153 Franklin Street

 townhouse  Add category

 Upload a photo

3-story residential building originally completed in 1853 as a firehouse for the City of New York. It was built to house Hose Company No. 54 (later known as "Eureka" Company) and "Knickerbocker" Hook and Ladder Company No. 11. It was transferred to "North River" Engine Company No. 30 in 1859 and then to "Baxter" Hook and Ladder Company No. 15, which occupied the building from 1864 to 1866. The city sold this building in 1877 and seven years later it was acquired by the Beckstein family, which owned much property on the block. For a time the building was occupied by merchants of plumbing supplies and hardware and by the elevator company of Fred D. Shaper. In 1967 the structure's top two floors were demolished and the remaining story was used as an artist's workshop and studio.

In 2008 two new floors were constructed on top, designed by Leopoldo Rosati, to create a new luxury townhouse. The upper floors are clad in red brick, with cream-colored, projecting window sills and lintels, and a roof cornice. There is a roof deck on top. The ground floor is of stone, with three broad pilasters crowned by scrolled brackets. Beginning in May 2011, the townhouse served as the cushy house-arrest spot for former IMF president Dominique Strauss-Khan.

Pop artist Taylor Swift currently resides here.