A mod apartment in downtown Manhattan’s West Village Houses in has hit the market for $1.29 million.
You can also say the place “rocks.” The seller is punk rocker George Tabb, on behalf of the estate of his late father, Nathan Gurwitz, who bought the unit for $275,156 in 2005.
The West Village Houses, between West and Washington streets, were built in the 1970s. They are part of a collection of 420 units in 42 walk-up buildings that were developed through the city’s Mitchell-Lama Housing Program for middle-income New Yorkers.
In 2006, the units were offered to residents at below-market rates through the Housing Development Fund Corporation, which comes with stipulation that limited their profit potential upon resale, along with a 12-year tax abatement. The tenants then fought developer Madison Equities and chose to keep the properties and convert them to market-rate co-ops. It was the first conversion of Mitchell-Lama buildings to market rate in the city, according to reports.
The home’s kitchen. Zoe Wetherall
A view of the layout, which includes a washer/dryer. Zoe Wetherall
The biofuel fireplace. Zoe Wetherall
The unit looks out to verdant views when the weather is better. Zoe Wetherall
The building complex offers residents lush greenspace. Zoe Wetherall
Tabb’s bands back in the day included Roach Motel, Atoms for Peace and Furious George. Tabb was inspired by the Ramones and was even best man at Dee Dee Ramone’s wedding to Barbara Zampini, he once said in an interview. Tabb is also the author of books including “Playing Right Field: A Jew Grows in Greenwich” and “Surfing Armageddon: Fascists, Fishnets, and Body Fluids in Florida.”
“The Village has changed a lot, and we have changed too,” Tabb told Gimme Shelter. “After I retired from playing live music a few years ago due to getting sick from 9/11, I just want to go to the country, rest, maybe build a recording studio, and write my next book.”
The first-floor apartment, at 156 Bank St., comes with two bedrooms and one bath.
The renovated home comes with an open kitchen featuring a breakfast bar, a cappuccino station and a wine bar. There’s also a great room with two large windows and a biofuel fireplace, along with a dining room that seats eight. The bath features radiant heat beneath marble floors, a deep soaking tub and a glass-doored shower.
The complex has communal green spaces with barbecues and bike storage.
Douglas Elliman’s David Rosen and Marvin Michel have the listing.