Former home of legendary actress and activist Lena Horne for sale in St. Albans
ST. ALBANS, Queens (WABC) -- An iconic and historic piece of New York City real estate is now up for sale in Queens.
From the outside, it may look like many of the other charming residences in the St. Albans neighborhood, but it isn't just any home on the market.
"Once you go inside, it's undeniable that someone of status has lived there," listing agent Matt Wynter said.
That someone was legendary actress, singer and activist Lena Horne.
The original banister remains inside the six-bedroom, Tudor-style home where the late entertainer lived from 1946-1962. It's now on the market for $1.2 million.
Only two other families have lived in the home.
Horne sold her home to the Robinsons, leaving a credenza behind. The Robinsons showed it to homeowner Camille Chin-Kee-Fatt in 2004, who says she had no idea how special it was.
"I said Mrs. Robinson, excuse me, what did you say? She said, oh, we bought the home from Lena Horne," Chin-Kee-Fatt recalled.
After some renovations, Chin-Kee-Fatt moved in with her son Noah, who's now 23 years old.
"There was an old bar down in the basement, and I had to take it out because it's so old, but I thought my goodness, who sat around this bar," Chin-Kee-Fatt said.
In the Addisleigh Park Historic District, Matt Wynter gives insight into some of Horne's neighbors.
"Joe Lewis, Jackie Robinson -- those were her neighbors at the time," Wynter said.
The neighborhood ultimately became known as the African American Gold Coast.
"The residents of Addisleigh Park had to sue to litigate to live here because there were restrictive covenants against Black folks living in this neighborhood," Chin-Kee-Fatt said. "I'm very much aware that I stand on the shoulders of Ms. Lena Horne."
Chin-Kee-Fatt is ready for the next phrase of life, but in selling her home she has made a promise to herself in line with what the Robinsons had in mind when selling to her.
"I want the house to go to good stewards, that's the word Mrs. Robinson used with me. I'm taking away amazing memories, amazing, and I want that for someone else," she said.
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