Inspired by Yesterday’s Grandeur

BUILT: 1856

ORIGINAL OWNER: Max Schwerin

STYLE:               Italianate

FACADE: Brownstone

FLOORS: 5

LOT SIZE: 27.17’ x 98.75’

BUILT: 27’ x 96’

APPROX. SQFT: 9,790

BLOCK/LOT:       00720-0071

BUILDING CLASS: C2

ZONING: R7B-8B

RESIDENTIAL FAR: 3

PRICE: $21,500,000

RE TAX: $115,809 per annum

TAX CLASS: 2A

TAX RATE: 12.5000% 

DESCRIPTION:

Step into a rare opportunity to reimagine a piece of Chelsea’s illustrious history at 448 West 23rd Street, an exquisite Italianate townhouse in the Chelsea Historic District Extension. Commissioned by Max Schwerin in 1856, this 5-story, 27-foot-wide brownstone stands as a testament to 19th-century elegance, offering 9,790 square feet of boundless potential for a luxurious single-family conversion. Its stately brownstone façade, adorned with segmental-arched window enframements on dainty brackets, and an elaborate Italianate cornice sets it apart from its neighbors, exuding the grandeur of a bygone era. The carved and paneled double entrance doors, miraculously preserved, and the only existing brownstone stoop on 23rd Street (reinstated around 1982) welcome you into a world of opulence.

Inside, soaring ceilings and intricate woodwork await transformation into a palatial residence. Envision a grand parlor with floor-to-ceiling windows, a gourmet kitchen flowing into a serene garden-level courtyard, and multiple en-suite bedrooms crowned by a private roof deck with views of the High Line, just half a block away. Currently four apartments, the expansive 2,683-square-foot lot allows for a reimagined layout—perhaps a private elevator, a home library, or a skylit atrium to bathe the interiors in natural light. The house’s slightly taller stature and elegant extras, like the rare carved enframement, hint at its original status as the home of a wealthy family, offering a unique canvas for modern luxury.

Nestled between Eighth and Ninth Avenues, this treasure is steeped in Chelsea’s rich history, shaped by Clement Clarke Moore’s vision for an upscale enclave. The neighborhood pulses with cultural vibrancy, from the High Line’s elevated gardens to Chelsea Market’s culinary delights and over 200 art galleries. With seamless access to subway lines, you’re moments from Manhattan’s heart. This townhouse is a collector’s dream—a chance to craft a legacy home where historic splendor meets contemporary sophistication in one of New York’s most coveted neighborhoods.