Celebrities

Did the Obamas just close on this classy Upper East Side duplex for almost $10M?

Barack and Michelle Obama via Wiki Commons; One of 10 Gracie Square’s terraces overlooking the East River, via CityRealty

January 24, 2018

Did the Obamas just close on this classy Upper East Side duplex for almost $10M?

By
In October, 6sqft reported that Barack and Michelle Obama had been spotted on their way to view a listing in Yorkville's 10 Gracie Square. At the time, it was speculated that they checked out a five-bedroom duplex that had gone into contract for $10 million shortly following the visit. The buyer wasn't confirmed, but the unit has now closed for $9.64 million (h/t Katherine Clarke), purchased through a "Gracie Square Revocable Trust. So while it's still not confirmed that the Obamas are moving to the Upper East Side, the building is one of New York City's most prestigious addresses, located just a stone's throw away from the Mayor's residence and over the years attracting the likes of Alexander Woollcott, conductor Andre Kostelanetz, Gloria Vanderbilt and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek.
Take another look
My 460sqft: Comedian Pat Brown recharges in her relaxed Harlem home

6sqft’s series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to comedian Pat Brown‘s Harlem apartment. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

January 23, 2018

My 460sqft: Comedian Pat Brown recharges in her relaxed Harlem home

By
When it comes to her stand-up routines, comedian Pat Brown (you may recognize her from the "Late Show with Stephen Colbert" or as the winner of the Las Vegas Comedy Festival's best female comic) doesn't shy away from bold topics, touching on personal issues, politics, and NYC-specific themes. But after finishing a set at one of New York's many comedy clubs, Pat prefers a less in-your-face aesthetic at home, opting for comfortable furniture, soothing colors, and a display of keepsakes from several trips to Africa. 6sqft recently paid Pat a visit at her Harlem apartment and got a glimpse into her professional and personal lives. She filled us in on how she decorated her place after moving from her hometown of Atlanta, what makes performing comedy in New York City unique, and how she's seen the neighborhood change--"I'm beginning to see white people on the weekdays now," she jokes.
Have a laugh and tour Pat's apartment
Jason Biggs sells custom-designed Tribeca loft for $2.7M

Photo of Jason Biggs via Wikimedia

January 22, 2018

Jason Biggs sells custom-designed Tribeca loft for $2.7M

By
"American Pie" actor Jason Biggs and his wife Jenny Mollen have sold their spacious three-bedroom Tribeca loft for $2.65 million, after first putting the pad on the market nearly a year ago. The 2,200-square-foot apartment at 288 West Street boasts authentic details throughout, like timber beams and columns, as well as hardwood oak floors. As the Observer learned, Biggs and Mollen bought the apartment for $2.55 million in October 2013 and tapped designer Cliff Fong to decorate the space. The couple moved to the West Village this past summer after purchasing a $6.98 million four-bedroom condo at the Shephard.
See inside
Josh Hartnett’s Tribeca penthouse just sold for $3.55M
January 22, 2018

Josh Hartnett’s Tribeca penthouse just sold for $3.55M

By
Back in July, 6sqft reported that the elusive Josh Hartnett ("Black Hawk Down," "Pearl Harbor") had surfaced to list his sprawling Tribeca co-op at 16 Hudson Street for $4.25 million. Though the corner penthouse, which Hartnett bought in 2004 for $2.4 million, looks massive, it’s only got one bedroom. The heartthrob actor-turned-producer just had a second child with longtime girlfriend Tamsin Egerton, so we're guessing more space is key. The 1,965-square-foot apartment with One World Trade Center views recently sold for $3.55 million, according to Mansion Global.
Get a final look
Chris Rock’s cool Clinton Hill carriage house sells for $3.35M

Chris Rock image via Wikimedia Commons.

January 18, 2018

Chris Rock’s cool Clinton Hill carriage house sells for $3.35M

By
Back in May 6sqft noted that Chris Rock had just listed his tricked-out Clinton Hill carriage house for $3.85 million. The comedian bought the historic property at 239 Waverly Avenue in 1994 for just $370,000. The 1901 home was also listed for rent in 2013 with an ask as high as $15,000/month at one point. Records now show that the renovated residence with room for two or three bedrooms, a 23-foot-wide master suite with skylights, and the elusive urban perk of being above a private two-car garage sold in September for $3.35 million. That's well below the ask, but still a tidy profit for Rock, who was recently spotted, according to the New York Post, checking out a posh penthouse and a townhouse at the Element condo tower at 555 West 59th Street.
Find out more, take a tour
Bruce Willis lists striking six-bedroom Central Park West home for $18M

Photo of Bruce Willis via Wikimedia

January 17, 2018

Bruce Willis lists striking six-bedroom Central Park West home for $18M

By
Actor Bruce Willis and his wife Emma have listed their six-bedroom apartment at 271 Central Park West for $17.75 million. The spacious, 6,000-square-foot apartment boasts 4.5 bathrooms, a library and 150 feet of Central Park footage. According to Mansion Global, the couple decided to sell their apartment, which they first purchased for nearly $17 million in 2015, because they need to spend more time together. Although the duo is leaving Manhattan to possibly relax at their home in Bedford Hills, Willis said he'll keep loving the Uptown neighborhood. "I’ll always be an Upper West Side guy. I’ve been living up here on and off since the ‘70s," he said in a statement.
See the sprawling Central Park space
My 700sqft: News anchors Jamie and Brian Stelter open up their ‘sunny’ Lincoln Square home

6sqft’s series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to the Lincoln Square apartment of news anchors Jamie and Brian Stelter. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

January 16, 2018

My 700sqft: News anchors Jamie and Brian Stelter open up their ‘sunny’ Lincoln Square home

By
If these two friendly faces look familiar it's because they grace your television screen daily. Jamie Stelter has been NY1's traffic reporter for the past eight years, gaining fame not only for her onscreen rapport with Pat Kiernan but for her naturally bubbly personality (especially important when you go on air at 5am!), and Brian Stelter is a former media reporter for the New York Times and the current senior media correspondent and host of "Reliable Sources" for CNN. And while this might sound like a recipe for one intimidating couple, the Stelters are about as down-to-earth and warm as they come. 6sqft recently visited the couple at their Lincoln Square apartment and saw what a typical afternoon looks like, from putting their adorable eight-month-old daughter Sunny down for a nap to Brian dashing out the door to CNN's nearby offices (and Jamie and Sunny watching him on tv just a few moments later!). We were also treated to a tour of their boho-meets-family-friendly home, which is filled with DIY projects, adorable personal mementos, and a long list of Jamie's stylish finds from her favorite Instagram feeds.
Hang out with Jamie and Brian
Grand Upper East Side co-op below Bette Midler’s penthouse asks $20M
January 12, 2018

Grand Upper East Side co-op below Bette Midler’s penthouse asks $20M

By
A rarely-available Fifth Avenue co-op with 50 feet of Central Park frontage–and Bette Midler for an upstairs neighbor–has hit the market for $20 million, according to Curbed. This classic 11-room, five-bedroom Upper East Side home at 1125 Fifth Avenue gets those cinematic park and skyline views; the Divine Miss M has the penthouse–featured in Architectural Digest in 2014–upstairs.
Take the grand tour
Rent ‘Real Housewives of NYC’ star Sonja Morgan’s notorious Lenox Hill townhouse for $32K/month

Photo of Sonja Morgan courtesy of Andrea Arden’s Flickr

January 11, 2018

Rent ‘Real Housewives of NYC’ star Sonja Morgan’s notorious Lenox Hill townhouse for $32K/month

By
The Lenox Hill townhouse owned by Sonja Morgan has experienced about as many ups and downs on the market as the "Real Housewives of New York City" star herself. After years of trying to sell, Morgan is now renting her five-story, five-bedroom home at 162 East 63rd Street for $32,000/month. The hilarious hot-mess, who was formerly married to J.P. Morgan heir John Morgan and went bankrupt following their divorce, is currently being sued by her bankruptcy attorneys for not paying them a court-ordered fee of $350,000. Built in 1899, the Upper East Side townhouse features an elegant foyer, a spacious living room with a gas fireplace and a lush landscaped garden.
See inside
Golden Globe-winner Alexander Skarsgård checks out $5M Brooklyn Heights fixer-upper

Alexander Skarsgård image: Wikimedia Commons

January 11, 2018

Golden Globe-winner Alexander Skarsgård checks out $5M Brooklyn Heights fixer-upper

By
6sqft reported back in August that actor Alexander Skarsgård of “Big Little Lies” and “True Blood” fame had scooped up It-girl Parker Posey's East Village aerie for $2.3 million. It looks like the top-floor townhouse co-op gave the recent Golden Globe Award-winner a taste for townhouse living: The Post reports that Skarsgård may have his eye on a $5 million brick rowhouse in Brooklyn Heights in need of some TLC but with plenty of potential.
Take a peek
‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Ellen Pompeo lists modern Hamptons farmhouse for $3.8M

Ellen Pompeo image: Disney ABC via Flickr.

January 11, 2018

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ star Ellen Pompeo lists modern Hamptons farmhouse for $3.8M

By
Ellen Pompeo recently listed her impossibly verdant Sag Harbor home at 1645 Millstone Road for $3.79 million, the New York Post reports. The actress, who plays the leading role of Dr. Meredith Grey in “Grey’s Anatomy,” bought the property for $925,000 in 2011. Overlooking over eight acres of rolling farmland, the newly-renovated 2,400 square-foot farmhouse, built in 2103, splits the difference between modern convenience and simple charm. The property came with a cottage that Pompeo tore down to build the current home.
Take a look
‘Law & Order SVU’ actress Stephanie March snags a two-unit penthouse at the Shephard for $35M
January 10, 2018

‘Law & Order SVU’ actress Stephanie March snags a two-unit penthouse at the Shephard for $35M

By
Actress Stephanie March, best known for her role in "Law & Order SVU," and her husband, Daniel Benton, just picked up a penthouse for $34.62 million at the Shephard, a converted condo building in the West Village. As the Wall Street Journal reported, the couple is combining two units at the building at 275 West 10th Street to create a five-bedroom spread spanning 6,836 square feet. The apartment boasts a 3,451 square foot terrace as well as oversized windows, barrel-vaulted ceilings and solid hardwood oak floors.
Take a tour
Harry Houdini’s one-time Harlem townhouse conjures a buyer at $3.6M

Houdini image: Wikimedia Commons.

January 9, 2018

Harry Houdini’s one-time Harlem townhouse conjures a buyer at $3.6M

By
The 6,008-square-foot four-story townhouse at 278 West 113th Street that once belonged to master escape artist Harry Houdini has sold for $3.6 million–a full $1 million below its original ask–according to Mansion Global. 6sqft reported last June that the former home of the illusionist, magician and one of the most talked-about celebrities of the early 20th century and his wife, Bess, had hit the market for $4.6 million. Houdini–born Erich Weiss, the son of a rabbi from Budapest, lived at the Harlem home for 22 years until his death in 1926.
This house is no illusion
Roberta Flack’s ‘architect ready’ co-op in the Dakota is in contract

Photo of Roberta Flack via Wikimedia

January 8, 2018

Roberta Flack’s ‘architect ready’ co-op in the Dakota is in contract

By
Roberta Flack's co-op apartment with mirrored walls in the iconic Dakota has finally found a buyer, after being on and off the market since 2015.  As the New York Post reported, the unidentified buyer plans to combine the four-time Grammy Award winner's five-room pad with an adjacent apartment, which was allegedly the one-time home of Judy Garland.  While the final sale price of the combined package is not known yet, it appears the merge will restore the exact floor plan of one of the Dakota's 65 original units back when the building was finished in 1884. Flack's apartment was last listed for $6.99 million and the co-op next-door was most recently listed for $10 million.
See inside
Daniel Craig may be the buyer of this $6.75M fixer-upper Cobble Hill brownstone

Daniel Craig image via Flickr

January 8, 2018

Daniel Craig may be the buyer of this $6.75M fixer-upper Cobble Hill brownstone

By
. Actor Daniel Craig is the latest of the Hollywood brigade to land in Brooklyn, according to the New York Post. The 21st century James Bond and wife Rachel Weisz have reportedly scooped up the Cobble Hill townhouse at 22 Strong Place formerly owned by author Martin Amis. The home was damaged in a fire in 2016; Amis and wife Isabel Fonseca, who've moved to a Downtown Brooklyn apartment, offered the property complete with intact (despite the blaze) recent renovations and landmarks-approved plans for repairs as per the listing.
READ MORE
Michelin star chef David Bouley lists French-inspired Tribeca duplex for $5.5M
January 2, 2018

Michelin star chef David Bouley lists French-inspired Tribeca duplex for $5.5M

By
Michelin star chef David Bouley has been a fixture in Tribeca since 1987 when he opened his famed French restaurant Bouley at 161 Duane Street. He later opened Bouley Bakery, Danube, Brushstroke, and Botanical in the neighborhood and even bought an apartment in the same building as his namesake restaurant in 2007. The restaurant closed its doors this past summer, and now it looks like Bouley himself is also looking to exit the building, as he just listed his sprawling, rustic duplex for $5.5 million. The biggest selling point? The woodburning fireplace was built with 17th-century stone from the same quarry used to construct Chateau de Versailles.
Take a look around
Sen. Jacob Javits’ former Sutton Place co-op sells for $4.4M
December 28, 2017

Sen. Jacob Javits’ former Sutton Place co-op sells for $4.4M

By
After first hitting the market in June for roughly $5.2 million, the former Sutton Place home of influential New York senator, Jacob Javits and his wife Marian, has found a buyer. Last listed for $4.35 million, the three-bedroom co-op at 322 East 57th Street was designed in 1933 by Joseph Urban, an architect known for his Art Deco style. According to the New York Post, Javits entertained socialites and political players, like Henry Kissinger, in his spacious 3,300 square foot duplex.
Check out the glass cube
Greta Garbo fans buy the actress’ longtime Sutton Place co-op for $2.5M over ask
December 27, 2017

Greta Garbo fans buy the actress’ longtime Sutton Place co-op for $2.5M over ask

By
This sprawling three-bedroom at the exclusive Sutton Place co-op The Campanile may have a private location, incredible East River views, and old-world details such as wall-to-wall pine wood paneling, working fireplaces, and tons of built-ins, but it was its longtime resident who encited a bidding war. Mansion Global reports that Greta Garbo's longtime home (she lived there from 1954 until her death in 1990) has sold for $8.5 million, 43 percent higher than the $5.95 million it listed for back in March. The late actress' great-nephew Craig Reisfield said the buyers have “a reverence for my great aunt” and added that he anticipates them being "great stewards" of the home that's very much intact from Garbo's days.
See the high-end apartment here
Chrissy Teigen and John Legend tour a $9.5M penthouse in their former Nolita building
December 21, 2017

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend tour a $9.5M penthouse in their former Nolita building

By
Looking to move back to New York City, celebrity power couple John Legend and Chrissy Teigen recently toured a $9.5 penthouse apartment at 374 Broome Street (h/t New York Post). The Nolita building is the same one where they once lived in a one-bedroom, which they sold for $4 million in August 2016. The superstar duo, now expecting their second child, is in need of more space, and the loft measures 2,610 square feet and includes three bedrooms and a huge rooftop terrace.
Take a peek
Nolita pad that belonged to John Mayer has hit the market for $4.35M
December 19, 2017

Nolita pad that belonged to John Mayer has hit the market for $4.35M

By
A Nolita condo has hit the market and it once belonged to pop singer John Mayer. He picked up the two-bedroom apartment at 225 Lafayette Street in 2005 for $2.17 million. He then sold it for $3.91 million in 2013 to a buyer who using the limited liability company "But It’s Provocative LLC." The Observer has spotted that the 2,063-square-foot home been re-listed by said provocative owner, and they're asking $4.35 million. For that amount you're getting a corner unit on the 12th floor of the building, with quite a modern aesthetic.
Take a look inside his old digs
Macy’s executive pays $10.5M for Hilary Swank’s former West Village townhouse
December 18, 2017

Macy’s executive pays $10.5M for Hilary Swank’s former West Village townhouse

By
What was once Hilary Swank's picture-perfect townhouse, at 33 Charles in the West Village has found a new owner. Mansion Global reports that Harry A. Lawton III, the president of Macy's department store, paid $10.5 million for the three-story home. The townhouse was built in 1899, designated a New York City landmark in 1969, and has more recently undergone a gorgeous renovation. Adding to the home’s cachet, Swank lived here with then-husband Chad Lowe from 2002, when she purchased it for $3.9 million, until 2006, when it was sold for $8.25 million. The townhouse was then listed this June by Corcoran for $11.995 million and went into contract early November. The sellers, according to property records, are Clyde and Summer Anderson, who run Books-a-Million, the second largest bookstore chain in the U.S.
Take a look at the digs
‘True Blood’ actor Denis O’Hare sells landmarked Fort Greene carriage house duplex for $1.7M

Denis O’Hare image via Wikimedia Commons

December 15, 2017

‘True Blood’ actor Denis O’Hare sells landmarked Fort Greene carriage house duplex for $1.7M

By
The Fort Greene condo listed in September by actor Denis O'Hare of "American Horror Story" and "True Blood"  fame has sold for $1.7 million according to city records. The Tony Award-winner and Emmy nominee purchased the duplex at 159 Carlton Avenue for a mere $175,000 in 1998. The landmarked 2,015-square-foot carriage house was formerly the Feuchtwanger Stable. O'Hare's husband, interior designer Hugo Redwood, spent the last 19 years renovating the historic condo, preserving the arched windows that once allowed horses and carriages to enter, transforming the space into an open, loft-like home. The condo was listed for $1,595,000.
Take a look
For $55M, own the 47-acre Long Island waterfront estate once home to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

Photo of Brangelina via Wiki Commons

December 14, 2017

For $55M, own the 47-acre Long Island waterfront estate once home to Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt

By
Photo of Brangelina via Wiki Commons A property spanning 47 acres of Long Island waterfront that includes a 22,000-square-foot Tudor revival-style mansion in the secluded Gold Coast village of Lloyd Neck is on the market asking $55 million. In addition to offering a private cove with its own pier, a 30-by-60-foot pool, lush gardens and a tea house, the estate was famously home to Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and family in 2009 when Jolie was filming “Salt” on Long Island (h/t New York Post). And it's only a 15 minute trip to Manhattan by helicopter.
Tour the grounds of this amazing waterfront retreat
Michael C. Hall buys $4.3M El Dorado classic six

Michael C. Hall image via Wikimedia Commons.

December 13, 2017

Michael C. Hall buys $4.3M El Dorado classic six

By
The iconic El Dorado seems to have retained some of its celebrity cachet despite the decampment of Alec Baldwin and Bruce Willis; the New York Post reports that Michael C. Hall of "Dexter," "Six Feet Under" and David Bowie’s “Lazarus” fame just snagged a 10th floor apartment at 300 Central Park West. The Golden Globe winner and his wife Morgan paid $4.3 million for a newly-renovated 2,200 square-foot two-bedroom unit in the Emery Roth-designed co-op, according to city records. The Golden Globe-winner also owns a two-bedroom apartment in the pricey Greenwich Lane complex at 160 West 12th Street which was on the rental market last year for $15,000 a month.
Take a peek
Producer Bob Weinstein makes no profit on $15M Upper West Side townhouse sale
December 11, 2017

Producer Bob Weinstein makes no profit on $15M Upper West Side townhouse sale

By
Bob Weinstein, founder of Dimension Films and co-founder of Miramax Films, which he started with his brother, disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein, has all but broken even on the sale of his Upper West Side townhouse. He bought the huge home at 39 West 70th Street for $15 million back in 2009 with ex-wife Annie Clayton. They listed it for $19 million last February and then dropped the price to $17.9 million earlier this month, but city records published today show that it was sold again for $15 million. Not only did the buyer get a bargain, but they'll get to enjoy the home's period details, rear garden, terraces, roof deck, and a gym with a half-sized basketball court.
See inside
Pitch a story icon

Pitch a Story

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Interested in seeing the property in person?

It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544

Interested in seeing the property in person?

It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo

Distinctive Post Form

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544
Contact us image

Get in Touch

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Send us a tip image
Delivering New York stories focused on design, lifestyle & real estate.

Send us a Tip

We love to hear from you!

"*" indicates required fields

Interesting in learning more about purchasing a new home?

Let us know what you are looking for and we’ll help you find the home of your dreams. It’s free, with no obligation.

CityRealty Logo
or Call (212) 755-5544

Thinking about selling your home?

We’ll provide current market comps and connect you with a trusted expert.

CityRealty Logo

Sell a Home (Footer)

"*" indicates required fields

or Call (212) 755-5544

Before You Move On
from this Page.

Subscribe for NYC's Lastest Design, Lifestyle,
and Real Estate Trends!

No Worries. We Don’t Spam.

By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe at any time.

Your Passport to NYC:
Subscribe for Local Insights and Stories!

No Worries. We Don’t Spam.

By providing your email address, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
You can unsubscribe at any time.