By Gus Saltonstall
Legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz is looking to sell her Upper West Side home after nearly a decade in the Central Park West apartment, the New York Times first reported.
Leibovitz, famed for her photographs of Queen Elizabeth II, Bob Marley, the Rolling Stones, and many more, recently listed her duplex at 88 Central Park West, near the corner of West 69th Street, for $8.6 million. The price tag is nearly $3 million less than the $11.3 million she paid for the pad in 2014.
“The apartment is now too big for me,” Leibovitz wrote in an email to the Times, while also mentioning her adult daughters are now leading their own lives and that her work is centered in Lower Manhattan. Leibovitz also owns an apartment in the West Village and a home in Rhinebeck, New York.
The 88 Central Park West address, also known as The Brentmore, is no stranger to celebrity residents. Robert De Niro, Lorne Michaels, and Sting have all called the Central Park-facing building home. The Brentmore was constructed in 1910 and has 28 units spread over 12 floors.
Leibovitz’s apartment has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, oak floors, a curved staircase, a fireplace, and views of the park.
The photographer is not solely tied to the Upper West Side by her recent residence, but also through her work on December 8, 1980.
Leibovitz was commission by Rolling Stone Magazine to photograph John Lennon and Yoko Ono for a cover story. Hours after Leibovitz took the iconic photo of Lennon curled up naked against Ono, the Beatles’ frontman was shot and killed outside of The Dakota building at the corner of West 72nd Street and Central Park West.
It means that Leibovitz was one of the last people to see Lennon alive and possibly documented the famous couple’s final kiss.
The apartment is listed by the Corcoran Group, and you can check out photos of the space for yourself — HERE.
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and was home to the man with the legendary ears, Clive Davis
New luxury condo and rental multi-family is taking wind out of sales for old pre-war co-op apartments, It varies by building but some units take a very long time to sell. This and may not fetch anywhere near full asking.
Far as UES and UWS go momentum of money preferring south of 34th street (Chelsea, Tribeca, West/Greenwich Village, FiDi, Gramercy Park, etc…) also puts a damper on co-op sales in these old white glove prewar buildings.
Few main things stick out.
People just aren’t willing to go through the co-op board process.
Condos are easier to buy and sell including obtaining financing.
New luxury condo or rental luxury multi-family have tons of amenities compared to old co-op buildings. This includes “modern” plumbing and electric that allows for things like ensuite washing machines and dryers.
Part of it is many of these coops require 50% down while most banks that finance condos only require 20%. We’re talking about $2.6M of extra equity required to finance, which weeds out many buyers!
I moved into one of those modern, floor to ceiling glass window, buildings and turns out, I hate it. I miss a window in every room, including the bathrooms; a building hallway with tile, not carpet, that doesn’t feel like a hotel; and the overall cozier vibe. Can’t wait until my lease is up.
Robert A. M. Stern Architects among a few others are doing modern “pre-war” type buildings such as 15 CPW.
https://15centralparkw.com
200 East 83rd
https://www.cityrealty.com/nyc/market-insight/features/future-nyc/look-inside-200-east-83rd-gorgeous-robert-am-stern-designed-condo-among-upper-east-side039s-tallest/38041
Also the Claremont on W 122 is beautiful.
Also home to Celeste Holm. She bought her 2 story apt. back in the ’40s.
Late Ms. Celeste Holm bought her apartment at 88 CPW back in 1958 when building went co-op.
There was some drama surrounding #6N towards end of Ms. Holm’s life as board bought legal proceedings, suing for eviction due to unpaid fees. Everything was settled in end but there was still more drama to come in form of a legal battle between Ms. Holm’s children and her husband/widower.
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/04/realestate/exclusive-duplex-of-celeste-holm-oscar-winning-actress-for-sale.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-2227179/Broadway-star-Celeste-Holms-longtime-Manhattan-home-market-14million-estranged-son-following-death.html