New York Mag’s 35th reason to love New York

“35. Because He and She and He and He and She and He and She and She Can Live in Sin Together in Bushwick”, in the new poly-friendly building designed and rented out by Open Love NY's Leon Fiengold. The place that was all in the news six months ago.

From the magazine's year-end roundup:

Photo: Kava Gorna

Kenneth Play, a Hong Kong–born, Brooklyn-raised 33-year-old personal trainer turned sex educator, is the house manager of the Villa — a three-story, socially networked, sex-positive, poly-supportive, self-selecting community in Bushwick. This is no scrappy “three in a room” flophouse. It’s luxe down to the last detail: slick open-plan kitchen, cowhide rug, marble counters, hot tub.

The building’s owner enlisted poly advocate and “hetero-flexible” real-estate broker Leon Feingold to fill the 15 rooms with a range of sex-positive, poly-supportive 20- and 30-somethings. Christopher Sands, a 34-year-old web developer from West Palm Beach, was a pioneer occupant; he has six dates with six different women lined up for the holidays. A 32-year-old female housemate doesn’t identify as poly but was sold on the idea of a community where sex isn’t seen as taboo. “Nobody resents you if they hear you experiencing pleasure,” she says.

“We geek out over sex in the same way foodies geek out over what they eat,” Kenneth explains, noting that it’s hard to find a roommate in New York who will put up with the noise, traffic, and unpredictability that may accompany a sexually adventurous lifestyle. It’s the anti–“smuggle your boyfriend into the bathroom, eat dinner in bed, angry notes left on empty milk cartons, tiny New York setup.” But that doesn’t mean it’s a free-for-all. There are rules, including a ban on passive-aggressive sticky notes. And “Villa on Villa” hookups are discouraged. “It’s like a work environment,” he says. “Don’t sleep with your colleagues. Our personal sex lives are epic enough, anyway.”

Here's the original (Dec. 14, 2014).

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