Historic converted firehouse in Chelsea is ‘one of a kind,’ seeks $27K/month

There are a few firehouses that have been converted to residences in New York City—most notably, the West Village one occupied by Anderson Cooper, which was built in 1906 but got a Cary Tamarkin-designed overhaul.

Now, another one of these historic properties has hit the rental market, this time in Chelsea: a Civil War-era firehouse that’s since been converted into residences is up for grabs for a whopping $26,750/month. That’s actually a reduction in price from December, when it last appeared on the market; at that time, it was asking $33,000/month.

The building itself has a storied past: According to Daytonian in Manhattan, it was built around 1865 as a firehouse, but was on its way to becoming residential just a decade later. In the years after that, artists like John Yeats, Franziska Boas, and—most notably—Andy Warhol called the space home. It was eventually converted into luxury housing in the late ’90s, with the engine bay being used as a parking garage. (Ah, Manhattan.)

The 4,000-square-foot apartment for rent is configured as a duplex, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, two offices, a chef’s kitchen, and all the other mod cons you’d expect from a place renting for nearly $27,000/month.

Other features include a lovely carved staircase leading to a warm library, topped with a skylight; decorative fireplaces with carved marble mantelpieces; a solarium; original 19th-century cobblestone floors; and a master suite with a “lounge” and a large walk-in closet. It’s not cheap, but it sure is unique.

• Listing: 323 West 21st Street #1 [Douglas Elliman]