Located on one of Harlem’s most charming blocks, 72 Hamilton Terrace may look familiar from the outside. That’s because the century-old townhouse has figured prominently in several TV series including Law & Order and Blacklist. But even without its screen credits, the five-story, 4,930-square-foot home boasts plenty of star quality on its own.
Located less than one block from Alexander Hamilton’s Grange Mansion, the property is steeped in New York history. The home was constructed in 1898 by famed architects Neville and Bagge. However, in 2003, a fire nearly destroyed the property. For the next decade, it languished as a shell until its current owner launched a meticulous restoration. “The renovation took nearly three years,” says the property’s listing agent, Corcoran associate broker Tamara Marotta. “The homeowner even brought a stonemason from England to oversee the home’s façade and roof restoration.”
The results combine exquisite period details with the latest modern conveniences. The home’s appeal starts at the curb with its crested, slate-shingled mansard roof, ornate limestone-and-terracotta façade, and original wrought-iron fencing. “It looks every bit a home that’s featured in a movie—it could easily double as a house set on a London street, especially, with that beautiful fence and the well-kept garden behind it,” Marotta says.
More A-list details inside include marble fireplaces, traditional window trim, and decorative moldings, as well as doors sourced from the Guggenheim estate on Long Island, wood paneling excised from the former home of director Barry Levinson (Rain Man) and a sink from the iconic Plaza Hotel. Every floor is completely flooded with natural light, thanks to more than 40 windows on three exposures.
For all its historic charms, the four-bedroom home fits right in with its newer peers. The chef’s kitchen features a marble waterfall-style island and professional-quality appliances by Gaggenau, Sub-Zero, and Wolf. There’s also a nine-zone climate control system, and each of its three full marble-lined bathrooms (and two half-baths) has heated floors. “When standing inside, you realize you’re in a 19th-century townhouse, but you’re also surrounded by every modern convenience,” Marotta says.
On the top floor, an outdoor roof deck can be accessed via an ingenious bookcase-cum-ladder with wide steps evocative of those found inside a ship’s hull. From the top, you can enjoy panoramic views of the New York City skyline.
Designed with entertaining in mind, the sprawling lower level offers a family room with wet bar, an 860-bottle wine room and a door leading to a private, landscaped garden, while wine chillers have been strategically placed throughout. The indoor and outdoor spaces can easily accommodate a crowd, and recently played host to an elegant wedding.
Due in part to the popularity of the hit Broadway musical, Hamilton, the neighborhood has landed on the radar of locals and visitors alike. “Having Hamilton Grange at the end of the Terrace and the mansion as a proverbial beacon at its beginning makes for a wonderfully scenic walk,” Marotta says. “Many people have no idea that places like this even exist in the city, but it’s always been a special enclave.”