The Plaza’s Astor Suite has gone back on the market with a new broker and a $17 million price cut.
The 5,000-square-foot, fifth-floor unit, owned by European Esprit founder Juergen Friedrich, is now sporting a $38 million price tag.
The apartment, which Friedrich closed on last year for $27 million, made a brief (and we mean only about one day) appearance in September with a $55 million asking price. That was just as news of the building’s stagnating resales and multiple lawsuits against developer Elad were surfacing.
Friedrich’s overly optimistic ex-broker Patricia Burnham has handed over the reins to Sotheby’s Roger Erickson, who couldn’t be reached for comment.
There are now 31 active listings in the building ranging from a cozy courtyard-fronting studio for $1.8 million to Tommy Hilfiger’s duplex for $50 million.
Timberlake a taker
Justin Timberlake is officially a New York City resident. As we reported last week, the entertainment machine and lucky love interest of Jessica Biel, was in contract to buy a $5.25 million loft condo at the Pearline Soap Factory in TriBeCa.
Just yesterday, city records revealed that he closed on the apartment for a mere $4.774 million. The listing broker was Raphael De Niro of Prudential Douglas Elliman.
Dwell at the Dakota
Those with Dakota lust, and money left in their portfolios, can snap up a just-listed residence on one of the landmark building’s best floors. Listed at $14.5 million, the nine-room, seventh-floor co-op includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a great room, a library, a gourmet kitchen, 11-foot ceilings, woodburning fireplaces (including one in the entry foyer), rare woods and intricate period details.
The owners are securities trader Roy Welland – also the proprietor of restaurant Cru – and his wife, Christal Henner-Welland, the sister of actress Marilu Henner. Neighbors with residences on the floor include legendary singer Roberta Flack and quasi-musician Yoko Ono.
Dolly Lenz of Prudential Douglas Elliman has the exclusive listing.
Majestic views
Writer and director James Toback is looking for a buyer who might put some more zip into his Central Park West apartment. The well-worn 15th-floor crib in the Majestic, which is listed for $3.75 million, is 2,200 square feet and has two bedrooms and two bathrooms. According to the Brown Harris Stevens listing, it also has expansive city views.
Toback, who wrote the screenplay for “Busgy,” will soon release his acclaimed documentary “Tyson,” which received a standing ovation in Cannes this year.
The iconic Majestic building has also been home to Bugsy Siegel, Meyer Lansky, Walter Winchell and presently Conan O’Brien.
Listing broker Wendy Maitland had no comment.
He’s a new corker
We should all have neighbors like Italian wine maker Marcello Zaccagnini.
The owner of Zaccagnini Winery, who has purchased a condo at the Platinum building on West 46th Street, has created an exclusive Platinum label for one of his best reserves – montepulciano d’Abruzzo. And he’s distributing 500 bottles to residents of Platinum as housewarming gifts.
The now very popular Zaccagnini bought a two-bedroom, 2½-bath residence with nearly 1,500 square feet for more than $2.8 million on one of the new high-rise development’s top floors.