Real Estate
Musing on mews: From Pomander to Patchin
BY MARTHA WILKIE
If you’ve ever stumbled upon Pomander
Walk on the Upper West
Side, you might think you’ve found
Brigadoon. Tiny Tudor-beamed houses
line a cobblestone walk located midblock
between 94th and 95th Sts. west
of Broadway. But only residents and their
guests can enter this magical land. It’s a
mews, protected by a locked gate.
Mews are gated outdoor common areas,
and Manhattan has just a few. Historically,
they were converted stables,
but can be purpose-built.
One of the most famous is Patchin
Place, home of bohemians and therapists.
Legend has it that E.E. Cummings
would check on the reclusive writer
Djuna Barnes by calling out, “Are you
still alive, Djuna?” across the mews each
morning.
Sean Khorsandi of Landmark West!
explained how Pomander Walk narrowly
escaped demolition — twice.
“The 1920s Pomander Walk is an
enclave of 27 tiny houses initially conceived
as a taxpayer low-scale building
intended to be replaced while the developer
assembled funds for a hotel.”
The Depression put the kibosh
on that hotel. Later, in
the bleak days of
the late 1970s,
Pomander
W a l k
w a s
You can
reside in this airy
loft in the Printing House, yet
still lay claim to some historic mews cred.
threatened with demolition. Luckily,
landmarking in 1982 saved the day.
“Through grassroots community
organizing, the residents worked with
architects to ensure the future of this
once-folly as a cherished landmark,”
Khorsandi said.
John Barbato is an agent with Stribling.
“It’s the opposite of cookie-cutter,” he
said. “The Walk is like a small countryside
community. A fairly tale Oz with a
Lollipop Guild. Owners leave garbage
out on their front steps to be collected.
Children are safe to trick or treat on
their own private street. It’s magical.”
Speaking of Pomander Walk, a threebedroom,
two-and-a-half-bath co-op
there is for sale for $2.15 million. Builtin
sound system and kitchen with not
one, but two wine fridges. A nice extra
is storage space in the attic. How many
New Yorkers have an attic.
(Stribling.com/properties/20707223)
On 4 Milligan Place, in the Village, a
one-bedroom, one-bath 1880 carriagehouse
rental with two decorative fi replaces
and lovely windows is available.
In a gated mews with views of Patchin
Place. $4,000 per month.
(Streeteasy.com/building/4-milliganplace
new_york/2r)
In a former industrial building — the
1908 Printing House in the Village — a
three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath
duplex condo is on the market. An alley
here formerly used by trucks was
converted into a mews. High-end fi ttings,
appliances and all the mod cons,
including a “home automation system”
— whatever that is. $4.5 million.
(Corcoran.com/nyc-real-estate/
for-sale/west-village/421-hudson-stapt
618/5600886)
Not exactly in a mews, but with views
of Washington Mews, is a sweet sunny
two-bedroom, two-bath with beamed
ceilings, for $2 million. (Annweintraub.
com/one-fi fth-avenue-3j)
At Pomander Walk, you’ll find a barn door hanging around in this residence.
Schneps Media CNW May 2, 2019 39
/20707223)
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