For $19.85M, a stately Upper East Side townhouse with modern updates

Back in 2015, the stately brick and brownstone townhouse at 26 East 80th Street—which had tried, and failed, to find a buyer for a few years—was finally snapped up for $19.85 million by an anonymous LLC. But because this is New York City, and wealthy people buy and sell properties like they’re trading used furniture on Craigslist, the home is already back on the market. The asking price? $19.85 million, once again.

The house itself is rather lovely: It was built in 1888 by famed architect Charles Graham, whose firm was also responsible for several other houses on that block (which is part of the Metropolitan Museum Historic District, designated in 1977). Many of his original details remain, including wood-burning fireplaces with their original mantles, and a sweeping staircase in the foyer (something that, the listing helpfully notes, was a signature of Graham’s).

There are also plenty of modern updates, thanks to a 2015 renovation: there’s an irrigated roof garden, a basement-level gym and laundry room, sound-proof windows (though the block, between Fifth and Madison avenues, is unlikely to be too loud), and a rear patio. (An elevator is apparently being installed.)

• 26 East 80th Street [Compass]