944 Fifth Avenue, Estate of the Day

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Aug 6th 2006 at 1:09PM

We got the tip on this apartment through the New York Observer and what a prize pad it is. The home which formerly belonged tothe late Lilyan Spitzer Lindemann, takes up the entire fifth floor and has treetop Central Park views from the living room, library and master bedroom. The private elevator foyer leads into a reception gallery with marble floor and cloakroom with powder room. The drawing room has a ornate fireplace and Rococo style paneling. French doors open to the adjacent library with Louis XV style paneling and there is a large dining room also off the entrance gallery. The master bedroom also has a fireplace, marble bathroom and large closets. There are three additional large bedrooms and a fifth bedroom created from two of the original five maids' rooms. The kitchen has a butler's pantry and there is a staff dining room as well as a double and a single maid's room with bathroom. It is listed at $18.9 million. After the jump, the very definition of the word grand.

Tags: central park, new york, new york city, NewYork, real estate

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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 6)

Bill P. Aug 15th 2006 2:07AM

I have dined with kings and queens and I have traveled to over 100 countries. I have NEVER understood such waste. If I were a multi-billionaire, I would want a 3 or 4 bedroom, simple home on a few acres, in the mountains, near water. That $19M waste of space is something only Little Lord Fauntleroy would appreciate.

Christy Aug 15th 2006 2:08AM

I agree with Judi's comments. Awesome idea, Judi! If I had that kind of money, I'd seek you out, and make your idea (and mine) a reality. Part of the joy of having that much money would be to share it, I think. Maybe someday.....

Pat Aug 15th 2006 2:25AM

Chairs and sofas all over the place and not a comfortable place to sit. You know you can only eat off of one table and sleep in one bed at a time. Maybe that woman was surrounded by luxury ( spare me this kind) but she died just like the rest of us. I could put my money to better use than this. I think of all the people I could help. How many little children I could feed and clothe for that kind of money. Maybe that's the reason the good Lord didn't make me rich. I wouldn't know how to handle it.I would give it all away. tsk tsk

Michael Aug 15th 2006 2:34AM

Did they get those furnishings at Home Depot?

Steven Aug 15th 2006 2:45AM

Reguardless of how old it is people. Capture the beauty in everything. So it doesn't have the biggest bathroom, or parking isn't so great. It's the beauty of the place that captures people. It may need some work, but in something like that you shouldn't modernize it, just fix it or replace it. And although some people may be rich and flaunt it, or use it for drugs, that doesn't apply to us all.

Paul Aug 15th 2006 2:47AM

I agree with the maui comment. I am a tile setter working on a house over-looking Kapalua Bay on Maui. 2 kitchens, 5 baths, 2 powder rooms, 4 bedrooms, three stall garage,and pool, all on almost 4 acres of pineapple fields with one of the best views in the world; it's only 8 million.

Flaneur Aug 15th 2006 2:55AM

A reply to several points raised in this thread:

1. The layout is typical of many large pre-war Manhattan apartments, with a gallery and hallways used to divide the apartment into public, private and service areas. I'm betting the late owner lived in the apartment for many years because the rabbit-warren layout (multiple maids' rooms, etc.) was common in decades past, when kitchens and bathrooms were smaller and people designated rooms for different purposes (unlike today's great room where functions flow together). Anyone buying this apartment would probably combine the maids' rooms to make a home office or a laundry room. Still, folks, you've got to realize that there's less space in a city, always will be, and so rooms are smaller, even in expensive apartments. It's not a proper comparison to set an apartment against the space (and probably flow) possible with a regular home.

2. Even many grand Manhattan apartments don't have their own laundry rooms. Some of that is a throwback to the past, when servants did the laundry in central laundry rooms in the building basement. And some of that is the fact that many co-ops forbid washers and dryers in apartments, often because of wiring and electrical issues. People get around these rules by bribing doorman and superintendents to allow washers and dryers to be delivered and hooked up. I know this sounds crazy -- in most of the country, even very modest dwellings have private washers and dryers. But New York is, well, New York. (For many years, garbage disposals were also outlawed in many Manhattan apartments.)

3. Nineteen million sounds like a lot of money for an apartment, but consider that we're talking Manhattan here, not Indiana. In the past few years, many large apartments in the best co-ops on Park and Fifth avenues have sold for $19 million and more. It's all about supply and demand.

4. On the other hand, the pricing of this apartment may be ambitious, which means $19 million is simply the figure that opens negotiations. A view of Central Park, as one poster noted, is a precious commodity in New York, but this apartment's view is "only" tree level; it's not a more desirable, panoramic view of, say, the reservoir and the Central Park West skyline. Also, as another poster noted, the apartment would probably require extensive renovation, if nothing else to update the bathrooms and eliminate the maids' rooms.

4. This building, 944 Fifth Avenue, sits on one of the prime stretches of Fifth Avenue (in the 70s). Barbara Walters also lives in the building. The co-op board for such prime real estate is going to be tough. The board would never approve the purchase of the apartment by some nouveau-riche Russian (with, quite possibly, dubious sources of income and a tacky, Cavalli-clad girlfriend). One such gentleman tried to buy Mary Tyler Moore's apartment at 927 Fifth, a few buildings down the avenue. Not a chance, the board said.

RLW Aug 15th 2006 3:15AM

Looks like an $18 millon fire trap to me. Do you think you could find your way to the stairwell with the lights out and smoke in the air!

RLW Aug 15th 2006 3:15AM

Looks like an $18 millon fire trap to me. Do you think you could find your way to the stairwell with the lights out and smoke in the air!

Vivian Aug 15th 2006 3:16AM

Not for me. I'll take what I have. A two bedroom, two bath. I have privacy, I have my groceries delivered (am disabled)as I can no longer drive, but I have everything I need and a beautiful African Acacia off my rear deck that provides me with plenty of shade as this is a hot Country Estate. Just kidding about that, but it is in the foothills to the Sierras. All sorts of recreations here including Casinos. And I am not a realtor, but I do know one.

Jo Aug 15th 2006 3:42AM

Would rather live in a log cabin on a lake.

Shannon Aug 15th 2006 3:48AM

I have lived in New York in 1965 and 1977 to 1981 and don't think the prices for these places are even close to resonable and really outrageous personnally. I would of thought the kitchen would be huge and it is tiny and that is what people want now, big and bigger kitchens, not worth it and all the noise, people and car horns not for me but some one I guess.

Shannon Aug 15th 2006 3:49AM

So where is the luxury master bathroom and designer kitchen......for how much?

Fred Aug 15th 2006 4:09AM

I wouldn't even concider leaving my $70,000 Manufactured home for all that. I say trade it for a Large comb on Ebay.

bill Aug 15th 2006 4:16AM

i dont think its that nice for 19 million

bill Aug 15th 2006 4:26AM

now your talking fred

tammy Aug 15th 2006 5:01AM

hummm thinking still thinking nope don't like the park that much....

Jen Aug 15th 2006 5:16AM

I'm hearing a lot of jealousy. I doubt any of you would turn the place down if offered to you. True, it could use a remodel, but something like that is lost in the noise. Enjoy it for what it is: A beautiful work of art, not a frat house, half way house or grandma's house...

wayne schmertzler Aug 15th 2006 5:31AM

19 million!! for 19 million, i could have multiple acres, with a mansion, a big mansion, in say upstate new york!! at least there i have fresh air, mountains, flowers, animals, etc. my motto is -- make your money in manhattan-- and live in the country!! dont you agree!!

AUDREY TERRY Aug 15th 2006 6:21AM

We are all entitled to our opinions. Do we always have to give negative opinions about the rich and famous. Does anyone know if this person has shelters or make hefty contributions to the poor? We ought to not always assume that they are selfish and only thinking of themselves because they have been Blessed. Maybe some of use are just plan jealous. I've been out of work for four years. When I see people living the dream I don't get jealous I just smile and say that could be me one day. I always say it is not my turn nor time. God will provide all my needs not what I always want. I get Blessings everyday, remember his word the poor will be among us always. So continue to P.U.S.H (PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS). God Bless you all.

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