The West Village in Lower Manhattan is home to some amazing residences and well-preserved historic properties. Though we usually can’t see what is happening on the inside, we’re blessed with some beautiful and fascinating exteriors. We won’t share the exact addresses for privacy reasons, but below are our favorite West Village homes and the streets you can find them on.
This standalone Charles Street home looks like something out of a fairy-tale. It was built in the late 18th/early 19th century as a farmhouse on the Upper East Side. In 1969 it was moved to this unusual West Village lot where it still resides surrounded by larger and newer buildings. Locals often refer to it as the “Goodnight Moon” house given that the author of the famous children’s book resided here in the 1940s.
Two rows of eight duplex townhouses built in 1979 can be found on Charles Street. The planting and small balconies have a bohemian vibe. Perhaps more unique is the “backyard” entrance which is on the small cobblestone Charles Lane. This alley was once the boundary of Newgate State Prison starting in the 1790s. Charles Lane is one of the last remaining historic lanes in the city and the tucked-away little townhouses are worth checking out. Karlie Kloss just sold her home here for $2.4M.
We can’t help but fall in love with these townhouses located on Bethune Street, just steps from the Hudson River Park. All a bit different, but with stunning and meticulous exteriors. Marc Jacobs enjoyed his time in the West Village here. After more research, these properties are part of Robert A. M. Stern’s Super Ink condo. Residents in the townhouses can take advantage of the building’s amenities down the street which includes a gym, movie room, and lounge. Sounds like the best of both worlds to us!
You’ll find this 19th-century Romanesque brick facade on Washington Street. No, it’s not a church or a museum. The most recent listing said the private residence features a “great room with 20-foot ceilings, a pavilion with reflecting pool, ivy-covered walls, canopied above by Zelkova trees and a retractable glass roof.” Yes, please!
This beautiful home is surrounded by rowdy bars and restaurants on Bleecker Street but looks like it should be in the English countryside. The brick exterior, black shutters, and wrought iron fence feel like home. The floor plan we found looks extra strange but also just makes it that much more endearing.
On the corner of West 11th and Greenwich Street is an ivy-covered masterpiece. The attention-grabbing facade was once owned as a compound by Annie Leibovitz.
It’s unusual to see such a modern home in the West Village but here you have it! Located on Greenwich Street, this 3-story single-family townhouse stands out with its 40-foot high steel facade, a private parking garage, landscaped roof deck, a rear facade of floor-to-ceiling glass and a basement wine cellar. The listing price was recently listed at $20M!
This unique carriage house is cute and old-fashioned until you see the inside! It is a luxurious abode with an indoor swimming pool, a two-story patio, and a garage. We know it’s special because it inspired a love song by Taylor Swift. Aptly named Cornelia Street, the hit song describes her year-long stay here while her Tribeca condo was being renovated.
You can find this beauty on Horacio Street. We love the rooftop oasis and simple but well-maintained exterior. Some of the plantings are for the benefit of passersby and we are grateful for that! Said to be the home for an artist, this would be a muse for us too.
On the corner of Commerce and 7th Street, sits a large fenced-in gate and you can just make out the likes on an incredible home with private parking. As one would guess, the Federal-style townhouse oozes charm with 5 wood-burning fireplaces, wood-beamed ceilings, and a secret tunnel. Maybe it’s the secrecy that makes us want it that much more!
This West 4th Street home caught our eye because of the gas lamps outside. After doing a little digging, we found out that it was constructed in 1836 and is considered the “best-preserved home” among one of the oldest intact blockfronts in the West Village. It may have been built in the Greek Revival style, but the photos of the backyard look like Hollywood Glamour.
Peeking into the Greenwich Mews, walkers can make out seven houses nestled in a gated courtyard. Each home has private parking, access to the courtyard and patio, and a dedicated property manager.
This Grove Street Townhouse (but really compound!) is the oldest wood-framed home in the Village built in 1822. Underneath this country-style home is a direct passage to Chumley’s, which was a prohibition-era speakeasy. And we think that makes it one of the coolest places in the hood!
Grove Court is set back from the street and includeBlees six red-brick townhouses finished in 1854. Built for the working class, these weren’t always desirable homes. Now the idyllic residences provide a hidden oasis and mini-community. We’ll admire it from afar!
Add this mansion to the “unique” list. Built with safety in mind, this 2,000-square-foot fortress takes over much of the Greenwich Street block. It sold most recently for $42.5M (not a typo.)
With tons of history and unique renovations, the West Village is an amazing place to explore. Safe to say, we’ll have our bags packed just in case anyone needs a house-sitter!
