349 w 86 - $50,000,000.00

Some insurance guy owns it now: http://therealdeal.com/blog/2013/01/18/uws-mansion-with-hefty-tax-bill-hits-market-for-50m/

Here's what the designation report for the Riverside-West End Historic District Extension says:

"Notable History and Residents: Originally purchased by Samuel Borchardt (later Borchard) a
luggage manufacturer who later moved into real estate. He and his family lived in the house until at
least 1930 the year of his death. From 1932 to 1951 the house was leased by the family to the
Academy of Allied Arts and the Normandy Democratic Club. The family corporation sold the
house in 1951 to the Ruling Archbishop and Diocesan Council of the North American and
Canadian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church, Inc. Title was transferred to
the House of Free Russia, Inc. in 1953 and in 1958 it was sold to the American Russian Aid
Association. It was originally included within the boundaries of the Riverside-West End Historic
District but removed due to a then existing permit to enlarge the building that has since lapsed."

Borchardt paid $60,000 in 1901.

Here's a story about the co-op conversion of a building the family owned at 815 Park: http://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/17/realestate/on-park-ave-something-for-everybody.html?smid=pl-share

Borchardt would have done better just renting, and buying some American Tel and Tel or maybe getting in on one of the roads ... the Pennsylvania or perhaps the Long Island.

That building's shingle used to read ”The Free Russia Society” during, ironically, the Upper West Side's prime commie years. A townhouse across the street was an ashram or some such thing.

Oh, and it's way overpriced at 50. Even at half that.

>and buying some American Tel and Tel or maybe getting in on one of the roads ... the Pennsylvania or perhaps the Long Island.

Western Union?
Penn Central?

Owner is Randy Rackson as in:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/12/29/ST2008122900019.html
The house is gorgeous, by the way. A lot of music videos are still shot there. It does look not inhabited now though.