Has Madonna's epic Upper East Side townhouse hunt finally come to an end? The Post's Jennifer Gould Keil reports that the shy singer, who has long called the Central Park West's Harperley Hall her NYC home (she added a second unit to her spread last year), has gone to contract on the four-story Georgian-style townhouse at 152 East 81st Street for a neighborhood-record $40 million. "Neighborhood record?" you ask. "But this is the 10028, home to titans of industry and Gossip Girls galore!" Indeed, chatty friend, but this townhouse is?gasp!?east of Lexington Avenue, where no residence has ever sold for over $20 million, let alone $40 million.
According to StreetEasy the double-wide house popped up on the market through Sotheby's in October for $45 million?unfortunate timing for such an ambitious listing. The asking price was reduced to $42 million in January, and given market conditions and the fact that the house needs renovating, wouldn't the sellers have gone much lower?
But Madge is nothing if not generous, and even though a snippy tipster tells the Post that the house is plagued by subway rumbling down below, the property does have its pluses. Cue the brokerbabble:
Reminiscent of a London townhouse, this 26-room classic Georgian residence is notable for its extraordinary 57-foot width, making it one of the widest houses on the Upper East side, its 3000 sq. ft. garden bordered by tall trees, rhododendron and roses, and its double-car garage, another Upper East Side rarity. The 4-story townhouse has approximately 12,000 sq. ft. above grade, and offers a 38' by 22' drawing room with tall south windows overlooking the garden, a paneled dining room off the garden terrace, intimate library, 13 bedrooms, 11' ceilings, 9 fireplaces, Georgian staircase, elevator, and future rooftop garden. A portion of the townhouse, which now functions as a house with its own entry, may be used as additional quarters.All that, and no more pesky co-op board approvals! The East 81st Streeter is already carrying the "under contract" tag on the Sotheby's site. Neighbors: Brace.
· Madonna Manor [NYPost]
· Listing 152 East 81st Street [Sotheby's]
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