Luxe listing: A $2.7 million Washington Square condo with a private entrance

Neil Thall was new to Philly, renting a high-rise apartment on Rittenhouse Square while he hunted elsewhere for a downtown home.

He loved the square’s beauty but not its crowds, especially on weekends. He also disliked high-rise living.

“I wanted to be connected to a neighborhood at street level,” he said, not suspended above it.

He found nirvana at The Lippincott, the circa-1900 publishing-house-turned-condo building just steps from Washington Square, Center City’s quieter leafy oasis.

The two-bedroom, 2 1/2 bath unit’s private entrance on Locust Street gives the condo the feel of a single house. But unlike most single houses with its unit’s size, the space isn’t eaten up by multiple bedrooms.

“I live alone and don’t need them,” he said. His one-floor, thoughtfully divided unit offers 2,767 square feet that he uses all the time. “There isn’t wasted space.”

A large, limestone-floored entry foyer centers the unit, opening on the right to an open concept living, dining, and kitchen great room whose south-facing windows flood light onto the unit’s walnut floors, bespoke built-ins, and high-end appliances.

The adjacent primary suite, accessed via a sliding, 14-foot door, is immense, with a roomy sitting area, custom walnut bed and frame, separate dressing area, and sumptuous marbled bath.

To the right of the foyer, the home’s bespoke built-ins are echoed in the large den (with wet bar) and cozy second bedroom suite.

“Guests can just disappear in there,” Thall said.

The home is as high-tech as it is luxe, with a central sound system, retractable televisions, three-zoned radiant floor heating, button-touch windows that “frost” for privacy, and a refrigerator that can hold 30 cases of wine.

Due to out-of-state obligations, Thall must now sell his home. He’s wistful about the move.

“I’ve made the most wonderful friends here,” he said of his neighborhood’s genial residents, some of whom have formed a casual “men’s group” and dine together every month or so, just to catch up.

He has loved the easy walks to terrific shops and entertainment, excellent medical care, fine dining (Talula’s Garden is a favorite), and the convenience of his two designated parking spots in the Lippincott’s garage.

And the historic area itself has been a thrilling place to call home.

“The very founding of the country happened all around me — it’s not just something to read about in a book,” he said. “It’s incredible that I’ve gotten to live here.”

The home is listed by Mary Genovese Colvin at Compass for $2,699,000. There is an open house on Sunday, Feb. 4 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.