Lawyerly Lairs: Ex-ACORN Attorney Sells $21 Million Townhouse

Can you imagine how awesome this house would be if converted to single-family use?

Contrary to the cliché, sometimes the acorn does fall far from the tree. Very, very far.

Let’s play a game of word association. If I were to toss out “ACORN” — as in the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, not the nut — what would come to mind?

Controversy? Certainly.

Scandal? Sure.

People in need of low-income housing? Why not.

You probably wouldn’t blurt out, “27-foot-wide, $21 million townhouse in the West Village”….

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Lawyer Arthur Z. Schwartz, former general counsel to ACORN, just sold his 8,540 square-foot townhouse in the heart of Greenwich Village for $20.89 million. That’s quite a tidy sum to squirrel away!

But before you start ranting about limousine liberals, consider the facts, as reported by the New York Observer:

Devoted as he is to fighting the people’s fight, it’s a good thing for the attorney that his sharp instincts are not limited to the legal world. He picked up a 8,540 square-foot townhouse at 269 West 11th Street in 2003 for a song — a mere $499,990 — which he’s just resold for $20.89 million, according to city records.

Having $500,000 in 2003 isn’t as big a deal as having $21 million in 2014. For the record, though, it seems that Arthur Schwartz also put some cash into the property:

The listing, held by Debra Kameros, Susan Weiner and Kelly Craig at Douglas Elliman, calls the property a “mansion in the making,” and the nearly 27-foot-wide 1836 Greek Revival does indeed offer opulent possibilities. In addition to enormous interiors, the home boasts a leafy garden of some 1,200 square-feet with what appears to be real, live grass — or at least dense and verdant growths of moss. Photos show high ceilings, moldings, large mullioned windows and lots of light. Many original details, though, seem to have been effaced — things look fairly-recently renovated, with new floors a modern kitchen and fresh paint. Fireplaces remain, and perhaps some banisters and doors. (Loan records also seem to suggest very considerable investments in the property on Mr. Schwartz’s part.)

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One can’t help wondering, given these “considerable investments,” whether Arthur Schwartz might come from money. Looking over his LinkedIn profile, his prior positions don’t seem super-lucrative.

Schwartz’s former home sounds lovely based on the Observer’s description. Let’s look at some photos….