Lena Horne’s Former Home Sells for $1.2M

Step back in time and own a piece of history! The former home of legendary entertainer and civil rights icon Lena Horne, located in the prestigious Addisleigh Park neighborhood of St. Albans, Queens, has officially sold for $1.2 million. This Tudor-style residence was a sanctuary for Black luminaries during an era of segregation.

A Glimpse into ‘Black Hollywood East’

From 1946 to 1962, Lena Horne resided in this beautiful 2,287-square-foot home. Addisleigh Park, once known as the “African American Gold Coast,” was a rare haven for Black elites who faced housing discrimination in other affluent New York suburbs. The neighborhood’s exclusivity was a hard-won victory against restrictive covenants, fostering a vibrant community of cultural icons.

Horne wasn’t alone in this exclusive enclave. Her neighbors included jazz royalty like Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, and Fats Waller, as well as sports legends Jackie Robinson and Joe Louis. It’s said that Horne’s home was a center of hospitality, even recalling her serving hot chocolate to neighborhood children during the holidays.

Preserving a Legacy

The property, which includes six bedrooms, retains many of its original architectural details, such as wooden banisters and a vintage credenza reportedly left behind by Horne herself. The current owner, Camille Chin-Kee-Fatt, who purchased the home in 2004, expressed a strong desire to find a “responsible steward” who would honor the home’s significant place in Civil Rights history.

Matthew Wynter of Brown Harris Stevens, who handled the sale, emphasized the home’s unique “X-factor” provenance. “Regardless of whether you knew the legacy of who lived there, this house has a magnetic pull,” Wynter stated. The $1.2 million sale price reflects the growing market interest in Addisleigh Park, where properties rarely become available and often remain within families for generations.