Owners of Greenwich Village mansion say it is ‘death trap’

The new owners of a historic Greenwich Village mansion now claim the property is a ‘death trap’ after paying $20million for the property last year. 

The luxurious New York building 116 Waverly Place was purchased in August 2016 but soon after the sale, the buyer reportedly ‘discovered life threatening issues.’

The owners of the 7-bedroom townhouse, sold by New York-based property firm Spruce Capital Partners, filed a Manhattan Supreme Court suit on Wednesday.

The new owners of a historic Greenwich Village mansion (centre) now claim the property is a ‘death trap’ after paying $20million for the property last year

The luxurious New York building 116 Waverly Place was purchased in August 2016 but soon after the sale, the buyer reportedly 'discovered life threatening issues'

The luxurious New York building 116 Waverly Place was purchased in August 2016 but soon after the sale, the buyer reportedly ‘discovered life threatening issues’

The buyers ‘discovered numerous and significant defects and deficiencies including, but not limited to, life threatening issues which required substantial and costly emergency repairs,’ according to the NY Post. 

The owners reportedly discovered a gas leak from a fireplace, fungus-covered walls and mold in the AC ducts.  

The lawsuit alleges the developers were ‘desperate’ to sell the house, which was originally listed for $34million.   

Robert Schwartz, a Spruce Capital founder, told the publication that the owner had an inspector go through the property before the closing. Of the suit’s complaints, he said: ‘I’m not aware of any of that.’

The owners of the 7-bedroom townhouse, sold by New York-based property firm Spruce Capital Partners, filed a Manhattan Supreme Court suit on Wednesday

The owners of the 7-bedroom townhouse, sold by New York-based property firm Spruce Capital Partners, filed a Manhattan Supreme Court suit on Wednesday

The buyers claim to have  'discovered numerous and significant defects and deficiencies including, but not limited to, life threatening issues which required substantial and costly emergency repairs'

The buyers claim to have  ‘discovered numerous and significant defects and deficiencies including, but not limited to, life threatening issues which required substantial and costly emergency repairs’

According to property website Streeteasy, 116 Waverly Place is a 22-foot wide, 6-story single-family mansion with 10,200 sq ft of interior living space.

The property also has a garden, three terraces and a roof deck with an infinity swimming pool.

There are 11 bathrooms, four fireplaces and a hand-crafted wine cellar with temperature and humidity control. 

The building is also famed for being the central gathering location for the literary elite of the mid-19th century.

The owners reportedly discovered a gas leak from a fireplace, fungus-covered walls and mold in the AC ducts

The owners reportedly discovered a gas leak from a fireplace, fungus-covered walls and mold in the AC ducts

According to property website Streeteasy , 116 Waverly Place is a 22-foot wide, 6-story single-family mansion with 10,200 sq ft of interior living space

According to property website Streeteasy , 116 Waverly Place is a 22-foot wide, 6-story single-family mansion with 10,200 sq ft of interior living space

Notable guests included Herman Melville, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Andrew Carnegie, Statue of Liberty creator Frederic Auguste Bartholdi, Louisa May Alcott and Daniel Webster. 

It is said that Edgar Allen Poe was introduced to New York literary society at one of these gatherings, and debuted his famous tale, ‘The Raven’. 

MailOnline has contacted Spruce Capital Partners for comment.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk