Toni Morrison’s Tribeca Loft Comes On The Market, With Many Of Her Personal Artifacts On Display

The last home of Nobel prizewinning author Toni Morrison has come on the market for $4.75 million. Located in Tribeca’s landmark Textile Building, the condo is a corner unit with a modern feel despite the building dating back to 1901. The designer of this building, Henry Hardenburgh, is the same name behind other New York landmarks such as the Plaza Hotel and the Dakota Apartments (where John Lennon resided). Morrison purchased the condo in 2014 for $3.8 million and lived there until her death in 2019.

Tribeca real estate, like much of New York at the moment, isn’t moving off the market quickly. The average days on market is 71 days, while the average sales price is $3.8 million according to StreetEasy. Tribeca frequently comes in near the top of those end-of-year lists for the most expensive neighborhood in Manhattan, so this unit is very affordable for most of the properties in Tribeca. Of course there are homes asking twenty million on up, including this $40 million penthouse at 111 Murray Street.

A 3-bed, 2.5 bath with 2,319 square feet, the condo is divided into a more social half with an open plan kitchen and living room and a more secluded half where the three bedrooms are located. One of those bedrooms is still set up as the home office Morrison used, but it can easily be turned back into a bedroom. Many of Morrison’s personal effects are still in the unit, though none of them are for sale. You can get a sense of the author in her home through the extensive library collection and memorabilia such as the official certificate from President Obama’s inauguration, to which she was a guest.

“Morrison spent the final years of her life here, and it is still clear how much she loved this apartment,” said listing agent Amanda Brainerd with Brown Harris Stevens.

One part of the open plan living room shows the kitchen at one end of the room is tucked slightly behind a divider so it feels like a separate space.

Her collection includes everything from the complete works of Mark Twain to her own novels in many of the languages they have been translated in.

The main bedroom has corner views of the Manhattan skyline. Not pictured are the walk in closet with custom built-ins and large dressing area.

The main bathroom has double sinks with a soaking tub and glass rain shower. Not pictured is the guest bathroom with Japanese soaking tub.

A final photo released by the listing agents shows some more of her personally-curated art collection on display.

The building comes with a doorman, gym and steam room, media room with catering kitchen and wet bar, roof terrace with outdoor grills, courtyard and private storage. Monthly condo fees of $2,333 are additional to the price.

For more info see the listing page with Brown Harris Stevens.