Former “Real Housewives of New York City” cast member Sonja Morgan is parting ways with her opulent Upper East Side townhouse, which will be auctioned off next month. The five-story residence, located at 162 E. 63rd St., will go under the hammer on May 29th through Concierge Auctions, in partnership with Adam Modlin of the Modlin Group. The auction opens on May 15th, with no minimum bid set. Bidding is anticipated to fall within the range of $1.75 million to $3.75 million, according to Paulina Kimbel, vice president of business development at Concierge Auctions.
The townhouse, famously equipped with a secret elevator showcased in Bravo’s hit “RHONY” series, has had an on-again, off-again relationship with the market since 2013, when it was initially listed for $9.95 million. Until last week, it was priced at $7.5 million.
“This townhouse has been our cherished home for decades,” Morgan expressed in a statement. “In addition to raising my daughter here, we entertained heads of state, royalty, luminaries and Fortune 500 CEOs. Many memories were made over the years, including hosting my daughter’s friends from boarding school and university, and so many noteworthy moments were filmed by NBC for Bravo and Peacock TV. Now, as an empty nester, I am ready to share this turnkey, easy-to-manage jewel over to someone new to enjoy as we did.”
Morgan, who was married to banking heir John Adams Morgan from 1998 to 2006, graced the Bravo reality show from 2010 to 2021. She is currently embarking on a comedy tour. Despite financial setbacks, including a bankruptcy filing in 2010, Morgan managed to retain ownership of the stately townhouse, deciding to stay put after the case was settled in 2015.
The exquisite property was relisted in 2022 for $8.75 million, before the price was reduced to $7.5 million last year. “The auction process aligns with my goal to sell at market value in an efficient and timely manner,” Morgan stated. “It’s now finally the time to take advantage of the moment.”
In December, Morgan confided to Page Six that after moving out of the townhouse, she was compelled to return at the onset of the pandemic when her tenant vacated. “My house isn’t rented anymore, so I had to move back into my own house,” she explained, adding jokingly, “I’m sort of like a squatter.”
The home has played its own starring role on television, appearing during Morgan’s renovations, rentals, and market listings. Its opulent features include a sauna, gym, library, and exquisite custom mosaic floors in the entryway. Two spacious master baths boast nautical motifs, reflecting the interests of Morgan’s ex-husband and his lineage of “noted yachtsmen and Commodores of the New York Yacht Club,” according to a former listing.
Additional design details include marble floors, hand-painted silk wallpaper, Venetian plastered walls, and silk and cedar-lined closets with mahogany drawers. The 4,650-square-foot townhouse encompasses five bedrooms and 5.5 baths, along with an 800-square-foot basement. Outdoors, there’s a 575-square-foot landscaped garden adorned with a fountain and a koi pond.
The first floor of the residence welcomes guests into a grand foyer, with French doors leading to a sunroom featuring floor-to-ceiling windows. The second floor is graced by a formal dining room with a woodburning fireplace and an 18th-century marble mantel. There’s also a sunlit eat-in kitchen, and a versatile third room suitable as a guest bedroom, library, or home office, adorned with arched windows and Venetian plaster walls.
Ascending to the third floor, the primary bedroom suite boasts another woodburning fireplace, a sitting room, a spa-like bath, and a balcony overlooking the garden. A fourth-floor bedroom comes with its own fireplace, while the fifth floor offers an apartment-style suite with two additional bedrooms, another fireplace, and a full bath, plus a kitchenette.
