Eccentric Hudson Heights, New York cliffside residence for sale for £3.33 million; at certain times of day it resembles a pumpkin
16 Chittenden Avenue, Hudson Heights, New York certainly doesn’t sound like an inspirational place to live. Though mention of this address won’t set pulses racing and despite one previous owner joking: “It’s not the White House”, whoever buys it will actually get something quite breathtaking situated on the highest natural point in Manhattan.
Offered for £3.33 million – a figure 202% higher than it sold for 17 years ago in 2000 – ‘The Pumpkin House’, as the residence is more famously known, is a freestanding cliffside structure that is described by selling agents Sotheby’s International Realty as having a “seemingly jack-o’-lantern face that glows across the Hudson [River] reflecting the light of the setting sun”.
It is spread over 4 floors, extends to 3,144 square foot and includes 2 reception rooms, a library, a home office, a “French country style” kitchen, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. A basement flat provides 1 reception room, a kitchen, 1 bedroom and 1 bathroom and in addition to a 2-car garage, there is a small garden, a balcony and a vast, part covered 66-foot long roof terrace.
Built on a steel foundation in 1925 by an engineer and “sort of a dreamer” named Cleveland Walcutt and referenced by The New York Times in 2008 as “a face in the crowd”, ‘The Pumpkin House’ was owned by an interior designer named William Spink from 2000 to 2011. During the renovations he orchestrated, a construction worker fell off the building and was seriously injured but what potential buyers will either love or loathe about this architectural miracle suspended over a 265-foot drop is that it truly is utterly eccentric.
The Numbers – The Pumpkin House
2000 – Sold for $1.10 million (the equivalent of $1.56 million, £1.22 million, €1.39 million or درهم5.73 million today).
2005 – Listed for $3.45 million (the equivalent of $4.32 million, £3.38 million, €3.86 million or درهم15.87 million today). Failed to sell.
2010 – Relisted for increased price of $3.90 million (the equivalent of $4.38 million, £3.43 million, €3.91 million or درهم16.09 million today).
2011 – Sold for an undisclosed sum.
August 2016 – For sale for $5.25 million (£4.11 million, €4.69 million or درهم19.28 million).
June 2017 – For sale for $4.25 million (£3.33 million, €3.79 million or درهم15.61 million).
Perfect for a nutty professor!!
Definitely not suitable for those afraid of heights or with suicidal tendencies.
With a bit of imagination and a very big wallet, you could make this into something spectacular. The location however might put many off as its hardly top of the pops.
As one of the agents currently selling the Pumpkin House, it could be and frankly is (although in need of work) spectacular. The neighborhood also has a very cool vibe with many actors and musicians living there. You can count the writer of the Broadway hit “Hamilton” as your next door neighbor.
It needs a big investment in upgrading and I’d worry about the cost of maintaining the exterior. A bit of a white elephant but I’d love to use it for a party.
Rod, WHERE ARE YOU?