This $2.9M live-work space in upstate NY was formerly a Masonic temple

In a charming country town in upstate New York, a former Masonic temple has been reimagined as an artist’s live/work quarters. The nearly 100-year-old building at 57 Cold Water Street in the Columbia County town of Hillsdale is set up as both an art studio and a modern private residence, with two bedrooms and three baths. The expansive, one-of-a-kind property, on the market for $2,875,000, has tons of potential in its next life, as it’s zoned for both commercial and residential use.

Situated on about half an acre, the building measures roughly 7,000 square feet with more than a dozen rooms. The 1928-constructed property boasts a classic brick facade with an impressive front stoop and stone engraving of the Freemasonry’s Square and Compasses symbol.

Inside, the updated home feels fresh and contemporary, while retaining its 14-foot ceilings and steel casement windows. The expansive proportions are a credit to the Masons, who built with “mathematical precision,” as the listing describes. The tall ceilings and wall space are ideal for showing off any art collection.

The private residence currently has two bedrooms and three full baths, but with all that flexible space, a large single-family home is definitely doable.

Surrounded by hedges, a gate, and a serene courtyard, the property is private while still located close to several businesses in town. Located about 120 miles from Manhattan, Hillsdale has long been a second-home haven for New Yorkers looking for a break from the city. Plus, to fulfill any nature needs, the bucolic town is just about 40 minutes outside of The Berkshires.

[Listing details: 57 Cold Water Street by Annabel Taylor of Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty]

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Photos courtesy of Annabel Taylor of Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty/Gabriel Zimmer