By:  Serach Nissim

A home in the West Village, on the street featured in a Bob Dylan album cover, has been listed for sale.

As reported by the NY Post, the four-story Greek Revival townhouse on beloved Jones Street, is asking $7.95 million. The quaint neighborhood, which lies in the western section of Greenwich Village in Lower Manhattan, still boasts a rich artsy draw, with its cobblestoned streets, piano bars, cabarets, theaters and the Village Vanguard jazz club.  The picturesque block,  lined with Federal-style townhouses, had served as the cover of Bob Dylan’s  iconic album, “The Freewheelin’, which remains one of the most celebrated album covers in music history.  The 1960’s cover is a picture of Bob Dylan in his youth strolling arm in arm with his then-girlfriend, Suze Rotolo, down Jones street, as it is covered in snow.

The home itself is brick clad and has undergone renovations, retaining its timeless charm, while instilling it with modern luxuries.  The single family home at 20 Jones Street, has four bedrooms with 2-and-a-half baths.  It spans 3,400-square-feet, and has a 21-foot-wide façade.  Originally built in 1844, the home has a rooftop terrace, a patio at the base level and an additional balcony on the entrance level, which houses the oversized living and dining rooms with an open plan to the modern gourmet kitchen and wet bar.   The home has eight elaborate fireplaces, with two on each level, and has city views.  In addition to the new hardwood floors, the home’s plumbing and wiring have been updated. The home is situated near Bleecker Street, with its vibrant array of chic boutiques, cozy cafes and restaurants, and accessible transportation options. The home is being listed by Heather Domi at Compass.

Per the Post, the four-story townhouse used to be a two-family home, but the current owner, Michael Hirschorn, transformed it back to its original state as a single family home.  Hirschorn, CEO of Ish Entertainment, is a multi-Emmy award winning film producer, responsible for hit reality television shows including “Celebrity Rehab,” “I Love the ’80s,” and “Best Week Ever.”  He worked also on more serious documentaries, including a recent one for HBO on cyber-attacks targeting voting machines. Additionally, he had previously worked as editor for Esquire magazine, co-founded the dot-com journal inside.com and worked at VH1 from 2001 to 2008.

One of his most notable moments was a 2009 article in The Atlantic entitled “End Times”, in which he made a controversial prediction suggesting that the New York Times would possibly face bankruptcy due to a looming $400 million debt default. While much of that basis was true, a rescue package from Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim prevented the Time’s collapse. Hirschorn had purchased the home for $6 million in 2011.

Hirschorn had purchased the home for $6 million in 2011.  Before that too, the home had a rich history.  It once served as a boarding house to providing low-income housing and later as the Crafts Building, eventually evolving into the Artists and Writers Kitchen, supporting local artists through art sales.  Per the Compass listing, the home also has been associated with prominent figures such as Kirk Douglas and singer-songwriter Steve Earle.