It’s model markdown madness for two of Manhattan’s lovelier catwalkers – who are shaving collective millions off the asking prices of their penthouse apartments.
The first is Brazilian bombshell Gisele Bundchen, a motivated seller who lowered the price of her well-proportioned triplex apartment on West 11th Street from $10.9 million to $9.2 million.
Her broker, The Corcoran Group’s Susan Gilder-Hayes, hosted an “open house” last weekend, where prospective buyers viewed the 2,500-square-foot roof deck with a party-sized hot tub (if only those Jacuzzi jets could talk). The Victoria’s Secret mannequin’s dramatic two-bedroom, 21/2-bath digs also features a two-story living room, marble baths and panoramic views of the Hudson River.
Bundchen, the former gal pal of Leonardo DiCaprio who’s now dating Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, now lives in a townhouse in the Village. Meanwhile in TriBeCa, Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova has discounted her alluring, 5,000-square-foot penthouse from $11 million to $9.9 million.
The eight-room apartment on Reade Street that Vodianova owns with her husband, British real-estate heir Justin Portman, includes three bedrooms, 3½ baths, an outdoor infinity-edge soaking pool off the master bedroom, an indoor reflecting pool, a media room, a sauna and three separate terraces. Broker Adam Modlin of the Modlin Group has the listing.
Anchor’s (still) away
News anchor Kaity Tong is sitting on the story of her life. Unfortunately, it’s all about her and her husband and nothing she can report on her nightly CW 11 newscast.
Since July, Tong and her husband, Patrick Callahan, have been holed up in a small suite at the Gramercy Park Hotel after their Chelsea apartment was invaded by mold – which appeared to come from a construction site next door.
“As wonderful as the Gramercy Park Hotel is, it isn’t home,” she said in September. “I want to go home, but only when it’s back to the way it was.”
Their nightmare began when a large wall section and flooring began to buckle in their penthouse apartment.
“There were never any leaks or problems in Kaity’s apartment until work began next door,” said their lawyer, Steven Wagner. He is referring to the O’Neill Building on Sixth Avenue, which is being converted to condos costing up to $8 million. Elad Properties (which is developing the O’Neill) has agreed to foot the $600-a-night hotel bill until the issue is resolved. Elad spokesman Lloyd Kaplan says, “It’s not about money. We want to fix the problem. A leak came from somewhere, but we’re not sure whether it even came from our side.”
Meanwhile we’re going to feature a “Kaity Watch” until she gets home.
State of Sunshine
Real-estate marketing icon Louise Sunshine is roaring out of retirement, beginning with the sale of her Florida condo.
She’s listing her luxury two-bedroom, 21/2-bath West Palm Beach condo at Trump Plaza that she’s had for the past three years, with views from the Intracoastal to the ocean, for $1.399 million. “A typical brokerage asking price,” she laughs.
And she’s listing it with The Corcoran Group, the company that bought her eponymous marketing company a few years ago.
“The eventual buyer will benefit from Louise’s renowned taste and attention to detail,” said Corcoran CEO Pamela Liebman.
Sunshine said she’s not quite finished with the Sunshine State, however.
“I’m looking for opportunities in Miami,” she says of the hard-hit market. “I’m looking to invest and create action there.”
Meanwhile, Sunshine, who is director of the Alexico Group, is creating buzz in New York at the Mark hotel’s co-op suites. Her other venture is at the Laurel, a 30-story new-construction building at 400 East 67th St. that will be topped off today. “It’s the best-kept secret in New York,” she insists.
Sunshine tells us the 129-unit condominium is already 25 percent sold two weeks before the sales office is slated to open. Apartments there are ranging from $700,000 to $14 million.
Her third Manhattan project will be at 56 Leonard St., where she tells us to stay tuned.