By Gus Saltonstall
Annie Leibovitz, the legendary photographer and longtime Upper West Sider, has found a buyer for her Central Park West apartment, according to city records.
Leibovitz sold her four-bedroom apartment at 88 Central Park West for $10.625 million, which is $2 million above her asking price, but still less than the $11.24 million she purchased the duplex for in 2011.
Along with the four bedrooms, the apartment has three bathrooms, oak floors, a curved staircase, views of the park, a fireplace, and sits within the famous Brentmore building, which has also served as home over the years to Robert De Niro, Lorne Michaels, and Sting.
“The apartment is now too big for me,” Leibovitz wrote in an email to the Times last year, 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 buyers of the Upper West Side apartment?
Kindle creator Gregg Zehr and his wife Kim Cooper, who is Apple’s lead lawyer, property records show.
Leibovitz is famed for her photographs of Queen Elizabeth II, Bob Marley, The Rolling Stones, and many more. She also photographed John Lennon and Yoko Ono for Rolling Stone magazine the same day the Beatles’ frontman was shot and killed outside of The Dakota apartment building.
The timing means Leibovitz was one of the last people to see Lennon alive.
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Paul Simon has also been a resident of that building.
I can’t believe she lost money on a prime NYC apartment that she bought 13 years ago! That seems impossible.
She might have overpaid 13 years ago. And there are other factors that might have caused the price to drop, ie the building’s maintenance charges might have increased substantially.
Furthermore, there’s been a huge increase in the construction of upscale apartment towers over the past few years. Not all of these apartments are selling. Therefore, there is an oversupply of high end apartments and this is putting pressure on prices.
I heard apartments, even in prime NYC locations, aren’t appreciating like they used to decades ago.
I agree though, to actually lose money on a sale like this is very surprising.
This happens all the time. The apartments aren’t as desirable as they used to be. I guess people pretend 2020 didn’t happen and have forgotten about COVID restrictions and ‘peacefyl’ protesting? Or high taxes for these people? There are many reasons very expensive units aren’t worth what they used to be.
I had the same reaction.
People complain the new apartments aren’t affordable, but it doesn’t seem like old apartments are especially affordable either (unless you’re lucky enough to inherit a rent controlled one from your grandparents!)
Kind of a microcosm for the city at the moment.
The buyers are lucky to acquire a prime space , in a prime location , not to mention its highly significant provenance. Congratulations, may the new owners, enjoy it in great health and longevity. This sale also reflects Annie Leibovitz’s sound reasoning and that, she is not ridden with huberis at all . Kudos to her .
Love this address and apartment. I had no idea there was a specific person responsible for creating the Kindle . That’ll pay the bills !