There Are Hidden Gardens and Then There's Turtle Bay Gardens: In the East 40s, 19 townhouses--where Stephen Sondheim, Robert Gottlieb, and Katharine Hepburn all once lived--surround a lush garden.

Turtle Bay Gardens, located in the East 40s of New York City, is a collection of 19 townhouses surrounding a lush garden. Developed in the 1920s by heiress Charlotte Hunnewell Sorchan, the townhouses were renovated by Paris-educated architects to align the living areas with the garden. Over the years, the Gardens became a creative enclave, attracting prominent writers, editors, and actors. The area faced potential destruction in the 1940s due to proposed development for the United Nations, but influential writer-neighbors, including E.B. White and Dorothy Thompson, successfully defended their homes. Today, the Gardens continue to be a sought-after residential area, with notable residents including Bob Dylan and Stephen Sondheim. [Extracted from the article]