Controversial townhouses hit the market

Three houses on East 90th Street hit the market yesterday, listed at $20 million, a year after a Landmarks Preservation Commission hearing on their potential combination. The three homes, with a total of 12,434 square feet and about 2,280 square feet of outdoor space, are at 57, 59, and 61 East 90th Street.

In April 2008, the buildings’ Neighbors On East 90th Street attended a landmarks commission hearing to complain about owner Mitchell Blutt’s proposal to combine the three buildings into one home. The neighbors were worried that Blutt would create a McMansion, while preservationists wanted to protect the history of the three buildings.

The landmarks commission last May approved the construction of a rooftop and rear yard additions at the property, said Lisi de Bourbon, a commission spokesperson, but the commission has not issued the permit yet. The proposed rooftop would span all three buildings, she said.

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The Streeteasy.com listing notes that the three buildings “present the rare opportunity to create a magnificent single family mansion.” The home at 57 East 90th Street is also listed individually, for $7.9 million.

Serena Boardman and Meredith Smith of Sotheby’s, the listing agents, declined to comment.