West Village Federal Rowhouse with Surprise Attic Space Sells for $6 Million

Attics get a bad name as the cobweb-laden crawl space to store holiday decorations, the makeshift bedroom for the angry teenager in the house, or the unknown room that no one even dares enter. But behind the dormer windows of 651 Washington Street is a modern, spacious attic space that has been transformed to fit two sunny bedrooms, one of the many factors that likely led to its recent $6 million sale.

Other selling points of the five-story, 2,800-square-foot home include four bedrooms, three and a half bathrooms, a full-floor finished basement outfitted with a home gym, a private outdoor garden, and two separate dining rooms. The lucky buyer is Charles Modica, Co-Founder and Chancellor of St. George’s University located in Grenada, West Indies.

Eleven years ago the home underwent a complete renovation, as is beautifully evident in the contemporary kitchen with its subtle ceiling beans, sleek wooden and frosted glass cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, and glossy backsplash. The adjacent dining area has glass doors that lead to a lovely private terrace. On the second story is a more traditional floor-through, 40′ x 16′ living and formal dining space with wide plank wood floors and a gas fireplace with marble mantle.

Now, back to that attic. It has two bedrooms: one in the front of the house and one in the rear. In the front, two dormer windows punctuate the sloped ceiling, as does one in the back room. The homeowners used the unusual angles to their benefit, playing with paint colors and creating an interestingly shaped built-in bookcase. Two additional bedrooms are on the floor below, and the master suite comes complete with a gas fireplace, walk-in closet, and bathroom that boasts double sinks and a steam shower.

The Federal-style rowhouse was built in 1829 and is located within the Greenwich Village Historic District Extension. It’s also featured in the book Maritime Mile – The Story Of The Greenwich Village Waterfront. The home was converted to a multiple-tenant dwelling in the 1840s, and housed a variety of ground-floor commercial businesses throughout the 1900s until it was converted back to a single residence in 1997. An interesting exterior detail of the house is that it retains its wide, storefront window.

We’re curious if the new owner will keep the attic as bedrooms or use the bonus space in another creative way.

[Listing: 651 Washington Street via Douglas Elliman]

[via CityRealty]

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman