Exquisite and historic 12 East 79th Street is a rare prized property on one of Manhattan's most coveted blocks, graced by the most imposing series of impeccably-preserved townhouses in all of NYC. Idyllically located just off Fifth Avenue and Central Park, this magnificent treasure was designed in 1901 as a 56' pair of mansions by Boston architect Arthur Little for Charles Walter Ogden and his sister Mary F. Ogden. Prominent in the real estate industry, Charles purchased #12 and 14 in 1900, creating two complementary structures within a majestic symmetrical fa ade. Arthur Little, famed for conceiving several extraordinary Boston residences, seamlessly integrated a classic American Neo-Federal profile with distinctive English Georgian motifs, enhancing a buff Roman brick fa ade with ionic porticos, limestone trim and broad low stoops to epitomize architectural grandeur. Distinguished by their bowed bays, #12 and 14 also impress with their iron fences, open urns, and broad low stoops affording a striking main entryway, met by two lower level service entries. Two additional floors above the balustrade were added to the building in 1960.
The extraordinary 28'-wide, 102'-long mansion #12 boasts an incredible 16,000+/- square feet over 6 stories above-grade, plus an English basement and a cellar. Superlative elements abound throughout the interiors, from exquisite woodwork to intricate moldings, elegant ceiling details, impressive fireplaces, and beautiful leaded glass. Inside the mansion, a handsome staircase rises to the first-floor reception gallery, centering a spectacular oval meeting room and a gracious bow-front study. Level two is occupied by a dramatic drawing room, the Ogden Library stretching the home's entire width, and palatial White Room which was originally the ballroom. Four additional stories house eight generous bedrooms, ample closets and full baths. Heightening the allure further is a 67' private rooftop offering divine open city views, a large day-lit English basement with a lounge, kitchen and staff dining room, and an expansive cellar below with access to the rear yard. Revered for its storied history and provenance, 12 East 79th Street rests on an incomparable landmarked block bordering the Metropolitan Museum of Art - per The New York Times, long considered the choicest plot of land for upscale single-family dwellings, and home to many notables over the years including the Stuyvesants, Dukes and Whitneys.
