Wednesday, January 16, 2013

A Posh New Penthouse for Writer/Producer David Chase

BUYER: David Chase
LOCATION: New York City, NY
PRICE: $9,650,000
SIZE: 2,700 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms

YOUR MAMAS NOTES: Last June, a 19th-century townhouse on a leafy street in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood was sold for $6,950,000. The seller's identity was well-shielded behind a generically named trust but was rumored among property watchers and real estate gossips to be seven-time Emmy winner writer/producer David Chase (The Sopranos, Northern Exposure, The Rockford Files).

Thanks to an eagle-eyed informant—let's call him Tommy Twoandtwo—Your Mama has learned that the very same mysterious trust associated with the sale of the Chelsea townhouse recently forked over $9,650,000 for a pedigreed penthouse pad atop one of the four towers that anchor the titanic London Terrace complex that encompasses an entire city block in the West Chelsea.

Over the years the massive London Terrace complex, partly comprised of high-priced rentals and partly comprised of high priced condos, has attracted it's fair share of high profile residents including (but not limited to) Debbie Harry (who owns two small combined units), Tim Gunn (who we're pretty sure has moved uptown now), actress Katherine Helmond, Nicole Kidman (who rented there briefly a number of years ago), Saturday Night Live cast members Chris Kattan and Bill Hader and Rufus Wainwright. It also happens to be the very building where Your Mama and The Doctor Cooter lived for years in a stupendous three bedroom duplex apartment where we would occasionally get mail for actress Christina Ricci whose mother, we were told, previously occupied the apartment.

Anyhoo, for many years the 20th floor penthouse in question was owned by influential author, activist and deep thinker Susan Sontag who died at 71 in late 2004. Miz Sontag's estate eventually sold the then two bedroom and two bathroom penthouse in October 2006 for $3,950,000 to William Diamond, an internationally renown interior designer/decorator who, along with long-time design partner Anthony Barratta, was famous for his cheeky, vigorous and playfully fearless use of color.

According to Tommy Twoandtwo, the now-retired Mister Diamond gutted the penthouse but ran into some financial difficulties having to do with Ponzi putz Bernie Madoff and was unable to complete the renovation. Mister Diamond put the gutted penthouse on the market in early 2009 and sold it in early May (2009) for $4,400,000 to an obviously well-heeled but un-famous couple who proceeded with a full-scale renovation and reconfiguration that replaced most if not all of the penthouse's original pre-war architectural details.

Listing information shows the existing, U-shaped penthouse measures about 2,700 square feet with three bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, three wood burning fireplaces, nearly a dozen closets and three terraces that provide more than 1,300 square feet of exterior space. Maintenance charges come to a pearl clutching $7,050 per month.

Your Mama might prefer not to be looking directly into the kitchen upon first entering a ten million dollar apartment but the floor plan is otherwise carefully considered unequivocally efficient. There are those who will bemoan the removal of all the original pre-war detailing but if y'all were to ask Your Mama—and no one did— the stripped down architecture allows the wrap around city and river views to take center stage from every room.

Even if one hates the fairly minimal architecture, the finishes are beyond reproach and include marvelously over-scaled white oak chevron-pattern hardwood floors, custom fabricated and absolutely correct casement windows and French doors and a custom, open-concept center island kitchen that looks like a luminescent configuration of sugar cubes.

A nearly thirty-foot long foyer/entrance gallery links the primary living spaces that include a downright spectacular living room with fireplace and windows on three sides and and open plan kitchen/dining room that's also warmed by a fireplace. The kitchen area is flanked by a laundry room on one side and walk-in pantry area on the other.

The three bedrooms are lined up along the northern side of the penthouse and include two guest/family bedrooms that each have private bathrooms and direct terrace access. The master bedroom isn't huge but it's privately tucked back in the northeastern wing of the penthouse and includes a long, closet-lined dressing hall, a spacious windowed bathroom and—count 'em—three separate exits to a secluded section of the 50-plus foot long north side terrace that allows for unimpeded uptown views that include Empire State Building and the Midtown skyline.

listing photos and floor plan: Brown Harris Stevens

14 comments:

Unknown said...

I'd be interested to see how this apartment was originally configured when it was a 2-bedroom.

While I understand why many bemoan the removal of pre-war details in a pre-war building, I have to admit that sometimes I find it refreshing to see a very modern space in a classic older building, as long as it's done well...

chris said...

I like it but I'd like it more with some discreet blinds on the windows. As is, they are a bit too stark.

Anonymous said...

The interiors feel more like a casual summer home to me. For $10 mil I'd want a separate formal dining room, which this design clearly isn't into. The terraces are fab, for the times of the year the could be used, but I'll bet that the owner has a nice summer place also.

nursedeb said...

love that terrace!!! the interiors aren't my cup of pekoe, but the views!
as we all know, I love me some kitchens....but I will agree with mama...don't think you should be looking right AT the kitchen on entering....specially at THIS price

Anonymous said...

Ohh Mama Lama, I shutter to think what you and the Good DR. paid in rent for that deluxe duplex. It sounds like bliss, very $$$ bliss. P.s. I adore Christina Ricci.

lil' gay boy said...

Seeing the dining/kitchen area upon entry is a minor poo-poo when one considers a south-facing, three exposure living room with terraces, north-facing bedroom (for us vampires), also with terraces, as well as the location.

This was quite a complex in its day, and came from an even more impressive pedigree:

http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2010/06/1931-london-terrace-apartments.html

sonia said...

wow the designs is really impressive and well done. This is like a home for those $$$ people.

Anonymous said...


Though I do appreciate the comments of those that add their two cents.
I'm always a little surprised by some of the comments and what some would and wouldn't be willing to consider to pay the price being asked.
We live in a world where individuals with great deals of money are willing to pay for suites and do pay for suites with much less consideration of spacial planning. 
The consideration of what rooms are faced upon entering or wether there is a formal dining room or not is never ever a consideration for calculating a price. Price is what a buyer is willing to pay and considering this suite is sold it would appear it is definitely a 10 million dollar home.  
I am very well aware that this suite given it's location, pedigree , planning and interior finishes does absolutely make make it a million dollar home . And wether there are in fact interior window coverings or not was quite likely not a consideration for the selling or purchasing.
This is a beautiful suite that has been stunningly finished and the present owners have done an amazing job of furnishing it with pieces of a high calibre but pieces that still offer livability for what appears to be a young family. 
Bravo.!! This is a space that has had money spent and spent well. It's not out to prove anything and isn't trying to be something it's not. It's quiet and it's elegant.


Anonymous said...

470 West 24th street: Original floorplan layout http://www.londonterracetowers.com/jpgplans/470_PH.jpg

enjoy.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Frank said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Frank said...

I like it but I'd like it more with some discreet blinds on the windows. As is, they are a bit too stark.


centro condo | centro condo miami

Anonymous said...

Sept 3 / 2013: NOW THIS DOUCHE BAG is forcing the London Terrace Towers to CLOSE THE RESIDENTS' roof sun terrace because "someone knocked on his front door" and he "doesn't have enough privacy".

Well too bad idiot! You're the one who over-paid for your apartment that sits directly beneath the roof terrace. You knew people could look down on you...and now you're ruining an important amenity for the entire London Terrace complex.

Anonymous said...

To G. Christopher:
Yes, that particular guy was a douchebag. But how would YOU like it if a stranger knocked on your door and asked to use your bathroom? (That's what I heard.) Puh-leez. That is so rude! As for the closing of the roof deck...as an LT Towers resident owner I'd be more than happy if the roof deck would be closed to LT Gardens tenants. As renters they don't respect the property and can do whatever they want once they have accessed the building. Meanwhile....I've seen no signs of Chase moving in. Maybe he changed his mind.