The year looks bright for Emmy-winning playwright Danny Strong, whose “Chess” — the cult-favorite Cold War-era musical, with music from two members of ABBA — launches on Broadway this fall. But in the lead-up to the curtains opening, he’ll also have a new home to call his own.
Strong — also a screenwriter and actor recognizable for his roles in hit shows, like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Mad Men” — and his partner, the actor/producer Caitlin Mehner, are buying Andy Cohen’s West Village penthouse duplex, Gimme Shelter can reveal.
The power couple have inked a contract for the Bravo honcho’s beautifully decorated 2 Horatio St. aerie and are planning to close later this month. The final price is not yet known.
“Andy’s apartment is my dream home. We are so excited to be moving there,” said Strong, when contacted by Gimme Shelter, adding that the couple — new parents to their now 7-month-old daughter Maisie — need more space for their growing family.
It’s also an ideal spot for Strong to find inspiration for new projects. Past work also includes the writing of two “Hunger Games” movies, “The Butler,” “Recount,” and the series “Empire” and “Dopesick.”
The 3,500-square-foot nest — last asking $12 million — is in a classic prewar building developed by Bing & Bing. The listing brokers were Ryan Serhant and Donna Strugatz, of Serhant. Strong was represented by Douglas Elliman’s Jonathan Stein.
It took father-of-two Cohen an astonishing 21 years to acquire and assemble the penthouse, which has graced shelter magazines like Elle Decor. Cohen has since bought another penthouse for $18.21 million, according to property records, at the Emery Roth-designed 299 W. 12th St., where Jennifer Aniston once lived.
In a small-city scenario, Strong is in contract to sell his apartment at 299 W. 12th St., which was listed by Stein, of Elliman, and Marcy J. Bloomstein, of Sotheby’s International Realty. That two-bedroom, three-bath residence — overlooking Abingdon Square Park — was last asking $6.49 million. Its final sale price is also not yet known.
The soon-to-be-purchased 2 Horatio St. penthouse — overlooking Jackson Square Park — comes with four bedrooms, 4.5 baths, two woodburning fireplaces, wide-plank oak floors and 25 windows. It was gut-renovated by architect Gordon Kahn, with interior designs by Eric Hughes.
The colorful co-op is currently set up as a three-bedroom — with a nanny’s room, an ensuite windowed office and den, and lots of closet space, including a wall of lacquered storage on both floors. Other details include an open living/dining room with a marble fireplace, a window wall, beamed ceilings, built-in cabinetry and a gold-tiled windowed bar — as well as a corner windowed chef’s kitchen.
The two floors are connected by a glass, walnut and steel staircase that leads to a home office with an ensuite marble bath and a wall of custom bookshelves.
The main bedroom suite, for its part, also features a fireplace, a window wall with views of the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, and a walk-in closet/dressing room with custom millwork and three windows. It’s completed with a corner spa-like bath with a teak tub and a walk-in marble steam shower.