MZA was brought in to salvage a part of the history of this 1851 townhouse and to make fundamental changes to its configuration, adapting it to the clients' modern lifestyle. The structure was purchased as a 3-family residential building and converted to single-family use during the wall-to-wall, cellar to roof gut renovation. The property is under the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission's jurisdiction and, therefore, limited modifications were permitted to its primary facade. The rear facade of the building though had been modified several times over the house's history and retained little of its original context. In the 1920s, a rooftop penthouse had been added onto the original 4 story building which, rumor has it, served as a speakeasy of sorts during the prohibition.