Surprising location of secret 1850s carriage house on the market for $3.75million

Daily Mail​

07-06-2025

Just steps from the vibrant pulse of New York City, an 1850s carriage house offers an unexpected oasis of calm in the very heart of Manhattan.
Tucked within a hidden courtyard just blocks from the electric energy of Times Square, a stunning and secluded carriage house has emerged on the market for the first time since 1981 - carrying a striking $3.75million price tag.
Located at 422 West 46th Street in the center of a Hell's Kitchen block, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom co-op spans approximately 1,500 square feet across two thoughtfully designed floors.
'Somebody could be in here and you wouldn't know that you are in the heart of Times Square,' listing agent Paul Devlin of Brown Harris Stevens told the New York Post.
Once a hub for horse-drawn carts delivering milk to local residents in the 1850s, the building's lower floors were originally built as stables, its historic charm quietly preserved behind suburb-like greenery.
The hidden gem is now part of an exclusive 18-unit co-op known as The Carriage House at Clinton Court and offers a rare pocket of peace in the center of the Big Apple.
'You can look out the windows and see the H&M tower from the bedroom window, but when you come down to the courtyard, it's serenely quiet,' Delvin added.
Surrounded by towering apartment buildings and glassy skyscrapers, this free-standing carriage house - bathed in natural light from windows on all sides - stands as a rare architectural anomaly in classic New York fashion.
From the street, a narrow sliver - the original horse passage - remains barely visible behind a charming iron gate.
As you walk through, you're transported to a mid-block courtyard that captures the intimate charm of New Orleans' French Quarter, a striking contrast to the hustle and bustle of Manhattan.
Beyond the courtyard and up a set of granite stairs, the front porch - adorned with cozy outdoor décor and a couch against a rustic brick wall - offers the perfect retreat for a lazy morning, feeling more like a private enclave than a city of eight million.
Inside, the home radiates timeless character and warmth, where two original wood-burning fireplaces and intricate stained glass details beautifully enhance its vintage appeal.
Venturing further inside, you'll discover a versatile space - perfect as an office, bedroom suite, or studio - with direct access to the duplex beyond.
The living and dining rooms unfold beneath high ceilings, centered around the stunning wood-burning fireplace.
Through elegant glass-paned doors, a cozy kitchen awaits - highlighted by a unique stained-glass pass-through, vibrant red-orange cabinets and a textured, brick backsplash behind the sink.
Upstairs, a primary bedroom features a second-wood burning fireplace, accompanied by a second bedroom, two full bathrooms and a washer/dryer closet.
As part of the 18-unit cooperative, the listing carries a monthly fee of approximately $4,000.
Once home to horses making neighborhood deliveries, the carriage house and the surrounding tenement buildings later evolved into a hub for 20th-century artists trying to make their big break in the heart of New York.
Adding to its rich history, the hidden gem was once home to the Menaconi Brothers - the sculptors who crafted the iconic flagpole bases seen at the New York Public Library, according to Tom Miller in a Daytonian in Manhattan article.
After purchasing the property in 1919, the duo transformed the carriage house into an art studio, adding a one-story eastern extension crowned with skylight to invite natural light into their creative space.
In a 1937 New York Times article, the artist's works scattered throughout the courtyard were described as 'almost too picturesque, like a stage version of Montmartre', according to Miller, who cited the piece.
'A pair of Italian architectural sculptors lead lives of amazing and beautiful detachment among dadoes, gargoyles, rainspouts that are grinning fauns, plaster cornices,' the 1937 article read.
Beautiful as it may be, Clinton Court is also steeped in eerie lore - widely regarded as one of New York City's most haunted buildings, with reports of at least three women having jumped to their deaths from the roof, as reported by Untapped.
Long ago, a sailor known as Old Moor was said to be hanged to death in the courtyard, according to a New York Times article dating back to 1993.
Not long after, his ghost reportedly appeared in front of the coachman's wife - who startled, fell down several flights of stairs, suffering fatal injuries as a result.
From then on, people say she joined Old Moor on his nightly patrols, and the legend of the haunted courtyard began to grow.
For years, the family's grandchildren impersonated ghosts - until one evening, a true ghost is said to have risen before them, terrifying one child so deeply that she too tumbled down the stairs, becoming another restless spirit in the already crowded courtyard.
Nevertheless, the property has long drawn artists, actors, playwrights and other theater luminaries - including actress Elizabeth Ashley and playwright Neil Simon.
According to the brokerage, the property has since served as a filming location for several well-known projects - Woody Allen's Bullets Over Broadway and Deconstructing Harry, along with popular New York City-based shows like Law & Order and Blue Bloods.