Tales of Spiteful Home | The Richardson Spite House

I have a love of history, and as a result, developed an interest in historical housing. I lived in three different historical homes in San Francisco, New York City, and Baltimore. When reading the general news, my interest was further piqued upon stumbling upon structures known as spite houses. They are real-life examples of how far people will go to make a point by building homes to annoy, obstruct, or protest. The first I would like to introduce is the Richardson Spite House in New York City.

In 1882, developer Joseph Richardson owned a strip of land at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 82nd Street. It measured 5 feet in width and 104 feet long. His neighbor, developer Hyman Sarner, offered Richardson $1,000 to buy the land for his apartment building. Richardson‌ demanded $5,000. When Sarner refused, Richardson upped the ante. 

In retaliation, Richardson constructed a four-story apartment building with two suites per floor, each containing three rooms and a bath. Only one person could use the stairs or hallway at a time, and dining tables could only be 18 inches wide.

Richardson and his wife lived in the building until he died in 1897. After his passing, a legal battle ensued between his daughter and stepmother over the property. After the Lexington subway line began construction in 1911, the spite house became a structural and financial liability. The building’s instability and difficulties led to its demolition in 1915, thereby ending the family feud.