A Soho Townhouse That Was a Life’s Work: The Restoration of 203 Prince Street

As you wander east from West Broadway toward the intersection of Prince Street and Sixth Avenue, the frenetic energy of SoHo begins to dissipate. The neighborhood, world-renowned for its imposing cast-iron lofts and high-end luxury retail, hides a quieter, more delicate secret in its mid-block stretches. Nestled here are two unassuming, three-story brick townhouses dating back to the 1830s—relics from an era that predates the industrial transformation of the district.

While No. 205 is easily identified by the lush, cascading tropical plants curated by its longtime artist owners, its neighbor, No. 203, is more reserved. Apart from a bronze landmark plaque tucked below the parlor windows, it sits in quiet, dignified anonymity. However, this structure represents more than just historical preservation; it is the physical manifestation of one man’s decades-long obsession with architectural integrity. After 55 years of meticulous restoration and stewardship, the townhouse at 203 Prince Street has hit the market, offering a rare glimpse into a vanishing side of New York City’s architectural history.

The Evolution of a Landmark: A Chronology of Care

The history of 203 Prince Street is a narrative of rescue and reconstruction. In 1969, when commercial real estate broker Gordon McCollum purchased the property, the building was a far cry from the refined residence it is today. Having been chopped into dingy, utilitarian rental apartments, the 1834 structure had been stripped of its original character.

McCollum, who acquired the property for $17,000 (roughly $150,000 in today’s currency), acted in partnership with fellow broker Raf Borello. The pair was not wealthy, relying on the support of architect Briscoe Allen Trousdale III to secure the acquisition of the group of properties that included 203 and 205 Prince Street.

In the years that followed, the project became a labor of love for McCollum. He sought the counsel of James Biddle, then-president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and a former Americana curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Whenever a historic home of the same period was slated for demolition or renovation, Biddle would alert McCollum, who would scramble to the site with a van, salvaging discarded fireplaces, balustrades, and architectural flourishes to reintegrate them into the Prince Street home.

By 1978, the home’s restoration was in full swing, coinciding with a personal milestone: McCollum met his partner, Andrea Anson. Anson, who grew up in post-war Rome, brought a sophisticated, international sensibility to the home. The couple moved away from a formal dining setup, opting instead for a kitchen table that facilitated the lively dinner parties for which the house became known. Guests included the likes of Angela Lansbury and Italian actress Mariangela Melato.

The couple’s commitment to the home extended to the garden level, which for a decade served as a professional studio. In the 1980s, the space was repurposed to house the American Architectural Library—a massive collection of books, folios, and papers previously curated by architect Alan Burnham. McCollum, a student of Burnham’s at Columbia University, had purchased the collection to ensure its preservation. When McCollum passed away in 2000, his partner Anson donated the majority of the collection to the Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library at Columbia, a final act of stewardship for the man who had treated the townhouse as his life’s work.

Architectural Significance: A Dialogue of Styles

The residence at 203 Prince Street serves as a textbook example of a specific stylistic crossroads in 19th-century New York. It captures the transition from the late 18th-century Federal style—marked by refined proportions and delicate detailing—to the burgeoning popularity of Greek Revival architecture.

The exterior of the house features lintels designed to mimic the grandeur of Greek temple cornices, yet they are contrasted by distinctly American metal railings adorned with subtle pineapple motifs. Inside, the restoration work is nothing short of forensic. The parlor level is anchored by a stunning 1970s reproduction of an 1814 wallpaper, Monuments of Paris, which echoes the aesthetic sensibilities of the house’s original construction era.

The interior layout preserves the traditional rhythm of a 19th-century townhouse, with 14-foot ceilings, original fireplaces, and period-appropriate furnishings such as Queen Anne secretaries and Chippendale pieces. Perhaps most fascinating is the discovery of a tunnel beneath the house—reportedly used as an escape route for patrons of illicit establishments during the Prohibition era—which was briefly uncovered during a backyard renovation.

Supporting Data and Property Details

The sale of 203 Prince Street, listed by Richard Orenstein of Brown Harris Stevens, is a significant event in the SoHo real estate market. The property is currently asking $10.75 million, a price that reflects not only its prime location but the decades of curated, museum-quality restoration.

Key Specifications:

• Asking Price: $10.75 million
• Monthly Taxes: Approximately $2,771
• Configuration: 6 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms
• Features: 6 working wood-burning fireplaces, a private rear garden with a fountain, a fully contained garden-level studio apartment, and a cellar providing ample storage and laundry facilities.

The property is situated within a ten-minute walk of some of the city’s most iconic institutions, including Raoul’s, the Film Forum, and the flagship retail district of SoHo.

A Legacy Transferred

For Andrea Anson, now 75, the decision to part with the house is a pragmatic one. Despite the deep emotional ties to the home he shared with McCollum for 22 years, the physical demands of a three-story townhome—specifically the stairs—have become a burden. "I’m 75," Anson noted, "and with all the stairs, lugging the suitcases up is a killer."

Having spent the last two decades with a new partner and an enduring love for travel, Anson is ready to hand the baton to a new steward. The sale is not merely a transaction but a passing of the torch. The house, which stood as a fortress of history against the encroaching tide of modern development, now awaits an owner who appreciates the weight of its provenance.

Implications for the SoHo Market

The listing of 203 Prince Street arrives at a time when the "small-scale" history of SoHo is increasingly at risk of being eclipsed by mega-developments. The survival of this home, and others like it, serves as a testament to the efficacy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission and the dedication of private individuals who prioritize historical continuity over modern square-footage maximization.

For prospective buyers, the house represents a rare commodity: a move-in-ready historic property that has been "perfected" over half a century. It serves as an implicit challenge to the luxury market, proving that value can be derived from the narrative of a home as much as from its amenities. As the city continues to evolve, the fate of 203 Prince Street will be closely watched, serving as a bellwether for how much value New Yorkers place on the preservation of the past in a city obsessed with the future.

In a neighborhood defined by change, this townhouse remains a stubborn, beautiful anchor—a reminder that in the right hands, a building can be more than just a place to live; it can be a repository of a life, a collection of stories, and a bridge to a bygone century.