on the third floor share a marble bathroom with radiant heated floors. There are three more bedrooms on the top floor, one of which has a magnificent view of 139th Street. Below ground is a sealed cellar that works as a laundry space, workbench room and storage area. The rebuilt rear terrace is perfect for entertaining, while a private carport and garage are an almost unheard-of convenience in Manhattan, along the residents-only alley.
