For $12M, a wooden West Village townhouse built two centuries ago

One of the oldest buildings in the West Village is for sale. Located at 17 Grove Street, the rare, wood-frame townhouse built in 1822 is now on the market for $12 million. The unique property includes the main, three-bedroom house, and a two-story backhouse at 100 Bedford Street. Because the city banned the construction of wooden homes in the area in 1849, 17 Grove Street is one of the oldest remaining wood-frame homes in the Village, although not quite the overall oldest home in the neighborhood.

The home was built nearly two centuries ago by its original owner, William Hyde, a window sash maker. Originally only two stories tall, the home gained another floor in 1870, as Village Preservation noted. The main house and the backhouse, used as a workshop, have since been used as single-family residences.

While other wood-frame homes in the Village have since been covered in brick, 17 Grove stands out for its obvious wooden appearance. In addition to its rare exterior, the home’s interior boasts original woodwork, rough-hewn beams, brick flooring, and pine floorboards.

On the first floor, the living room features a wood-burning fireplace and half-bath. The kitchen can also be found on this level, which has been updated with modern appliances and a walk-in pantry.

The master bedroom is on the second floor of the home and comes with its own bathroom. The top floor contains two spacious bedrooms, each with a private bathroom.

The finished basement currently serves as a multi-purpose room, with a library, half-bath, and laundry room. And according to the listing, a tunnel underneath the basement once connected to Chumley’s, a Prohibition-era speakeasy that remains open today.

Separated from the main home by a backyard, there is a two-story house with its own entrance and address (100 Bedford Street). The quaint backhouse includes a full kitchen and banquette dining area, open living room with a fireplace, an office, bedroom, and a full bath.

[Listing: 17 Grove Street by Jane Beal for The Corcoran Group]

[Via NY Post]

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• The backstory on backhouses: How NYC’s hidden rear residences came to be

Photos by Allyson Lubow and Corcoran’s Dean DeCarlo, courtesy of The Corcoran Group