A three-story building on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, originally constructed as a synagogue in the 19th century, has been listed for sale at $10.95 million. Located at 80 Forsyth Street, the approximately 6,800-square-foot property has served varied roles over its history, most recently as the studio of fiber artist Dana Barnes since 2013.
The building’s origins trace back to its use as a house of worship for an early Eastern European Jewish congregation. Architectural features from that era remain visible, including a former mikvah—a Jewish ritual bath—on the lower level and pointed arch windows typical of synagogue design.
During the 1960s, the structure transitioned from a religious space to an artist enclave amid a wave of creative repurposing in the Lower East Side, as many artists moved into former industrial and religious buildings. It became the home and studio for Abstract Expressionist painters Milton Resnick, a Russian-born artist associated with the movement, and Pat Passlof, who studied under Willem de Kooning. They undertook modifications to adapt the space for their work while preserving much of the original architecture. Features such as hand-built pine walls, an upper gallery mezzanine, cast-iron columns, skylights, and original casement windows remain intact. Paint splatters on the floors also attest to the building’s longstanding use as an artist workspace.
Barnes, a former fashion designer known for large-scale fiber sculptures and installations, and her husband, investor Dale Westhoff, acquired the property in 2013 for $6.4 million. Rather than erase its history, the couple maintained its artistic heritage, utilizing nearly the entire building as a studio. The expansive space offers ceilings exceeding 18 feet in height and ample natural light from large windows and skylights. The residence includes two vintage kitchens, 2.5 bathrooms, laundry and storage areas, two wood-burning fireplaces, and a bedroom-office on the top floor that overlooks Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Additionally, the property features about 225 square feet of fenced outdoor space.
The current listing highlights the building’s potential for various uses, including as a private residence, artist’s studio, gallery, or creative foundation. The site is not designated as a landmark and includes approximately 10,000 square feet of additional air rights, allowing for possible expansion or redevelopment subject to city zoning and approvals. This flexibility opens opportunities for future owners to preserve the building’s live-work character or pursue alternative directions.
Since Barnes has begun dividing her time between New York and Amsterdam, she and Westhoff are now seeking to sell the property after more than a decade. The surrounding neighborhood has evolved significantly since the building first attracted artists in the 1960s, with new residential developments, galleries, and commercial venues reshaping the area. Nonetheless, 80 Forsyth remains a rare example of the Lower East Side’s layered cultural and architectural history.
The sale is being handled by Sotheby’s International Realty agents Jonathan Hettinger, Mark Amadei, and Megan Hait.