The Apartment Where Michelle Trachtenberg Died Has A New Tenant After Less Than One Month.
The New York City apartment where "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" actress Michelle Trachtenberg tragically passed away has already found a new tenant—less than a month after her untimely death.
Trachtenberg, 39, who rose to fame in the iconic 1996 children's film Harriet the Spy, was discovered in the two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit on February 26. While reports suggested she had undergone a liver transplant prior to her passing, the exact cause of death remains undetermined. The New York Office of Chief Medical Examiner declared the cause inconclusive, with Trachtenberg's Orthodox Jewish family opting to forgo an autopsy for religious reasons.
According to the New York Post, Trachtenberg had moved into the apartment at 1 Columbus Place, a high-rise near Columbus Circle, just five months earlier, having signed a $7,500-a-month lease in September 2024. Yet, within weeks of her death, the unit was back on the market for $7,700 a month. Within just 24 hours, a new tenant signed a lease for the slightly reduced price of $7,670 per month.
The two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment boasts views of the Hudson River, an in-unit washer and dryer, and access to amenities like a sundeck, a pickleball court, and a wellness center. Despite the tragic history surrounding the unit, the listing made no mention of the circumstances surrounding Trachtenberg’s passing, simply promoting the property’s features.
Trachtenberg had shared glimpses of her New York life on Instagram, posting photos of herself exploring the city or relaxing at home. One such post showed her hanging out with Friends star David Schwimmer, capturing the carefree moment with the caption: "Just hanging out with some friends."
RELATED: Michelle Trachtenberg's Net Worth 2025: Remembering A Superstar.
The news of her death shook her neighbors, including Ella Ditraglia, 20, who told amNY, "I’m devastated. I didn’t even know she lived here. I love her work and it’s just sad news. My thoughts are with her family and friends."
Photo: Realtor.com
Trachtenberg’s death leaves a void in the hearts of her family, friends, and fans. Born in Brooklyn, NY, she is survived by her mother, Lana, father Michael, and sister Irene. Her legacy includes a career that began in early childhood, appearing in commercials and TV shows before landing roles in The Adventures of Pete & Pete and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She was a beloved figure to fans, particularly for her portrayal of Dawn Summers in Buffy.
In an interview from 2005, she spoke about the culture shock of moving to Los Angeles from Brooklyn: "What was a really big switch for me was going from a place where entertainment was prominent, but not surrounding, and in LA, I feel like you’re constantly surrounded by people in the entertainment business." She acknowledged how overwhelming it was to be in the heart of the entertainment industry, surrounded by agents, producers, and publicists.
Photo: Realtor.com
In recent years, Trachtenberg had been living bi-coastally between Los Angeles and New York, spending more time in the city where much of her family remained.
Now, less than a month after her death, the apartment that was once her home has a new occupant. While it’s undeniably difficult to think about someone else moving in so soon after such a tragic event, it’s a stark reminder of how quickly life—and business—moves on. The transactional nature of it all feels deeply unsettling, as if Trachtenberg’s passing is little more than a blip in the cycle of renting and leasing. It’s a sad reality, one that underscores how impermanent and fleeting our time in any place really is.
Photo: Realtor.com
Of course, we understand that business is business. Real estate transactions don’t wait for grief to pass, and the market continues regardless of the personal stories tied to a place. Still, there’s something disheartening about the speed at which this apartment was rented out, less than a month after the actress’ death. Michelle Trachtenberg deserved more than just another place for someone to live; she deserved the space to be remembered, to be mourned, and for her memory to have more time to settle into the walls that once contained her life.
In the end, while business may not pause for mourning, we can’t help but wish that Michelle, like all people, could have been granted the time and peace to rest—away from the ever-turning wheels of transactions that continue on without hesitation.
