Exclusive | NYC townhouse where the jazz icon Billie Holiday lived until her death has sold for $10.5M

A gracious Upper West Side townhouse where jazz icon Billie Holiday once lived has sold for $10.5 million.The Renaissance Revival brownstone, at 26 W.87th St., is where the legendary “Lady Day” lived until her death at age 44 in 1959, according to reports.

It’s also where Holiday released one of her most famous albums, “Lady in Satin,” in 1958.Back then, the historic home was carved up into separate apartments, and Holiday lived on the first floor, according to reports.Built in 1881, the gut-renovated home first hit the market for $13.99 million in 2022, as Gimme Shelter exclusively reported, and it was last asking $11.7 million. The sellers — who bought the residence for $9.47 million in 2017 — are Emilio Masci, of Aperture Advisors, and Kristine Bell, senior partner at David Zwirner.They hired Amie Sachs, formerly of Annabelle Selldorf Architects, to do the gut renovation.

It took two years and was completed in 2019.The buyers are Lorne Somerville, a managing partner at the private equity firm CVC, and custom luxury furniture maker Amy Somerville. Outside, there’s a stoop; large mahogany doors to welcome you inside.At a roomy 6,300 square feet, the 20-foot-wide townhouse features six bedrooms, six bathrooms, two powder rooms and nine fireplaces.

It opens to a foyer with a chandelier, paneling and herringbone- patterned oak floors.Next up is a great room with a 12-foot carved plaster ceiling, a fireplace mantel and a home office.

There’s also a wine cellar, and a screening room with a full kitchen and a bar.A skylight above the stairs add light.

It also comes with 640 square feet of outdoor space.An open chef’s kitchen — which can be closed off with pocket doors — is also the heart of the home, while a formal dining room comes with a dome ceiling, lots of windows and ornate millwork. The spread is also designed to showcase art, the listing notes. The main bedroom takes up the entire third floor and, at 1,200 square feet, ...