We were thrilled to have listed and represented the seller of 471 West End Avenue, a rare gem in the Riverside West Historic District. This landmark McKim, Mead & White townhouse offered a unique redevelopment opportunity, rich in architectural history and potential. Partnering with my colleague Laurie Lewis, we brought this incredible property to market despite its very real issues. The townhouse had suffered significant fire damage several years earlier, leaving it in need of a full gut renovation and narrowing considerably its potential pool of buyers. That's a tough challenge, but we were up to the task! Its prime location, solid structure, and an impressive almost 25-foot width offered incredible promise for the right buyer. However, we knew that potential buyers might struggle to envision what the finished product could look like, so we took additional steps to help unlock its true potential.

We enlisted the renowned architect Morris Adjmi to reimagine 471 West End Avenue as a luxurious single-family residence. His studio produced a stunning vision that beautifully captured the home's original grandeur restored, adding modern luxury with meticulous attention to its status within the Landmark District. It allowed buyers to see not only what the property once was, but also what it could become in the hands of a person with the vision to rebuild it. That became a leading part of the story that we were able to tell potential customers about the building—amplifying it across a comprehensive multi-media marketing effort.

This micro-branding strategy used high-quality video and custom designed print materials in the mix, showcasing the home’s architectural significance and redevelopment potential. The synergy of these raised the profile of the property to stand out in a very competitive and challenging market. Ultimately, it was sold to a developer who recognized the property’s historical significance with the skill and experience to bring it back to life. Lisa Lippman at BHS represented the buyer in this transaction. We couldn’t have asked for a more fitting outcome where the Comitini Team's unique marketing capabilities along with industry know-how and relationships built over many years produced a very satisfying outcome for everyone involved.

Our seller, whose family had owned the property for many years, was incredibly supportive throughout the process. He trusted our skills, the game plan, and stuck with us through the pandemic and an extended sales cycle. We are deeply grateful for his patience and partnership throughout this journey. It was an honor to be part of this extraordinary sale, and we look forward to seeing this historic townhouse reach its full potential once again.