It’s been over 25 years since the brownstone at 66 Perry St in the West Village was first used as the exterior of Carrie’s apartment on the smash-hit series. Photo: TNS
And just like that ... Sex And The City fans who visit Carrie Bradshaw’s famous Manhattan apartment have pissed off the real-life owner — so much so that a gate will be instaled to keep them out.
It’s been over 25 years since the brownstone at 66 Perry St in the West Village was first used as the exterior of Carrie’s apartment on the smash-hit series. But it’s remained a must-see tourist stop for die-hard viewers, some of whom have been accused of trespassing, vandalism and disturbing the peace of neighbourhood residents.
Owner Barbara Lorber has had enough and filed an application with New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission to instal a stoop gate at the bottom of the historic brownstone’s steps.
“My home is now a global tourist destination,” Lorber wrote in a background statement, requesting approval to build a steel and cast iron gate to keep pesky intruders away. “At any hour of the day or night, there are groups of visitors in front of the house taking flash photos, engaging in loud chatter, posting on social media, making [TikTok] videos, or just celebrating the moment.”
She said some visitors have gone so far as to ring the doorbells late at night, paint on the steps and carve their initials into the door frame.
“After 20-plus years of hoping the fascination with my stoop would die away and fans would find a new object for their devotion, I have acknowledged we need something more substantial,” she explained. “In order to regain a reasonable quality of life for our tenants and ourselves: we need to install a proper gate.”
Lorber’s proposal was approved on Tuesday following a public hearing, though the Landmarks Preservation Commission said she will have to work with them to “simplify” the gate’s design, ABC7 New York reported.
The building was constructed in 1866 and is part of historic district of Greenwich Village. Lorber has owned the property since 1978. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
