Bob Dylan’s longtime home in Harlem has sold for $2.8 million, a price slightly below its original listing but within the typical range for the historic neighborhood. The Strivers’ Row townhouse, located at 265 W. 139th St., was Dylan’s residence from 1986 to 2000.
The property first came on the market in August of last year with an asking price of $3 million. A $250,000 price reduction in January aimed to rekindle buyer interest, ultimately leading to the property going into contract. The sellers, Isam Salah, a retired attorney, and Elaina Richardson, former editor-in-chief of Elle, purchased the home in 2018 for $3.17 million, meaning they took a loss on the sale.
While Salah and Richardson acknowledged the curiosity surrounding the connection to the famed musician, they stated that their attachment to the property extended beyond its famous former tenant. The buyers, who were represented by Stanley Montfort of Serhant, were described as empty nesters relocating from the suburbs and have kept their identities private.
Colin Montgomery of Sotheby’s International Realty, who co-listed the property with Stan Ponte, noted that buyer interest increased this spring as more serious purchasers entered the market. He observed that while Dylan’s history at the address was a point of discussion, most potential buyers were more attracted to the home’s architectural significance. Montgomery described the house as feeling “preserved in time” and “a little bit of a time capsule.”
The townhouse, designed by Gilded Age architect Stanford White and completed in 1893, spans four floors plus a cellar and covers approximately 4,500 square feet. The five-bedroom residence retains many of White’s original features, such as decorative fireplaces, inlaid hardwood floors, and period moldings. Modern updates include radiant-heated bathrooms and a preserved original range stove in the kitchen. Homes in the Strivers’ Row area generally sell between $2 million and $3 million, positioning this sale near the upper end of that range despite the discount from its initial asking price.