In 1967, a young poet and a young artist found a floor to rent in a Brooklyn townhouse for $80 a month. Nearly six decades later, the whole house is back on the market, and the asking rent is $17,500.
The address is 160 Hall Street in Clinton Hill, a 1901 townhouse that holds a place on the city’s cultural map. It was the first home Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe made together, the pair at the center of her memoir “Just Kids,” and they lived on one floor of the building. The listing, held by Thomas Martin of Brooklyn Properties, is a steep climb from the last time 6sqft covered it. When the townhouse appeared for rent in 2018, it was asking $8,000 a month.
The house itself would be nearly unrecognizable to its most famous tenants, much like the neighborhood around it. The original exterior has been preserved, but the interiors have undergone a recent full renovation in a warm, contemporary style. Some of the building’s older character survives inside, including pine floors, exposed oak beams, painted brick and wood-latticed windows. Those details now sit alongside modern comforts: central air, zoned heat, a fireplace, a dishwasher and a washer/dryer.
The layout runs vertically, as Brooklyn townhouse living tends to. The main living floor opens from a living room into an open kitchen and dining area. At the back, large glass doors lead to a private backyard. The top two floors hold three bedrooms and three full baths. The primary suite occupies the topmost floor, served by a marble-clad bathroom with a soaking tub and a walk-in steam and rain shower.
The listing also notes access to the rooftop, which offers views of both Manhattan and Brooklyn. A finished lower level provides flexible space that could serve as a home office, gym or rec room.
For anyone curious about full-house living in Brooklyn without committing to a purchase, the listing positions the rental as a chance to try it with all the trimmings. The gap between the two eras is hard to miss: in 1967, $80 a month bought one floor of the building. Today, 160 Hall Street asks more than 200 times that for the entire house. Whatever its rent, the townhouse remains tied to one of the best-known creative partnerships in downtown New York history, and to a Clinton Hill that has changed almost as much as the home’s interiors.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Patti Smith townhouse on Hall Street asking for rent?
The whole townhouse at 160 Hall Street in Clinton Hill is listed for $17,500 a month. When it last appeared for rent in 2018, it was asking $8,000 a month.
Where did Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe first live together?
They first lived together at 160 Hall Street in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, a 1901 townhouse, where they rented one floor in 1967 for $80 a month. The period is described in Smith’s memoir “Just Kids.”
Who is listing the Clinton Hill townhouse at 160 Hall Street?
The townhouse is listed through Thomas Martin of Brooklyn Properties.
How many bedrooms and bathrooms does the renovated 160 Hall Street townhouse have?
The renovated home has three bedrooms and three full baths, including a primary suite with a marble bathroom. It also has a private backyard and rooftop access with views of Manhattan and Brooklyn.
What original features were kept in the 160 Hall Street townhouse renovation?
The exterior has been preserved, and the interior retains pine floors, exposed oak beams, painted brick, and wood-latticed windows. Modern additions include central air, zoned heat, a fireplace, and a finished lower level.
Leave a Comment