Three NYC homes among priciest sales in U.S. this year

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Three NYC home sales among the nation’s most expensive in 2019

In a surprise to no one, three New York City home sales were among the priciest in the country this year, the Wall Street Journal reports. Hedge funder Ken Griffin’s purchase of a $238 million penthouse at 220 Central Park South was the most expensive one ever sold in the nation.

Griffin’s purchase sparked a conversation on wealth inequality, triggered the passing of the “mansion tax” in the state legislature, and renewed discussions on a proposed pied-à-terre tax.

Other expensive purchases in the nation’s priciest deals include financier Dan Och’s $95 million deal for two apartments also at 220 Central Park South, and Jeff Bezos’s three-apartment $80 million purchase at 212 Fifth Avenue. Deals in Los Angeles, Palm Beach, Malibu, and Bel-Air also made the top 10 list.

And in other news…

• City Council members, both Democrats and Republicans, are pushing for the state to change the tax law to require new home buyers to pay their taxes based on their property’s market rate rather than its assessed value—a so-called “gentrification tax.”
• Apparently, the NYC super rich are now into porte cochères, or covered driveways, in their buildings.
• Subway aficionados and collectors can own expensive MTA memorabilia: A $650 station bench, a $300 trash can, a $3,500 vintage Wall Street sign, among other things.
• Ever wondered why the lights in New York City buildings seem to always be on? Here’s the answer.
• Gov. Andrew Cuomo has until Tuesday to decide on a piece of legislation that would allow construction of commercial office buildings of up to 88 feet-tall at Hudson River Park’s Pier 40.
• A list of the five NYC homes that sold for the largest discounts this year.
• NYC cyclists now have a few extra seconds to cross intersections with Leading Pedestrian Intervals (which let pedestrians cross before vehicular traffic).
• Construction for Brooklyn’s first supertall at 9 DeKalb Avenue is making progress.
• Subway graffiti is making a comeback.