Brooke Astor & Wllm Buckley Apts

Note how no kitchen pictures, as they're to be worked in, not be "heart of the home" (hurl). Poor Christopher got only a 9'x16' room, like the help.

The PH is the best; not too many useless rooms.

You want porn - check out Vera Wang's old pad at 778. I think it sold for not too far from ask. http://realestalker.blogspot.com/2007/07/vera-wang-swapping-park-avenue.html

She went to her family's apt at 740 Park. Nice.

Right, #3 went for just under ask, all cash:

08/14/2008 #PH19 $10,025,000 -16.5% $12,000,000 ↓ Sold 2 beds 2.5 baths
01/03/2008 . . #3 $33,600,000 -4.0% $35,000,000 Sold 6 beds 5.5 baths
12/03/2007 . .#14 $27,500,000 -
04/14/2005 . . #1 . $1,400,000

#1 is the weight-loss-doctor's office on the other side of the lobby from the maisonette.

The PH was a bargain on a per-share basis.

$25 million seems to be the current "throw it against the wall, maybe it'll stick" price. I can think of two instances where it's been gossiped to me (I don't personally sell the $25 mm market) that the seller was just listing at this high number for the heck of it, and if they got it, great.

Price cut on Buckley maisonette indicates that they're more serious about selling. NWT, you know that there's a house in Connecticut and this was just the city place, right? Better to feel sorry for Christopher b/c he lost both his parents.

On that note, "Losing Mum and Pup" is a fantastic book.

ali r.
DG Neary Realty

Is no one going to comment on #3 closing for 33.6m 2 years ago? IMO, Brooke Astor's apt is better (yes, could use redecorating), ditto the other duplex. That represents significant slippage in the 20m+ market.

Ali, true, his book on that final year was good. That's all I've read of his or about them, but apparently he didn't spend much time in town and doesn't talk about the place at all.

That $33.2M must've been one of the peaks of the peak.

Re: Wang's place. Nice "classic-15." But no outdoor space for $30MM :(. See, if you try you can find something complain about with just about anything.

Oh, I certainly can find something. E.g., too many down-lights in the ceilings. The PH is just about perfect, though, but let me put my mind to it....

KW: not my point. Just interesting to see how much the 20m+ market has slipped. And to note the value of a "renovated" apt. Because one can just imagine having to do a reno in a co-op like that. Though, I'm not allowed to imagine because no way I could ever be wealthy enough to buy and pass the bd.

NWT: wasn't directing comment at you. I guess these are examples of money truly not mattering. If you buy at $20MM and spend $3MM on reno, I can't imagine why you care. You need such vast wealth to qualify for these buildings that the reno ##s are drops in the bucket.

And what is with all those down lights and really bland ceilings? They appear from the photos are uncharacteristic for the rest of the luxe looks. Suppose it may all be different in person. I'm open to an invitation to visit so I can offer more informed opinion.

Sort of sad. I catch myself assuming that in that market you don't have to compromise, but of course they do. There'd I'd be in 778 Park, bitching about not having a deli around the corner, i.e. taking my middling requirements and applying them where they don't matter.

That PH at 40 Fifth is now my ideal, thanks to kylewest, but even that must have its faults and I'd discover them as soon as I moved in.

Forgot to say, the funny thing about 778 Park is that the co-op is carrying a $1.6M mortgage, only about double what it was in 1945. You'd think the 18 owners would just cough up the chump change and pay it off, rather than go through the whole re-fi rigamarole every ten years.

lucky for you it appears that you haven't spent much time with disgustingly rich people. neither have i but i have spent enough time to realize that in their own way they are as disinclined to spend money (except for that they deem essential) as the rest of the world.

NWT, I highly recommend "Thank You for Smoking" which is a satiric novel about Washington, D.C.

I keep meaning to. Loved the movie, mostly for the NRA(?) guy who's in all the Christopher Guest movies.