Joshua Rechnitz's Post-Apocalyptic Penthouse Asks $5M Amid Speculation of Financial Strains
A former philanthropist, 60-year-old Joshua Rechnitz has cut his ties with his one-of-a-kind post-apocalyptic penthouse in the West Village, listing it at a reduced price tag of $4.9 million. The eye-catching property boasts an array of eccentric features, including laboratory-grade fixtures, a water tower-turned-hot tub, and a metal staircase resembling dinosaur bones.
Renovated over nearly two decades, the 3,400-square-foot triplex has been Rechnitz's "passion project." Ann Cutbill Lenane, Douglas Elliman agent handling the listing, described every aspect of the property as "cooler than the next," with unique touches such as a dome-shaped powder room encompassed by colorful wine bottles and an emergency eye-washing station in the bathroom.
The home, situated on a commercial walk-up building, has already incurred significant financial losses. According to city records, the investment would amount to over $5 million considering the owner's extensive renovations and decorative additions. Despite this, Rechnitz expressed his admiration for the property, highlighting its rare features such as 13-foot ceilings, four woodburning fireplaces, and a rooftop space hosting an antique soaking tub.
The listing suggests that Rechnitz is stepping back from his philanthropic pursuits to focus on business ventures in upstate agriculture. The decision marks a significant shift for Rechnitz, who has garnered attention for his under-the-radar philanthropy fueled by a family fortune dating back to the Great Depression.
A recent $40 million pledge to construct a 200-meter bike racing track and a donation of $7 million to acquire Gowanus' abandoned power station demonstrate Rechnitz's dedication to environmental causes. Powerhouse Arts, the site renovated from its underground rave hotspot in 2023, is now an arts facility showcasing his commitment to community development.
The penthouse sale stands as a testament to Rechnitz's unconventional approach to luxury living and his willingness to showcase his eccentric taste.
A former philanthropist, 60-year-old Joshua Rechnitz has cut his ties with his one-of-a-kind post-apocalyptic penthouse in the West Village, listing it at a reduced price tag of $4.9 million. The eye-catching property boasts an array of eccentric features, including laboratory-grade fixtures, a water tower-turned-hot tub, and a metal staircase resembling dinosaur bones.
Renovated over nearly two decades, the 3,400-square-foot triplex has been Rechnitz's "passion project." Ann Cutbill Lenane, Douglas Elliman agent handling the listing, described every aspect of the property as "cooler than the next," with unique touches such as a dome-shaped powder room encompassed by colorful wine bottles and an emergency eye-washing station in the bathroom.
The home, situated on a commercial walk-up building, has already incurred significant financial losses. According to city records, the investment would amount to over $5 million considering the owner's extensive renovations and decorative additions. Despite this, Rechnitz expressed his admiration for the property, highlighting its rare features such as 13-foot ceilings, four woodburning fireplaces, and a rooftop space hosting an antique soaking tub.
The listing suggests that Rechnitz is stepping back from his philanthropic pursuits to focus on business ventures in upstate agriculture. The decision marks a significant shift for Rechnitz, who has garnered attention for his under-the-radar philanthropy fueled by a family fortune dating back to the Great Depression.
A recent $40 million pledge to construct a 200-meter bike racing track and a donation of $7 million to acquire Gowanus' abandoned power station demonstrate Rechnitz's dedication to environmental causes. Powerhouse Arts, the site renovated from its underground rave hotspot in 2023, is now an arts facility showcasing his commitment to community development.
The penthouse sale stands as a testament to Rechnitz's unconventional approach to luxury living and his willingness to showcase his eccentric taste.
its like his own personal bunker or something! and 13ft ceilings? four woodburning fireplaces? thats just crazy talk 
what drew him to it in the first place? was it the wine bottle dome or the dinosaur bone staircase? 
anyway, gotta respect the guy for trying out different ventures... from bike racing tracks to abandoned power stations, hes not afraid to think outside the box 
... like, I get it, Joshua Rechnitz's post-apocalyptic penthouse is straight fire 
! Those features are wild, though... I mean, who needs that much drama in one place? 
And don't even get me started on the price tag - $5M or $4.9M, either way, it's a pretty penny 
.
. I love that he's donating big bucks to environmental causes and community development projects - that's the kind of impact I want to see! 
Not so much the weird stuff, though... can someone please just buy this penthouse already? 
And it shows! The place is, like, totally unique. I love how he incorporated all these quirky features - laboratory-grade fixtures, a water tower hot tub? Genius! 
But still, I'm curious about what made him decide to let go of the property. Maybe it is true that his philanthropic pursuits are taking priority? 
Either way, it's gonna be interesting to see how he navigates this new chapter in his life... 
. like, does he really need that kinda scratch? i guess if ur gonna be a business owner in upstate agriculture or somethin' 
, you gotta have some serious cash on hand 
... who wouldn't wanna soak in an antique tub under those dinosaur bones? 
. Upstate agriculture, huh? Hopefully he'll make some money off those cows or whatever 
and that metal staircase looks straight outta a video game 
. seems like rechnitz really put his heart into this place, even if it's not exactly making him bank 
and that metal staircase is straight out of a movie 
it's wild to think about how much he poured into this place, over 2 decades worth 
i'm curious to see what's next for him now that he's stepping back from philanthropy 
! 13-foot ceilings, woodburning fireplaces, and a hot tub on top of a water tower... it's just crazy 
i mean idk about the price though $4.9m is kinda steep even for me lol my friends & I used to joke that we'd rather have a bunch of food in the school cafeteria than this crazy penthouse it's like his "passion project" went from cool to $$$ 
4.9 million is still a pretty penny but maybe he's just ready 2 move on from his philanthropy days? 
. I mean, I get that he wants to focus on his business ventures and whatnot, but this just feels like a fancy way of saying "I have too much money" 
I mean, it's a wild ride with that post-apocalyptic aesthetic, but I guess some things are just too much to handle 