The Osborne Keeps the Gilded Age Alive on Billionaires’ Row in Midtown Manhattan

By Grace Cassidy Long before a series of supertall skyscrapers came to dominate the Midtown Manhattan skyline, the tallest residential building on the stretch of 57th Street now known as Billionaires’ Row was an ornate 11-story brownstone called The Osborne. Designed by renowned architect James Edward Ware and built at 205 West 57th Street in 1885, The Osborne stands as one of the oldest luxury apartment buildings in New York City, earning it landmarked status and recognition on the National Register of Historic Places. Now, potential buyers have a chance to own a piece of that history with the listing of unit 8BA for $5,750,000 . “The important thing about The Osborne is the construction,” said Suzanne Sealy , the Douglas Elliman agent who represents the listing. “The walls are thick, and the apartments are incredibly quiet. You can’t believe that you’re in the middle of the city—it’s that quiet.” Catty-corner from Carnegie Hall and just blocks north of the Museum of Modern Art and Times Square Theater District, the Osborne could not be better located for patrons of the arts. (Central Park, just two blocks away, is virtually its backyard.) Indeed, numerous artists, musicians, writers, opera singers, and architects have called The Osborne home throughout its 138-year history, from musical maestro Leonard Bernstein and photographer Peter Beard to writer Fran Lebowitz and actor Jessica Chastain, photographer Peter Beard. Sealy represented the same listing when the current buyers purchased the home, which has been updated over the years and outfitted with plenty of modern conveniences, including two new bathrooms. However, it retains its Gilded Age opulence and original architectural details, including hand-carved paneling, 14-foot ceilings, a black marble fireplace with mahogany mantel, Tiffany glass transoms and parquet floors of cherry and oak. Meanwhile, the lobby remains practically untouched since it was built, with ornate Italian Renaissance designs, mosaic tiled walls, marble floors, stone benches and glazed terra cotta panels. The three-bedroom, three-bath unit features a well-equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a generous dining room and five fireplaces. The primary bedroom suite is particularly quiet and relaxing, complete with an attached bathroom, walk-in closet and dressing room that leads up to a lofted area. “It’s like you’re at a country inn,” Sealy said of the primary suite. The home also includes a separate studio apartment, accessible through the common hallway; however, buyers will be free to renovate in order to create direct interior access. Residents also enjoy numerous building amenities, including a 24-hour doorman, live-in resident manager, a full laundry room, state-of-the-art fitness center and a large rooftop terrace that offers a clear sightline south to Times Square—prime viewing for watching the ball drop on New Year’s Eve.