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A Secret Courtyard Just Blocks From Times Square

04/06/2010

I was walking down West 46th Street in Hell’s Kitchen recently when I noticed a break in the buildings…

Most of the time, this sort of thing just turns out to be just a nook where residents pile garbage…But as I looked closer…

I noticed something peeking out in the back: what looked like a completely separate building, hidden away from the street.

This sign identified it as Clinton Court…

…And as I looked closer, it seemed like the alley did indeed lead into a much larger space.

The location scout in me is always looking to add unique and unusual New York locations to my “film-friendly” list; the urban explorer simply wanted to find out what treasures might be hidden down the alley.

It turns out that the building is very much interested in film work, and I was given a quick tour of Clinton Court to help spread the word. I proceeded down the alley…

…And into a beautiful secluded courtyard. At the south end is this carriage house turned residence, complete with arched French doors and a second floor porch…

…While to the left is the rest of the courtyard – it’s hard to believe this is located just a few blocks from Times Square!

The carriage house is a completely separate residence from the surrounding apartment buildings, and goes by the address 422 1/2 West 46th Street. A pan of the courtyard – click for larger viewing options:

Below, an aerial view shows the entrance and recessed carriage house:

According to Wikipedia, this carriage house was built pre-1800 and is the only surviving building in the area dating back to when Times Square and Hell’s Kitchen were farmland.

According to Forgotten-NY, a creek known as Widow’s Creek or Great Kills Creek once flowed nearby. The carriage house was once occupied by VP/NY State Governor George Clinton.

According to my tour guide, this is considered one of the most haunted buildings in New York. Legend has it that at least three women have jumped to their deaths from the roof.

This beautiful stairway leads up to the upper porch.

A nice place to enjoy some peace and quiet.

This apartment building is also accessed within the court, and the tenants share the space. Ivy grows up and down the surrounding buildings.

Though the space has been used for film shoots in the past (Bullets Over Broadway, for example), it has fallen out of the loop. The building is looking to generate more interest, and I am more than happy to present my pictures here to spread the word. I can think of a million great uses for the space, from a backdrop for intimate photoshoots, to an unrivaled secluded Manhattan filming location.

If you’re interested in getting in touch with building management, shoot me an email. Serious requests only!

Update! Take a peek inside the carriage house here…

-SCOUT

Many more posts in the archives!

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Deepak Acharya

04/06/2010

It is a kind of documentary, which I enjoyed very much.

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Wolynski

04/06/2010

Amazing find. It must be heaven to live here, if you live in Manhattan.

Very interesting blog.

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Aonghais

04/06/2010

Very cool find. I’ve walked past there a number of times and wanted to go back.

I’ve always loved rear houses, there are a number of them in Chelsea, Gramercy Park, and also in Williamsburg. I remember in the mid 90s looking for an apartment in Hells Kitchen, and being shown an apartment in a rear building on 50th off of 9th. You had to walk through a gated alleyway on the ground floor, and in the back was a little two story house. The place was totally trashed (broken windows, musty smell, garbage, old bicycles, broken furniture littered the place) that I didn’t take it, even though they were going to clean it up. I think they were asking something like 900 a month. I’m sure they are getting much more than that now for the place! Who knew the area would get so chic? Even in the 90s though, Hells Kitchen was so much nicer than the 70s or 80s.

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Nathan

04/06/2010

Spectacular find. I’ll keep it in mind.

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American Dreamer

04/06/2010

Legend has it that three women jumped to their deaths from the building but it is only three stories high: that is not high enough to kill most people.

FYI there are at least four other rows of carriage houses tucked between much larger buildings from 34th to 42nd street on the far west side.

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Phil hawley

04/06/2010

Fantastic find, you for finding this fantastic building, and me for finding your blog, fascinating stuff, especially as a photographer.

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ann

04/06/2010

I lived across the street at 413 west 46th a million years ago–Hartley House–and there’s a carriage house out in the courtyard there, too.

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Goggla

04/06/2010

Wow, amazing find!

I’ve also often wondered about the back buildings around 111 Sullivan. They’re accessible through a long corridor between the buildings, but it’s gated, so almost impossible to see from the street.

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Gaby

04/06/2010

This is a terrific find.The place looks beautiful! Love the photos too.

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Jenna

04/06/2010

I lived a few blocks away from this for a few years and never noticed it! I’ll definitely try to peek in next time I’m in the area – it’s amazing! Thanks for sharing.

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vanillasugar

04/06/2010

you know i have to be honest, your new posts are the only ones i look forward to (and i go thru hundreds of posts for work); they are also the only ones where i make sure all work is done, house is quiet, headphones on, glass of water (or wine) on deck and then i delve right in.
and i know you see me here all the time and i always say it, but i love love love your job….i think i had your job in a previous life. ha!
if you ever come to cape cod and need help, i’m here ha ha.
loved this post. wonder why 3 women jumped to their death? weird and maybe false or exaggeration? i didn’t know the house was that small, looked so big from outside. 2 bdrm/1 ba.

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Karen

04/06/2010

Oh my HEAVENS! That is just magical, that is.
This is my favorite kind of post–one that just takes me completely out of everything I know about Manhattan and shows me something utterly unexpected.
Since a “civilian” like me would never get back there, I have to thank you SO MUCH for showing us this!
So beautiful. Even the ironwork and flower pots around the garbage area. Amazing!

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JO

04/06/2010

you should talk to some mailmen. they would know every single address, every one that’s weird.

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Tyler

04/06/2010

The Sotheby’s ad says the house is pre-war. Which war would that be.

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Hilary

04/06/2010

In Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery, Allan Alda takes Diane Keaton to a courtyard that looks exactly like this one!….for anyone that hasn’t seen the movie, see it! it’s a really good movie.

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Wiliam

04/07/2010

Hi….I live at Clinton Court….it is a great place to be and most of us have lived here for many years. By the way, the photos of the interior are not of the back carriage house, but are the inside shots of one of the studios that is currently on the market. There is an offer on it, but it has not been finalized.

Also, I believe the story goes that three women (through the years) died in the carriage house due to a fall down one of the stairways.

Spring always brings out the best in our courtyard, as the flowers are beginning to bloom again!

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NYC Kim

04/07/2010

Could I BE more jealous? Not sure.

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Susan

04/09/2010

William (#18), have you seen any ghosts?

I just love this blog.

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