Musician David Sanborn is selling his Upper West Side townhouse for $12 million, and it comes with a bona fide soundproof room that passed a firecracker test. (More on that below.)
Sanborn, a Grammy-winning saxophonist who’s worked with everyone from David Bowie to Paul Simon, has lived in the house since 1989. He converted the building, originally a multi-unit residence, back to a single-family home and restored many of the original details you can see in the photos. The five-bedroom, four-bathroom townhouse has a clean, modern vibe but also retains an authentic classic charm — thanks to the coffered ceilings, beautiful wood carpentry, four wood-burning fireplaces and distinct hardwood inlaid floors throughout.
The home comes with a private garden and terrace off the master bedroom, but our favorite amenity is the recording studio on the top floor. The fully-equipped studio was soundproofed with Sheetrock, according to CORE agent Mickey Conlon, who shares the listing with Shaun Osher and Tom Postilio. “To confirm that there would be no disturbances to the neighboring houses, firecrackers were set off in the space to test its noise-insulating capabilities,” Conlon tells us. “Nobody heard a thing.” You could have some fun with a tried-and-true soundproof room. State-of-the-art home theater? Ultimate man cave? Sensory deprivation tank? The possibilities are endless.