TRUMAN CAPOTE'S BROOKLYN TOWNHOUSE ON THE MARKET

BROOKLYN'S MOST FAMOUS HOUSE, THE 11 BEDROOM MANSION WHERE TRUMAN CAPOTE WROTE MOST OF HIS ICONIC NOVELS INCLUDING BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, HAS RECENTLY BEEN PUT ON THE MARKET FOR $18 MILLION. THE STUNNING HOME AT 70 WILLOW ST IN BROOKLYN HEIGHTS, IS BEING OFFERED FOR JUST THE THIRD TIME IN 70 YEARS AND IS LIKELY TO BREAK SALES RECORDS IN THE BOROUGH AND BECOME THE MOST EXPENSIVE TOWNHOUSE IN ITS HISTORY. THE LAVISH PERIOD HOME FEATURES 18 ROOMS WITH 11 FIREPLACES, PARKING FOR FOUR CARS, A MURAL COPIED FROM THE KENNEDY WHITE HOUSE, A BACK PORCH AND A LUSH GARDEN MODELED AFTER CLASSIC SOUTHERN GARDENS. THE HOME IS BEING TOUTED AS ONE OF THE FINEST HOUSES IN THE BOROUGH'S FINEST NEIGHBORHOOD. 'IT'S LIKE LIVING IN A COUNTRY ESTATE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEW YORK CITY', SAID KAREN HEYMAN, THE SOTHEBY'S BROKER SELLING THE PROPERTY. 'IT TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY THE MINUTE YOU WALK IN.' BUILT IN 1839 AND NOW IN THE HANDS OF A MEDIA ENTREPRENEUR, THE HOUSE WAS OWNED IN THE 1950s BY BROADWAY ART DIRECTOR OLIVER SMITH, WHO DESIGNED THE FAMOUS SETS FOR 'GUYS AND DOLLS' AND 'WEST SIDE STORY'. CAPOTE SAID HE GOT SMITH BLITZED ON MARTINIS TO PERSUADE HIS FRIEND TO RENT HIM THE HOUSE'S GARDEN APARTMENT FROM 1955 TO 1965. THERE, AMID THE GRAND GREEK REVIVAL COLUMNS AND GLITTERING CRYSTAL CHANDELIERS, THE PROLIFIC WRITER DREAMED UP ICONIC NEW YORK PARTY GIRL HOLLY GOLIGHTLY FROM BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S, HE ALSO WROTE THE POIGNANT IN COLD BLOOD, HIS FAMOUS NONFICTION NOVEL, AT THE MANSION. CAPOTE WOULD THROW LAVISH PARTIES FOR THE NEW YORK'S RICH AND FAMOUS WHEN SMITH LEFT TOWN, OFTEN BRAGGING THAT HE OWNED THE ENTIRE PROPERTY.