When it comes to cinema, Spike Lee is nothing short of a visionary, so it only makes sense that the Atlanta-born creative likes to live in homes where his mind feels free to explore and expand. In the past, he’s kept his personal and professional lives closely tied together, but these days, Lee seems to prefer some distance between them. We know a lot about his capacity to direct great films: projects like Chi-Raq and BlacKkKlansman are only the most recent evidence of that. Still, fans of the father of two who want to know more about his day-to-day are pondering – where does Spike Lee live?
We know that the 67-year-old was just a young boy when his family relocated from Georgia to Brooklyn. His first address in New York was 1480 Union Street in Crown Heights, but the future filmmaker (then known as Shelton Jackson) eventually moved to 188 Warren Street in Cobble Hill. There, he told New York Magazine, the Jacksons were the “only Black family around.” Lee told the outlet, “As soon as the neighbors understood that there weren’t any other Black families, it was not like a mass of Black families moving in behind me, I was just like everybody else. It was a great time to grow up in Cobble Hill.”
Where Does Spike Lee Live?
By 1993 he tied the knot with actress Tonya Lewis, and they welcomed a son, Jackson, and daughter, Satchel in the following years. The Lee family’s digs have always been luxurious, although the patriarch has been seeking a buyer for one of his properties for a decade now. Read on to uncover more about the multi-talent’s various residences, and tell us which is your favorite in the comments.
Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts Home
The most lowkey home of Spike Lee’s is located out of state in Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts. Located on over an acre of property, the 4-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom mansion was purchased in November 1989 for $390K. That same year, the legendary Black director shared his breakout film, Do the Right Thing and has only grown his resume since. Urban Splatter reports that Lee still lives here part-time and that the property is worth an estimated $3-$4M today; you can find photos here.
Spike Lee’s Historic Home Has Been on the Market for a Decade
Nearly a decade later, Spike Lee proved that he was feeling more established in his career by dishing out $16.6M for the historic Hatch House, which he bought from artist Jasper Johns in 1999. The property is over 8,200 square feet and is located at 153 East 62nd Street. In the early 1900s, the area was used as horse stables but was ultimately converted to a Revival Townhouse in 1916. Its five bedrooms and five bathrooms span across two three-storey buildings with a shared central courtyard while also boasting a library, interior courtyard and staff quarters.
“Many original features remain including three fireplaces with superb mantels, hardwood floors and a charming fenestrated breezeway that connects the north and south wings of the house,” Hatch House’s real estate listing notes. Lee listed his family home for $32M in 2014 but has yet to find the right buyer. Still, Zillow’s 10-year estimate for the property is anywhere from $19M to $90M, which might explain why the Inside Man director hasn’t given up hope and taken it off the market yet. Check out photos of the amazing spot here.
Director’s Former Brooklyn Headquarters
While he was working on Do the Right Thing, Malcom X and Jungle Fever, Lee resided in an over 100-year-old building in the Fort Greene area of Brooklyn. It was initially constructed as a water tower between 1911-1915, but now functions as a four-level home with roughly 5,775 square feet and two mezzanine to enjoy. “It’s a piece of history… The walls and all four sides are unbelievably thick,” realtor Mark David Fromm of Corcoran told Mansion Global. “Then it became a house for engine No. 256, so it was a fire station and later it was labeled a bomb shelter. Eventually, Spike Lee lived there and he ran his production company, 40 Acres and a Mule.”
The latest owner, communications analyst and investor, Stephen Saunders, bought the four-bedroom property for $4.7M in 2019 and listed it for $4.35M in June 2023. Whoever moves in next has plenty of opportunity to make some big changes, such as knocking down walls or adding in a pool. “There are no (load-bearing) walls in the center; you can literally just open it up to its full 25-foot with 12.5 to 14-foot ceilings. It’s just like a museum, so maybe the next owner will be a type of person who loves art and will just have insane art here,” Fromm noted. See photos of Spike Lee’s former HQ here.
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