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      in Luxury

      A Sound Effects Pioneer’s Hudson River-View Manhattan Apartment Is Up for Grabs

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      He might not be a household name, but if you happened to watch movies in the 1960s and beyond, you likely came across Elisha Birnbaum’s handiwork as a foley artist. Think of a trotting horse achieved via coconut shells striking against a carpeted floor and even a knife cutting through flesh, which he mimicked by buying the largest turkey he could find and then mutilating the massive fowl so much that his wife Zmira refused to cook it for dinner.

      He subsequently founded the New York City-based Sound One Corporation, which would go on to become a prominent East Coast post-production sound studio that worked with top producers and directors such as Martin Scorsese, Nora Ephron, Spike Lee, Ang Lee, and Woody Allen. And though he retired in 2000 after selling Sound One to Liberty Media, Birnbaum’s CineMontage obituary reports that he continued to watch as many movies as he could and picked up painting and digital art to fill his days.

      Now, almost a year after he passed away at age 92, the Upper West Side apartment that he occupied for more than five decades has popped up for sale, asking $3.7 million. The listing is held by Jennifer Roberts of Coldwell Banker Warburg.

      The entrance gallery flows to a skyline-view living room warmed by a wood-burning fireplace.

      Gamut Photos/Coldwell Banker Warburg

      RELATED: Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James’s N.Y.C. Pied-à-Terre Is Up for Grabs at $2.5 Million

      Sited within the 18-story Normandy residential building designed in the late ’30s by noted architect Emery Roth, Birnbaum’s former home rests on the 17th floor and has four bedrooms and three baths in roughly 2,400 square feet of living space spread across two combined units. The interiors are outfitted with herringbone-patterned hardwood floors, nine-foot beamed ceilings, wood-paneled walls, stained-glass accents, and large windows overlooking the picturesque skyline and the Hudson River.

      Highlights include a columned entrance gallery that leads to a living room boasting a wood-burning fireplace. On one side of the gallery is a spacious bookshelf-lined room holding a dining area that connects to a modern black-and-red kitchen equipped with an eat-in peninsula and an adjacent seating/breakfast nook.

      The bookshelf-lined dining area sits adjacent to an eye-catching red-and-black kitchen.

      Gamut Photos/Coldwell Banker Warburg

      Elsewhere is the primary bedroom, which hosts a private terrace and a swanky blue-tiled bath with a built-in soaking tub and a separate shower. Three additional bedrooms include one with its own entrance, plus a second terrace and a laundry room that previously served as an extra kitchen.

      A hefty $6,270 monthly common charge fee allows the new owner to take advantage of numerous amenities that encompass 24-hour doormen, a resident manager, a landscaped garden courtyard and rooftop deck, two fitness centers, a children’s playroom, and bike and storage space. An added bonus: The building is right across the street from Riverside Park and its scenic walking paths.

      Click here for more photos of Elisha Birnbaum’s longtime Manhattan home.

      Gamut Photos/Coldwell Banker Warburg More

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      in Luxury

      Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James’s N.Y.C. Pied-à-Terre Is Up for Grabs at $2.5 Million

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      A New York City residence long owned by Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James has just popped up for sale in the Lenox Hill neighborhood of Manhattan.

      The married entertainment industry veterans—he a broadcasting legend best known for co-creating Saturday Night Live with Lorne Michaels, as well as developing the concept for Sunday Night Football and producing numerous Olympic Games as head of NBC Sports, and she a retired actress who starred in shows like McMillan & Wife alongside Rock Hudson—are asking just under $2.5 million for the five-room apartment. The listing is held by Maria Daou of Coldwell Banker Warburg.

      The couple’s home rests on the 35th floor of the former Trump Plaza, at 61st Street and 3rd Avenue in Manhattan.

      Plexi Images/Glasshouse Images/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

      The 36-story residential and retail building at 167 East 61st Street, formerly known as Trump Plaza, was designed by architect Philip Birnbaum and built in the early 1980s. The home rests on the 35th floor and has three bedrooms and an equal number of baths in 1,700 square feet of open-concept living space outfitted with high ceilings and mosaic-style parquet wood floors.

      Among the highlights is a bookshelf-clad entrance hallway with art gallery-like walls that leads to a spacious living room boasting floor-to-ceiling windows and access to a wraparound terrace providing sweeping views of the city skyline, Central Park, and beyond. An adjacent dining area connects to a gallery-style equipped with custom blue-hued cabinetry, plus GE Café and Sub-Zero appliances.

      Three bedrooms are filtered across the 1,700-square-foot city-view apartment.

      Vala Kodish/Coldwell Banker Warburg

      Elsewhere are a laundry station and a trio of en-suite bedrooms, most notably a corner primary retreat hosting a walk-in closet, as well as a renovated bath flaunting dual marble sinks and a deep soaking tub.

      The new owner also will be privy to plenty of amenities, courtesy of a hefty $6,884 monthly HOA fee, including a landscaped atrium bolstered by a two-story waterfall, a communal lobby, a dedicated staff, a 24-hour doorman, a concierge, a fitness center, a playroom, a private community garden, a garage, and storage space. The building, which allows pets, pied-á-terre ownership, co-purchases, gifting, and subletting, comes with a 2-percent flip tax paid by the buyer.

      In addition to their N.Y.C. apartment, the couple recently paid $6.7 million for a trendy modern farmhouse-style property within the upscale Los Angeles neighborhood of Cheviot Hills, just south of Beverly Hills and Century City. The husband-and-wife duo also maintains another L.A.-area residence in the beachside city of Santa Monica, along with homes in New England and Colorado.

      Click here for more photos of Dick Ebersol and Susan Saint James’s N.Y.C. apartment.

      Vala Kodish/Coldwell Banker Warburg More

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      in Vacation Homes

      For the Price of a Tiny N.YC. Apartment, You Could Snag a Sprawling Villa in Calabria, Italy

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      New York City is consistently one of the most expensive places to live, so it’s no wonder more and more Big Apple residents are packing up their postage-stamp apartments and heading abroad in search of more space for less money. And, if you’re considering pulling a real-life Emily in Paris and escaping to Europe, you might be pleasantly surprised just how much more bang for your buck you can get when it comes to real estate. 

      A new study from My Dolce Casa, an expat-oriented blog about living and retiring overseas, has done the hard part and calculated what the same amount of money can buy you in the Mediterranean versus Manhattan. The website based its research on Realtor.com’s median listing price for a 500-square-foot apartment in New York City, which was approximately $750,000 or $1,500 per square foot. Using that value as a guide, it then determined what size house you would be able to purchase for a similar cost in countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, and France. Let’s just say the results are nothing short of enticing. 

      You can buy three times as much space in Spain compared to Manhattan.

      David Zorrakino/Europa Press via Getty Images

      During the pandemic, Americans descended on Italy for a taste of la dolce vita. When it comes to getting the most for your money in Bel Paese, the mountainous region of Molise—due east of Rome on the Adriatic coast—topped the chart in terms of value with an average price per square foot of $90. Here, for example, $750,000 will get you a sprawling 8,333-square-foot villa. Similarly, if you wanted to settle down further south in Calabria, the same amount of money would afford a whopping 8,242 square feet of space, which translates to about $91 per square foot. By comparison, a condo of that size would run you upwards of $12 million in Manhattan, according to The New York Times. 

      Spain’s Castilla-La Mancha, a vast region in the center of the country, landed in third place. The desert-like area includes the historic city of Toledo and was the setting of the famous Don Quixote novel. It also has the country’s lowest population density, so essentially it’s the complete opposite of New York City. Here, you can expect a home as large as 7,813 square feet, while over in Extremadura, which borders Portugal, you could pick up a 7,426-square-foot country home. For all The White Lotus fans, the Italian island of Sicily notched the fifth spot. With an average price per square foot of $104, you could live big like Quentin (Tom Hollander) in your very own 7,212-square-foot palazzo. 

      Real estate on Crete costs on average $215 per square foot.

      Laszlo Szirtesi/Getty Images

      Greece has long drawn tourists during the summer months, but if putting down roots in the so-called cradle of Western civilization appeals to you, for the price of a 500-square-foot studio in Manhattan, you could snap up a 5,859-square-foot abode in Thessaly, one of the most important regions of ancient Greece and known for its impressive mountain ranges and idyllic landscapes. On the other hand, if pink-sand beaches, archaeological sites, and a thriving wine scene float your expat boat, you could stretch out in a scenic 3,488-square-foot villa on Crete, Greece’s largest island.

      You can find the full ranking below.

      RegionCountryHome Size (square feet)MoliseItaly8,333CalabriaItaly8,242Castilla-La ManchaSpain7,813ExtremaduraSpain7,426SicilyItaly7,212UmbriaItaly6,944BasilicataItaly6,356AbruzzoItaly6,303Castilla y LeónSpain6,148PugliaItaly5,952MurciaSpain5,906ThessalySpain5,859PiedmontItaly5,769ThraceSpain5,556La RiojaSpain5,474CentralSpain5,474AsturiasSpain5,245GaliciaSpain5,245AragónSpain5,102Friuli-Venezia GiuliaItaly5,068

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      in Luxury

      Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy’s Longtime Townhouse in N.Y.C. Hits the Market for $9.75 Million

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      Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy’s longtime New York City residence in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan has popped up for sale.

      The married entertainment industry veterans—she an award-winning TV and film actress probably best known for her roles in My So-Called Life, Romeo + Juliet, Homeland, and Fleishman Is in Trouble, and he a fellow actor who’s appeared in Black Hawk Down, the TV adaptation of David Copperfield, and Hannibal—are asking just under $9.8 million for the Greek Revival townhouse they picked up for $6.8 million over a decade ago, back in late 2012.

      The townhouse’s striking wood and metal staircase boasts a woven leather railing.

      Alejandro Leon/DD Reps

      RELATED: One of New York’s Grandest Gilded Age Mansions Lists for $65 Million

      Originally built in the 1880s and extensively renovated during the couple’s tenure by BKSK Architects partner Joan Krevlin, who subsequently earned an American Architecture Prize for interior design, the red brick and wood-accented structure features four bedrooms and five baths spread across a little more than 3,800 square feet of living space on five levels. There’s also a trio of outdoor spaces.

      Touted in marketing materials as a “really happy, romantic, special place,” the first floor is highlighted by an entry foyer/mudroom that has floor-to-ceiling double doors opening to a large coat closet, a powder room, and an office that can be closed off with folding doors. From there, a fireside living and dining area resting beneath an 11-foot ceiling connects to the kitchen, which is outfitted with a glass-block ceiling, top-tier Miele appliances, and a glass wall that spills out to an al fresco dining space.

      A bank of pocket doors allow the office space, where Danes keeps one of her three Emmys, to be concealed from public view.

      Alejandro Leon/DD Reps

      A dark wood and metal staircase with a woven leather railing heads to the second floor, which is spotlighted by a den/media room displaying a fireplace, built-in bookcases, and a wet bar equipped with a fridge and dishwasher. Rotating glass doors lead out to a trellis-shaded terrace, and elsewhere is a guest bedroom with a fireplace, a walk-in closet, and access to a full bath.

      On the third level are two more bedrooms, each with their own bath and closet, while the entire floor above is occupied by a luxe primary suite boasting bespoke closets, as well as a bath with dual vanities, a fireplace, a glass-encased steam shower, and a clawfoot soaking tub. Steps just outside the primary bedroom ascend to an entertainment-ready roof deck, which has an outdoor kitchen with an Ooni Koda pizza oven, a garden, an electric retractable awning, and views of One World Trade Center.

      The roof deck has a garden-laced dining spot and an outdoor kitchen.

      Alejandro Leon/DD Reps

      RELATED: Katharine Hepburn’s Longtime N.YC. Townhouse Hits the Market for $7.2 Million

      Rounding out the listing, which is held by Tamer Howard of Corcoran, is a finished basement hosting a wine cellar, laundry facilities, and a cedar-lined closet for garment storage, plus high-tech temperature control, security cameras, and Sonos sound systems.

      Per The New York Times, which first reported the listing, native New Yorker Danes and her British-born husband Dancy have decided to sell because they need more space for their three children and frequent family guests. The couple doesn’t plan to go far, preferring to stay in the downtown area of New York.

      Click here for more photos of Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy’s Manhattan townhouse.

      Alejandro Leon/DD Reps More

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      in Luxury

      Katharine Hepburn’s Longtime N.YC. Townhouse Hits the Market for $7.2 Million

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      A little more than two decades after Katharine Hepburn passed away at age 96, the Hollywood legend’s New York City townhouse has popped up for sale, asking $7.2 million. As first reported by Crain’s New York, Hepburn acquired the five-story spread in the historic Turtle Bay enclave of Manhattan way back in 1931 and lived there until she passed away in 2003; her estate then sold the place around a year later for almost $4 million to the Astoria Property Group, which is linked to a family from Mexico.

      Frequently revered for her “often-imitated voice filled with the vowels of a well-bred New Englander,” Hepburn’s big break came in 1932 with a starring role opposite John Barrymore in A Bill of Divorcement. She went on to appear in 40-plus films throughout her lengthy career, with the Connecticut-born actress receiving four Oscars for her work in Morning Glory, Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, The Lion in Winter, and On Golden Pond. At the time of her death, she also owned a home on Long Island Sound.

      The formal living room has a trio of French doors leading out to a terrace.

      Hayley Ellen Day/DD-reps for Sotheby’s International Realty

      Originally built in the late 1890s and since restored and renovated, the structure clocks in at 19 feet wide and features four bedrooms and an equal number of baths spread across just over 4,500 square feet. Touted in marketing materials as the “epitome of New York glamour,” the first floor is highlighted by a stone-tiled entry foyer that flows to a gourmet kitchen outfitted with custom cabinetry, stone countertops, top-tier appliances, and a built-in breakfast table and banquette. A wine cooler-equipped butler’s pantry connects to the fireside dining room, which spills out to a 1,000-square-foot bi-level flagstone patio and a garden with access to a private park shared by residents of the 20 surrounding townhouses.

      A mirrored vanity Hepburn had installed while she was living in the townhouse remains in the third-floor primary suite.

      Hayley Ellen Day/DD-reps for Sotheby’s International Realty

      Holding court on the second floor is a formal living room spotlighted by a marble fireplace and a trio of French doors leading out to a terrace, plus a wet bar and a cozy library/media room. Occupying the third level is a primary suite boasting a fireplace, a walk-in closet/dressing room, an updated bath with dual sinks, a clawfoot soaking tub, and a separate shower, as well as a mirrored vanity that Hepburn herself had installed. Another bedroom currently serves as a seating area and an office, with a wood staircase ascending to a top floor holding two more bedrooms with their own baths and walk-in closets.

      Rounding out the listing, which is held by Lisa Larson of Sotheby’s International Realty, is a basement hosting a wine cellar, a half-bath, a laundry room, and storage space.

      Click here for more photos of Katharine Hepburn’s former Manhattan townhouse.

      Hayley Ellen Day/DD-reps for Sotheby’s International Realty More

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      in Luxury

      Judge Judy’s Stylish N.Y.C. Penthouse Is Up for Grabs at $9.5 Million

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      Judy Sheindlin is officially slamming the gavel on her New York City penthouse. Per The New York Times, which first reported the listing, the reality TV personality best known as Judge Judy has hoisted her elegant Manhattan pied-à-terre on the market for $9.5 million. The listing is held by Tom Postilio and Mickey Conlon of Compass.

      Records show she and her husband Jerry, a former New York Supreme Court judge, acquired the duplex unit for $8.5 million back in 2013, shortly after selling a residence at The Sherry-Netherland hotel. Sheindlin, who also has owned homes in Rhode Island, Connecticut, Florida, and California, told the Times in an email, “We’ve enjoyed this jewel of an apartment. Time to simplify.”

      Sited within the 14-story, pre-war co-op apartment house at 14 Sutton Place South, which was designed by gifted architect Rosario Candela in the late 1920s, the couple’s city digs rest on the top two floors of the building, with four bedrooms and six baths spread across largely original yet modernized interiors outfitted with hardwood floors, high ceilings, classic moldings, and a curved wrought-iron and wood staircase. There’s also central air-conditioning, plus an integrated sound system, and an expansive wraparound terrace that’s ideal for al fresco lounging and dining.

      The penthouse’s expansive wraparound terrace is the perfect spot for relaxing and enjoying a meal outdoors.

      Eytan Stern Weber/Evan Joseph Images

      Other highlights include a semi-private elevator landing that opens into an upper-level entrance gallery bathed in inlaid marble. From there, the spacious living room boasts a wood-burning fireplace and large casement windows offering views of the East River; a blush-hued formal dining room has floor-to-ceiling French doors; and an eat-in kitchen is equipped with green marble countertops, a wood-topped island and high-end stainless appliances.

      Elsewhere is a handsome wood-paneled library displaying a fireplace flanked by built-in bookshelves, along with a wine-storage alcove that’s been converted into a powder room. A downstairs primary suite hosts a seating area, lots of closet space, and built-in storage, as well as a spa-inspired bath equipped with dual vanities and a shower, and three additional guest bedrooms include two with their own baths and one with access to a hallway bath.

      The new owner also will be privy to plenty of amenities, courtesy of a hefty $10,130 monthly maintenance fee, including a 24/7 doorman, a resident manager, a common roof deck, a gym, a bike room, and a deeded private storage space.

      A former Manhattan prosecutor and family court judge, the 81-year-old Brooklyn native starred as the no-nonsense courtroom arbitrator in the Judge Judy TV series for 25 seasons, from 1996 to 2021, and currently appears in the Judy Justice show on Amazon Freevee. Her longtime husband, a former New York Supreme Court judge, also made his mark as a TV personality, having presided over The People’s Court for two seasons.

      Other Manhattan properties up for sale nearby include a newly relisted $16 million townhouse owned by Elvis director Baz Luhrmann and a five-story residence in the Lenox Hill neighborhood offered for $16.4 million. Don’t quite feel like making a commitment to buy? Check out this Fifth Avenue aerie overlooking the Met that just popped up on the rental market for $90,000 per month, complete with three landscaped terraces and a trio of outdoor showers.

      Click here for more photos of Judge Judy’s Manhattan penthouse.

      Eytan Stern Weber/Evan Joseph Images More

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      in Luxury

      Baz Luhrmann Just Relisted His Dramatic N.Y.C. Townhouse for $16 Million

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      Baz Luhrmann’s New York City townhouse is back on the market, but you might not recognize it.  

      The Hollywood filmmaker and his wife, costume designer Catherine Martin, have treated the stately Manhattan residence to an epic makeover and relisted it for just under $16 million. The palatial pad was first listed for $20 million in March 2022, then returned to the market in September 2023 with a price tag of $18 million. (In between, an unnamed tenant rented the house for a whopping $75,000 a month.) The current asking price seems like a bargain, then.

      “Whether you are looking for a home to entertain like Gatsby, or a tranquil and private abode to unwind and relax, No. 243 provides a unique opportunity to acquire a rare and significant piece of New York City real estate,” the Corcoran Group writes. 

      A formal dining room is located on the garden level.

      Nina Poon for Corcoran

      The Luhrmann’s have actually been working on the Stuyvesant Park brownstone for quite some time. The couple originally bought the 8,500-square-foot property in 2017 for $13.5 million. Two years later, they gave the place a makeover so impressive (and so massive) that it earned a spot in Robb Report’s annual Best of the Best issue. The five-story home was recently transformed from top to bottom by New York-based Interior Marketing Group. The historic Anglo-Italianate abode features six bedrooms, five full bathrooms, two powder rooms, an ivy-clad backyard, and an elevator. Highlights include soaring 16-foot ceilings, arched doorways, original moldings, five fireplaces, and a grand floating staircase.

      The primary suite has a private terrace.

      Nina Poon for Corcoran

      On the main parlor level, full-length windows and a cast-iron Juliet balcony overlook the park. To the rear, the primary suite is equipped with an en suite, a huge walk-in closet, and a private terrace. Elsewhere, the 28-foot-wide townhouse sports a Clive Christian-designed kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances from Viking and Sub-Zero, marble countertops, and painted pine cabinets.

      Down below, the basement is configured as a media room where you can perhaps screen one of the Tony Award-winning director’s famous flicks. Speaking of which, the uppermost floor used to be occupied by renowned jazz tenor saxophonist Clifford Jordan and later served as Luhrmann’s studio where he’s said to have penned the script for Elvis. The floor is now set up as a standalone one-bedroom, one-bathroom suite with a living room, a bar, and a gym. Talk about theatrical charm.

      Broker Steve Gold of the Corcoran Group holds the listing. 

      Click here to see more photos of Baz Luhrmann’s townhouse. 

      Nina Poon for Corcoran

       

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

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      in Luxury

      Exclusive: The Founder of Starz Lists His Manhattan Apartment for $10 Million

      by

      John J. Sie, the founder and former CEO of Starz Entertainment Group, is ready to turn the channel on his Manhattan home, hoisting his elegantly detailed pre-war cooperative apartment back onto the market for just shy of $10 million. Records show the apartment was first listed in 2022 for $12 million. The stately residence, built in 1937, is nestled on the 30th floor of Hampshire House at 150 Central Park South.

      Sie, who retired from his CEO position in 2005, previously acted as senior vice president of sales and marketing for Showtime. Since stepping down from Starz, he and his wife Anna have turned their focus to philanthropy. Together, the couple has collectively shelled out $34 million to establish the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome at the University of Colorado in honor of their granddaughter. 

      The entrance gallery is embellished with polished marble floors and ornate crown moldings.

      Oleg Davidoff for Corcoran

      The 3,000-square-foot spread comprises three bedrooms and three bathrooms. A private elevator landing leads to an expansive entrance gallery decked out with custom marble floors, delicate light fixtures, and ornate crown moldings. Another of the standout spaces, a wood-paneled wet bar with a picture window overlooking the entirety of Central Park, is at the far end of the foyer and perfectly positioned for entertaining between the living and dining rooms.

      The living room has a carved marble fireplace and a Juliet balcony that juts out over the city, while the dining room, decked out with leaf-patterned crown molding and milk chocolate-colored high-shine lacquer walls, offers up media mogul-worthy park and skyline views. From here, a hidden door opens to the well-equipped galley kitchen, a windowless space with floral wallpaper, high-quality appliances, and black granite counters. 

      A hallway lined with built-in bookshelves leads to the home’s three bedrooms. One of the bedrooms has been outfitted as a library, with beautifully paneled walls and built-in cabinetry, and the primary suite is no less luxe, with a walk-in closet lined with custom wood cabinets and a marble en suite bath with a jacuzzi tub. 

      The formal dining room offers up views bird’s eye views over all of Central Park.

      Oleg Davidoff for Corcoran

      “With its blend of old-world charm and modern comforts, this exceptional residence offers a truly unparalleled living experience amidst the captivating backdrop of Central Park and the city skyline,” notes the listing, which is jointly handled by Catherine Juracich, Thomas Ventura, and Karena Cameron at Corcoran. 

      Equidistant between Berdorf Goodman’s and Columbus Circle and capped by a distinctive copper roof, The Hampshire House was originally built as a posh residential hotel. The lavishly appointed interior spaces were done up by the legendary decorator Dorothy Draper, who, according to Architectural Digest, eventually bought a duplex in the building. Among the building’s many other notable residents and guests are Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo, Vladimir Nabokov, Art Garfunkel, Frank Sinatra, and Marilyn Monroe.

      Click here for more photos of John J. Sie’s New York City apartment.

      Oleg Davidoff for Corcoran

      Authors

      Abby Montanez

      Abigail Montanez is a staff writer at Robb Report. She has worked in both print and digital publishing for over half a decade, covering everything from real estate, entertainment, dining, travel to…

      Read More More