402 W 20th St, New York, NY, 10011

About This Home

Rising with quiet authority along one of Chelsea's most enchanting blocks, the Donac stands as a rare surviving expression of the neighborhood's earliest visionaries. Conceived in 1898 by celebrated mansion architect C. P. H. Gilbert, whose body of work includes the Warburg Mansion (now the Jewish Museum), the Cartier Building, and the Upper East Side's Woolworth Mansions, this graceful, 24-foot-wide Neo-Colonial landmark was commissioned by Angelica Faber, daughter of Don Alonso Cushman, the developer who shaped much of Chelsea's architectural DNA. Its signature curved facade, a rare sculptural gesture in Manhattan townhouse design, traces its origins to an 1830s gentleman's agreement between Cushman and his neighbor Clement Clarke Moore. Their shared commitment to beauty and proportion gave rise to Chelsea's iconic garden setbacks, a legacy still legible today. Following a meticulous, ground-up restoration, this 6,545-square-foot, five-story historic trophy reemerges in full splendor. The exterior's buff-brick masonry, hand-carved trim, bowed bay windows, and wrought-iron detailing honor the building's 19th-century heritage, while the interiors thoughtfully fuse preserved craftsmanship with elevated modern luxury. Delivered vacant, the building comprises five luminous residences, three with working fireplaces, all featuring generous windows, restored millwork, and leafy Chelsea views. Floor-through layouts unfold with ease, while hardwood floors, custom casings, arched niches, and refined moldings celebrate the home's artisanal roots. Crowning the building is a dramatic three-bedroom, two-bathroom duplex penthouse, defined by sculptural volume and direct access to a sweeping roof deck with panoramic city views. Below sit two refined two-bedroom, one-bath floor-through residences, each offering expansive light and carefully considered details. The parlor level features an additional two-bedroom, one-bath floor-through with direct access to a serene private patio, an exceptional outdoor extension of the living space. A charming studio apartment in the cellar completes the offering, well-suited for guests, staff, creative use, or supplemental income. Throughout, state-of-the-art systems, updated lighting, and fresh finishes integrate seamlessly with preserved original details, creating interiors that feel both timeless and newly revived. Kitchens are beautifully appointed with premium appliances, generous storage, and expansive work surfaces, while bathrooms serve as spa-like retreats wrapped in floor-to-ceiling marble. Perfectly situated across from the storied General Theological Seminary and framed by tree-lined streets, the Donac offers the rare atmosphere of a European enclave in the heart of Manhattan. Its intimate five-residence scale ensures a high degree of discretion, while its adaptability, whether as a long-term investment, a boutique residential conversion, a live-plus-income home, or a singular private residence, provides a level of flexibility seldom found in properties of this character. Restored with care, architecturally intact, and anchored by provenance that cannot be replicated, the Donac stands as a generational Chelsea asset, ready for its next steward.