A home with a history worth bookmarking, 161 East 74th Street, currently configured as a single-family residence, is a two-family home nestled in the heart of Lenox Hill.
161 East 74th Street is currently listed by Brown Harris Stevens agent Victoria Vinokur.
Future owners of this remarkable property will enjoy six beautiful wood-burning fireplaces, exceptional light throughout, over 1,200 square feet of outdoor space—including a terrace and roof deck—and an elevator, all across six floors and 6,600 square feet of interior space.
Blending local lore with an intriguing past, this home carries stories of a rich and varied history.
According to legend, the house was one of four built by a Yorkville brewmaster for his children, with two niches in the main living room serving as a nod to the past, where a passage between the homes once existed.
161 East 74th Street’s history includes former owner John Felix Charles Bryce, whose friendship with James Bond author Ian Fleming inspired the creation of Bond’s CIA ally, Felix Leiter.
Bryce frequently hosted Fleming during summers in Vermont, where parts of Diamonds Are Forever were written.Adding to the home’s fascinating background, Bryce married Josephine Hartford Bryce, granddaughter of George Huntington Hartford, the founder of the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (A&P).
A&P was a cornerstone of American retail during its prime, becoming a household name that shaped the way Americans shopped.
The current owner is a world-renowned plastic surgeon making strides in groundbreaking medical research. His parents were recognized as Righteous Among Nations at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem for their role in rescuing twelve Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II.
With its captivating history and timeless appeal, 161 East 74th Street awaits its next chapter.
