A landmarked East Village townhouse owned by journalist and author Nina Munk, and the artist and sculptor Peter Soriano, is now on the market for $7.25 million — down from its $7.5 million ask.
The five-story, 19th-century Anglo-Italianate townhouse at 25 Stuyvesant St. is one of a long row of houses built in 1861. It is believed to be designed by James Renwick Jr., the architect of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the original Smithsonian, among other landmarks.
The red brick residence, which was lovingly and meticulously restored and updated in 2013, is filled with art by Soriano — like a large orange wood-cut print in the front hall — and from the couple’s collection.
They bought the townhouse for $3.7 million in 2012 from the late Jean Way Schoonover, a pioneering public relations maven. Now that they are empty nesters, it’s time to start a new chapter, and they will be spending more time in Europe, the couple said.
Stuyvesant Street, which runs two blocks, is the only street in Manhattan that runs truly west to east, which makes it seem crooked even though it’s not, according to the Village Preservation blog.
Munk is currently working on a new book for Alfred A. Knopf and is the author or co-author of four books, including “The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty.”
She is also the daughter of the late Hungarian-born Canadian businessman and philanthropist Peter Munk, who founded Barrick Gold — one of the largest pure gold producers in the world and the largest in the US.
Soriano’s work can be found in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Morgan Library & Museum in New York and the Yale University Art Gallery, as well as in art spaces in France and Switzerland.
The 3,400-square-foot home comes with four bedrooms, three baths and two powder rooms. Original details include intricate moldings, four fireplaces, a curved staircase, elegantly proportioned rooms and arched windows.
Outside, there’s a landscaped, brick-walled garden with mature plantings, plus open views from the roof in all directions.
A garden level with an entrance under the stoop leads to the front foyer and a mudroom. There’s also an office, a half bathroom, and an art studio with a glass wall and French doors that access the garden.
The chef’s kitchen, pantry and formal dining room are on the first floor, while a living room and a study take up the second level. A main bedroom with walk-in closets occupies the whole third floor. There are more bedrooms on the fourth and fifth floors, the latter of which also houses an office.
The listing brokers are Robert McCain and Amber Gregory of Compass.