Artist Robert Rauschenberg hosted energetic events within the late Nineteen Sixties at his New York townhouse. Artists and engineers bunked in, the artist’s turtle Rocky charmed guests, and Rauschenberg created some key works in his studio there. That property might quickly give option to luxurious leases and boutique condominiums.
The five-story, 92,000-square-foot NoHo city home, which dates to the early nineteenth century, has been within the fingers of the artist and his basis since 1965. However improvement at an adjoining lot might threaten the constructing’s integrity, so 381 Lafayette Avenue is in the marketplace with New York actual property agency Newmark.
“The property might be leased as-is to a different person or transformed to luxurious leases or boutique condominiums in one of the vital fascinating neighborhoods in Manhattan,” says Newmark. The constructing is within the heart of the energetic New York College neighborhood, and only a few ft from the famed artwork/structure/engieeering faculty the Cooper Union. It’s additionally only a few blocks from Washington Sq. Park to the west and, to the south, the New Museum.
A spokesperson for the inspiration informed Artnet Information that it’s “exploring a spread of choices” in response to the approaching redevelopment of an adjoining car parking zone at 375 Lafayette, potential future dwelling of a 19-story residential constructing designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. “If development strikes ahead, the venture could have a major impression on the integrity, performance, and day-to-day operations of our constructing,” stated the spokesperson. The muse might transfer, stated the spokesperson, however can be “conducting a collection of assessments to completely perceive the scope and long-term implications of the proposed improvement.” The property additionally contains over 25,000 sq. ft of air rights, says Newmark, offering the potential for extra earnings in gentle of the adjoining improvement.
The home was constructed as a household dwelling; a Stephens household had been its first identified homeowners, in line with the inspiration’s web site. They bought it in 1890 to the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin for the Safety of Homeless and Destitute Youngsters, which put it to make use of as a house for orphaned newsboys. The mission added the current facade and expanded the constructing, together with with a chapel on the rear that also partially stands. The mission remained till 1965, when the artist purchased the property.
Till 1970, when he moved to Captiva, Florida, he used 381 Lafayette Avenue as his main residing quarters and office and a website for internet hosting events. Artists typically stayed there, together with Mel Bochner, Brice Marden, Yvonne Rainer, and Dorothea Rockburne, and, in reference to Rauschenberg’s given title, it was playfully known as “Milton’s Hilton.” It served as an unofficial boardinghouse for individuals in Rauschenberg’s Experiments in Artwork and Expertise (EAT) initiative, which introduced collectively artists and engineers. After the Florida transfer, it remained his New York base of operations, and after his dying in 2008, it handed to his basis.
The group appears to have dangerous luck when it comes to the sustainability of its actual property holdings. I reported for Artnet in 2025 that the group had put 22 acres of its Captiva Island property in the marketplace, citing “more and more difficult environmental circumstances.” Locals sought to guard the land, which had lengthy housed a storied artist residency program, from improvement, however in the long run the inspiration bought it to the South Seas resort for $45 million, to the dismay of many.
