The sole single-family townhouse in Tribeca’s northwest corner boasts one of Manhattan’s most coveted amenities: a spacious garage capable of holding a sizable SUV and a roadster side by side.
Looking out over a tree-lined corner near the Hudson River, the six-story mansion at 142 Watts Street began its first life in 1886—as a modest warehouse. The architect of record was Pierce & Dockstader, known mostly for its ornate residences, houses of worship, and municipal commissions across New York’s Southern Tier. Joseph H. Pierce and Otis Dockstader, a onetime railroad bridge engineer, went their separate ways by 1891.
Freshly redesigned by William Green Architects, the 6,750-square-foot home offers five bedrooms, five full bathrooms, and two powder rooms. And there is 800 square feet of private outdoor space, including three balconies and a dreamy rooftop deck with spectacular views of the Hudson and Lower Manhattan.
The gorgeous masonry façade has been fully restored and dressed up with period detailing, handsome new windows, and a slate mansard roof that holds the new primary bedroom suite.
What’s fantastic here is the eclectic mash-up of styles that date back to the building’s industrial and Gilded Age roots. The original exposed brick staircase (with windows) pairs wonderfully with the industrial-inspired steel elevator, and the new polished concrete floors feel right at home with grand French doors and the original masonry walls. Somehow it all seems both modern and timeless. The rooms throughout the home are truly loft-like, with both volume and front-to-back depth. Interestingly, the ceiling heights are different on every floor, with most hovering in the nine- to 10-foot range and then soaring up to 14.5 feet on the top floor.
Starting at street level, you’ll enter the stylish foyer through a carved mahogany entryway, or through the garage. Note the striking custom chandelier overhead and a convenient coat closet and powder room. You have immediate access to the elevator, which offers service to every floor, including the rooftop terrace and the lower level that features lots of storage as well as the mechanicals.
The grand full-floor living room on the second level offers multiple seating areas, a gas fireplace with a custom cast stone surround, European white oak flooring, a wet bar, and big south- and west-facing windows that flood the space with bright natural light.
The third level holds a full-floor, open-plan kitchen, and family room that feels wonderfully cozy yet fully functional—with another wet bar and powder room. The kitchen offers top-of-the-line appliances from Sub-Zero, Bosch, and Wolf, along with custom Italian cabinetry by Cesar and a Caesarstone-clad island with loads of informal seating. Two west-facing balconies offer views across Tribeca.
The fourth and fifth floors both hold two en suite bedrooms, and there is also a convenient laundry room on the fourth floor. The primary suite, which takes up the entire sixth floor, is simply breathtaking, with a private balcony, another fireplace, and dramatic floor-to-ceiling windows that frame Hudson River views. A 12-by-6-foot skylight floods the dressing area and the en-suite with natural light, and the soaking tub and rain shower are set up on a plinth, away from the private water closet and custom vanity.
With our tour complete, let’s take the elevator back down to the garage and hop inside the Tesla for a spin around Lower Manhattan and then out east to Montauk. (Did we mention the charging station?)