With all of the palatial penthouses and lavish lofts popping up across New York City, it’s become easy to forget the original definition of Manhattan luxury; The townhouse mansion. Increasingly rare as high-rises climb ever higher, and square-footages drop in tandem, the manses of the Upper East Side serve as a reminder of the lifestyle once sought out by everyone with big dreams in the Big Apple. One such home is on the market, soaring six stories up and asking $29.5 million.Described by listing agent Louise C. Beit of Sotheby’s International Realty as the pinnacle of “Manhattan’s glorious Gilded Age,” 12,729-square-foot home was constructed in 1895, around the same time as the New York homes of the Vanderbilts and Rockefellers. The 9-bedroom, 7-bathroom mansion, which sits mere feet from Fifth Avenue and Central Park, also contains 3 terraces, a garden, and 13-foot ceilings on the main level. A bastion of turn-of-the-century design, the neo-classical building features original details like marble fireplaces, of which there are six, and intricate mouldings throughout.There is also an abundance of modern conveniences delivered by a recent and extensive renovation, which successfully melds such historic charm with 21st-century living. The first level opens on a grand entrance gallery, complete with marble and onyx flooring, while a sweeping staircase with one-of-a-kind wrought iron balustrade leads upwards. Tucked behind this stately introduction is the chef’s kitchen, which boasts three ovens and two dishwashers. The upper levels are equally enticing; the sixth floor, namely, features a private gym and bamboo-lined yoga terrace.
