Celebrity real estate: Inside the newly listed NYC homes of Stephen Sondheim, Adam Neumann, and Eleanor Roosevelt

While designing a skyscraper or eye-catching building is certainly one way to make one's mark on New York City, it is by no means the only one. Some turn the business world upside down with a new idea or store. Others transform the arts and cultural scene with their creative works. July 2023 saw the New York City homes of all types of changemakers come on the market, and one wonders if the energy of these spaces will rub off on the future buyers.

146 East 65th Street, #TH (Modlin Group LLC)Banking executive/philanthropist David Rockefeller lived in his Upper East Side townhouse with his family for nearly 70 years, and one of his daughters shared fond memories of her childhood there with The Wall Street Journal. Its most recent owner, political adviser Doug Band, did not stay nearly as long, listing it only about five years after purchasing and embarking on an extensive renovation.

From the Listing:
One of the finest townhouses in New York City, 146 East 65th Street presents the rare opportunity to own a newly-renovated, key piece of Manhattan’s storied past. The eight-bedroom, Colonial Revival masterpiece was originally constructed in 1924 and painstakingly underwent a four year renovation/restoration by top AD100 Steven Harris Architects which was completed in 2022 with exquisite interiors by Miles Redd. Elegant sitting rooms are perfectly proportioned and open onto sweeping entertaining and private spaces.

The expansive drawing room and adjoining dining room overlook the impeccably landscaped English garden. An additional kitchen sits off the drawing room and is serviced by a dumbwaiter that accesses the fully-equipped kitchen downstairs. The completely renovated garden level features ceilings up to 10½ feet, a massive chef’s kitchen and den with a south-facing wall of French doors and an adjacent service kitchen. Top-of-the-line appliances, including Wolf, SubZero and an Amerikooler walk-in refrigerator, as well as a full pantry and oversized laundry room, are tucked discreetly out of the public view. The parlor floor features a carefully-restored living room that runs the entire 40 feet width of the home, with original knotted wood paneling, floor-to-ceiling windows and ceiling heights up to 13 feet.

78 Irving Place, #PH (Official); Adam Neumann (Wiki Commons)In early 2020, shortly after WeWork's IPO was cancelled and its reputation took a serious hit, co-founder and former CEO Adam Neumann quietly listed his Gramercy penthouse, a massive combination triplex, for $37.5 million (h/t The Real Deal). It has been on and off the market since then, and has just been relisted at a slight reduction.

From the Listing:
Completely redesigned by Pietro Cicognani of Cicognani Kalla and with exquisite interiors by Windsor Smith, this one-of-a-kind penthouse exudes both luxury and elegance with meticulous attention to every detail. Entering via keyed elevator access on all three levels, you are greeted by white wood-paneled walls, adorned with ornate plaster ceiling rosettes, imported finishes from France, and complemented by the tasteful integration of handsome chandeliers from John Rosselli & Associates. The apartment is outfitted with custom windows, individually controlled central air, skylit spiral staircase, and features a private 955-square-foot roof terrace.

23 Beekman Place, #TH (The Corcoran Group)Much like Halston House on the Upper East Side, acclaimed architect Paul Rudolph's transformation of 23 Beekman Place brought a Modernist design to a prewar home in a traditional neighborhood. Mr. Rudolph started by renting a one-bedroom apartment in 1961 and bought the building in 1974. After his ambitious renovation was complete, he kept the existing space as rentals while living and working in the newly created penthouse until his death in 1997. The house was declared a New York City Landmark in 2012; more recently, it has come on the market.

From the Listing:
The iconic "Paul Rudolph House" at 23 Beekman Place, is both architecturally alluring and rich in history. Paul Rudolph, one of the most celebrated architects of the 20th Century, purchased the property in the 1970’s and redesigned it into one of the most provocative Landmarks in the city, and the place the architect ultimately called home.

The building currently consists of four residences, all possessing Rudolph’s trademark geometric design and innovative style. The first unit is a spacious one-bedroom/2-bathroom apartment, and units 2 and 3 are both 2-bedroom/2-bathroom duplexes, with marble floors throughout and tiered levels of entertaining space. Each residence boasts enormous floor to ceiling picture windows, showcasing the breathtaking views of the East River and flooding each room with sunlight.

The extraordinary penthouse is a 3-bedroom/3-bathroom triplex with expansive entertaining space staggered on multiple levels, one of the architect’s trademark designs. Encompassing 4,000 square feet, this stunning residence boasts four terraces, a wood burning fireplace and large chef’s kitchen that includes two Sub-Zero refrigerators, a Bosch dishwasher and a Gaggenau six-burner stove.

15 East 93rd Street, #TH (Leslie J. Garfield)Harpo Marx (Paramount Pictures - Unknown photographer Self-scanned, Public Domain, )At the end of the 19th century, the Marx brothers and their parents, grandparents, and a cousin all lived in one tenement apartment on the Upper East Side. Years later, when the brothers had shot to fame and were playing The Palace, Harpo Marx had moved out of the family's home but not gone far; a book about the Algonquin Round Table, of which Harpo was a member, mentioned his move to a house near Central Park. It might have been apartments when he lived there, but it is now a single-family house and on the market.

From the Listing:
Introducing 15 East 93rd Street, a stunning, 20’ wide single family townhouse situated on a picturesque tree-lined block in the heart of Carnegie Hill. Originally built in 1891 to designs by established architect William Graul, this magnificent home spans five stories and is rich in character. Step through the charming garden-level entrance, and be greeted by a warm and inviting sitting room and an impressive eat-in kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances. The kitchen has a comfortable space for informal dining that looks out into the landscaped garden.

Ascend to the parlor floor, where an elegant atmosphere is created by the high 12-foot ceilings and gracefully designed rooms with wood burning fireplaces. The spacious open layout is ideal for hosting gatherings, with a formal sitting room and a beautiful dining room featuring french doors that lead to a balcony overlooking the charming garden below. The butler’s pantry and dumbwaiter, easily accessible via service stairs, enhance the seamless experience of hosting in this exceptional property. On the third floor, an impressive library graces the front of the house, complete with a beautiful bay window, fireplace, and wet bar.

211 East 62nd Street (Serhant LLC)Eleanor Roosevelt (Underwood & Underwood - This image is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs divisionunder the digital ID cph.3b16000.This tag does not indicate the copyright status of the attached work. A normal copyright tag is still required. See Commons:Licensing., Public Domain, )From 1953 to 1958, humanitarian and former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt lived in an apartment at 211 East 62nd Street, where she wrote her "My Day" column and entertained the likes of John Kennedy, Indira Gandhi, and Adlai Stevenson. Public records indicate that it sold for $10,500,000 in November 2020, and CityRealty listings show that it is back on the market.

From the Listing:
Built in 1873 and recently renovated by Maria Masi, this 19-foot-wide townhome rises five stories with a gorgeous redbrick façade. An elevator serves every floor, and a trio of private outdoor spaces include a classical courtyard garden, a terrace, and a rooftop deck with a dog run and skyline views. On the first floor, a resplendent verde marble foyer with a brass entry gate and chandelier flows into an inviting reception hall with a powder room and custom printed wall panels depicting a 17th century Italian landscape.

Just beyond that is a regal living room with verde marble floors and fireplace, mahogany wood paneling, contemporary coffered ceilings, and original stained glass French doors leading out to the garden. A fully-equipped service kitchen with its own entrance completes the first floor. A curved mahogany staircase leads up a second floor with a formal den and dining room and a huge eat-in kitchen. Crema marble floors and period details run throughout.

1136 Fifth Avenue, #12A (Compass)In the late 1990s, when former power couple Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid's marriage was still going strong, they bought an apartment in a prestigious Fifth Avenue cooperative for $3.1 million. They sold it in 2001 following their divorce; while Mr. Quaid has left the city, Ms. Ryan would eventually move downtown. The New York Post announced that their Fifth Avenue home is set to change hands once again.

From the Listing:
This prestigious address in New York City combines classic charm with contemporary luxury. The impressive foyer with arched doorways sets the tone for this elegant residence. The oversized windows offer stunning views of Central Park, filling the living room with natural light. Originally 8 rooms, this prewar, three bedroom apartment is on the 12th floor overlooking Central Park and the Reservoir. Four of the rooms enjoy the spectacular view of the Park and Reservoir.

The layout of the apartment is superb with the living room, dining room and bedroom hall all radiating off of the 25-foot gallery. The state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen at 1136 5th Ave. is a culinary haven, where epicureans can bring their gastronomic visions to life. Equipped with top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances and sleek custom cabinetry, this culinary sanctuary is where modern convenience meets timeless elegance, embodying the perfect balance of form and function.

246 East 49th Street, #TH (Compass)Stephen Sondheim (Poemsstories - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, )In New York, it's not unusual for musicians to move out of apartments and into townhouses to hone their craft without disturbing the neighbors. However, it didn't quite work that well for celebrated composer Stephen Sondheim - when he was playing the piano in his Turtle Bay townhouse, neighbor Katharine Hepburn complained about the noise. Mr. Sondheim eventually bought an electric piano with headphones and stayed in the house until his death in late 2021. Curbed announced that it is now on the market.

From the Listing:
Enter this 19-foot wide townhouse through a wrought-iron gated forecourt which leads to a wood-paneled foyer with a midnight-blue tiled barrel-vaulted ceiling. The foyer opens into the grand-scale living room, which stretches to 32 feet and provides the perfect setting for gracious living and lavish entertaining. The living room features chevron-patterned wood floors with mahogany inlay and back-lit built-ins. Beyond the living room is the formal dining room, a unique feature of the homes at the four corners of the Gardens.

Floor-to-ceiling windows, period mouldings and French doors leading directly into the Garden grace this magnificent room. The renovated chef’s kitchen, also on the first floor, features custom steel glass-fronted cabinetry, stainless steel counters and backsplash and a commercial-grade 8-burner range with vented hood. The music studio on the second floor features a music library, wood-burning fireplace and baby grand piano. A gorgeous solarium with a dramatic wood arch and stained-glass windows original to the house leads onto an expansive 30-foot terrace that overlooks the Gardens.

880 Fifth Avenue, #20A (Stephanie Powell, MW Studio Photography)It's hard for viewers of Say Yes to the Dress to believe now, but iconic bridal shop Kleinfeld's got its start at a Brooklyn fur shop. Hedda Schachter, part of the married couple in charge of operations, oversaw its successful transition to bridal gowns; in 1988, after years of living above the store, she and husband Jack Schachter moved to a Fifth Avenue apartment they bought for $1.3 million. Their son Robert Schachter described it to The Wall Street Journal as "their first beautiful home," and a renovation by Peter Marino has only made it more so.

From the Listing:
45’ of iconic Central Park views floating 20 floors above the beautiful buzz of Fifth Avenue. 3 bedrooms + library and formal dining room are anchored within 2,400 +/- square feet of extraordinary provenance. This magnificent living space was reimagined and conceptualized by the founder of Kleinfeld’s Bridal and brought to life by the inimitable Peter Marino. The exquisite entry gallery, adjoined by the powder room, sets the stage for this masterfully designed home.

The building materials were imported from Europe and the craftsmen carefully selected. Sweeping views of Central Park are enjoyed from the entry gallery, living room, primary bedroom plus an additional bedroom that is currently setup as a home office. The library/sitting room, adjacent to the living room, also enjoys Central Park views. The kitchen, commodious formal dining room and spacious guest room with en-suite bathroom bask in eastern light with commanding open city views.

The Police Building, #4N (Douglas Elliman)It has been a busy time for Douglas Elliman broker and former Real Housewives of New York cast member Kelly Killoren Bensimon - both her daughters have graduated from college, she has recently gotten engaged, and she had listed her longtime home in the Police Building amidst the changes. In a recent interview with the New York Post, she said, "It's time for something new, and I couldn't be more thrilled for what's next."

From the Listing:
This prestigious property has a special allure and ambiance. Premier features include 16-foot ceilings, a vibrant grand arched window and an inviting foyer. The stately living and dining rooms are designed to entertain. The open kitchen is perfect for every chef. The three bedrooms are spacious with en-suite bathrooms. Home is complete with washer/dryer and generous closet space throughout.

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