All photos courtesy of Kevin Scott/ Brown Harris Stevens
A Park Slope townhouse has sold for $13.9 million, marking the neighborhood’s priciest sale ever. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the five-story property at 535 1st Street, designed by architecture and design firm Leroy Street Studio, hit the market for $18 million in May 2024, as 6sqft previously reported.
Previous owners Dennis and Jeanne Masel, who bought the British Regency-style limestone mansion for $5.975 million in 2017, spent four years renovating it into a modern masterpiece that earned a feature in Architectural Digest.
For four years, Jeanne—the founder of Art for Change—and Dennis, an entrepreneur and film producer, oversaw the transformation of the home’s interior and outdoor spaces.
Every detail was carefully crafted, from custom millwork and curated hardware, fabrics, and surfaces to walls of movable glass that frame views of greenery, blending indoor and outdoor living.
The street-level stoop opens onto a modern staircase adorned with a luxurious silk velvet runner. Throughout the home, double-height spaces provide ample wall space to display the previous owners’ vast art collection.
The garden level features a true chef’s kitchen—designed by a professional chef and anchored by an 18-foot center island wrapped in imperial Danby marble. Custom-milled cabinetry and a blue quartzite backsplash frame several Sub-Zero refrigerators and freezer drawers, a 60-inch Wolf dual-fuel range, and a 100-bottle Sub-Zero wine refrigerator.
Additional features include a pot filler and faucets that provide filtered flat or sparkling water, as 6sqft previously reported.
An open dining area can meet the needs of the grandest dinner party, while Corinthian granite steps lead to a sunken media room. This sleek space is framed by oak bookshelves and warmed by a gas fireplace. At the rear, glass panes open onto the rear garden.
Floor-to-ceiling movable glass walls enclose the modern den, offering unobstructed views of the garden. The professionally landscaped, fully irrigated green space features seating areas for tranquil meditation amid mature trees and flower boxes, as well as a fully equipped outdoor kitchen.
On the floor above, parlor-height ceilings and gallery-like walls frame a formal living room, complete with a gas fireplace and custom lighting. Adjacent, an open library offers a serene retreat with sliding windows, an oak-clad ceiling, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and custom parquet flooring arranged in a dazzling Cubist pattern.
A screening room with soundproof curtains, a surround-sound audio system, and a lacquered cobalt-blue ceiling wrap offers the perfect setting for enjoying a film. Also on this floor, a small powder room features a glossy blue resin basin and bold Calico wallpaper.
The primary suite occupies the next floor, where each room seamlessly blends dramatic design with comfort. Built-in storage lines the walls of a spacious dressing room, while the light-filled bathroom features a dark navy vanity topped with marble. A sculptural freestanding tub sits amid a wall-sized art mural. The floor above houses three additional bedrooms and two bathrooms.
A penthouse office crowns the home; glass on two sides slides open to reveal two breathtaking rooftop terraces.
Amenities and other luxuries include multi-zone heating and cooling, an air filtration system, a laundry room, and a dumbwaiter that transports items between floors. A home automation system provides effortless control over lighting, shades, temperature, audio, and visuals.
The previous neighborhood record was a $12.6 million townhouse sold in 2017. In 2024, Poly Prep Country Day School paid $13.5 million for a Prospect Park West mansion owned by the Brooklyn Society for Ethical Culture, according to WSJ. The property was originally listed for $30 million in 2021.
Other top townhouse sales in the neighborhood include 45 Montgomery Place, which sold for $12.6 million in 2017, and 17 Prospect Park West, which collected $12.4 million in 2015 and then $11.7 million in 2022, as 6sqft previously reported.
Juliana Frei at Brown Harris Stevens represented the buyers and Tim Malone of Compass represented the sellers.
[Listing details: 535 1st Street by Tim Malone of Compass]
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