LOCATION: New York City, NY
PRICE: $48,000,000
SIZE: 5,600 square feet, 4 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms
YOUR MAMAS NOTES: We received a unexpected but welcomed digital missive yesterday from an informant we'll call Steven Harris Brown who let Your Mama know that Jon Stryker—a notably philanthropic billionaire heir to a surgical and hospital supply fortune—slapped a heavy-duty $48,000,000 price tag on his sprawling duplex penthouse atop the Prásadá, a quirky yet elegant French Second Empire-style apartment house on New York City's Central Park West.
Mister Stryker, a middle-aged divorced father of two who came out as a homosexual sometime around the turn of the last century and—as far as we know—courts a younger and taller architect who works for Robert A.M. Stern, reportedly paid about $12.8 million for a pair of neighboring three bedroom apartments in 2002. At that time it was the highest amount paid for a single occupancy apartment on the Upper West Side.
Although a licensed architect in his home state of Michigan, Mister Stryker hired the white-shoe architecture firm Shelton, Mindel & Associates to handle the combination of the apartments, which were in their original state when they were acquired. Reports from the time of Mister Styrker's acquisition said the two apartments totaled 11,000 (or so) square feet with another 4,000 (or so) square feet of outdoor space but current listing details set the figures at a much more modest but still considerable 5,600 square feet with 2,500 square feet of private terraces.
Your Mama spent some time with the floor plan of the U-shaped spread and we quickly counted two circular foyers, two fireplaces, four bedrooms, and a total of 5.5 bathrooms including a someone inconvenient for the less-abled but smartly private half bathroom on the mezzanine that overlooks the living room. We counted three dedicated family/guest bedrooms, each with with small but windowed en-suite bathrooms, plus a centrally located master suite outfitted with a fitted walk-in closet and split bathroom.
Somewhat unexpectedly located off the main entrance, the crisply modern kitchen overlooks the building's courtyard and can be opened to or closed off from the 30-foot long combination living/dining room by pocket doors that—no doubt—slip effortlessly into the walls. Architectural details in the living/dining room that may or may not be original but are certainly correct for the provenance of the building include fluted pilasters, a coffered ceiling, and six-over-one sash windows filled with a head on view over all of Central Park and, in the distance, the swanky apartment houses that line Fifth Avenue.
The adjoining corner library, which appears to be disturbingly book free, also has park views and pocket doors that link to a wet-bar equipped study where Your Mama hopes Mister Stryker keeps his books. Less formal family accommodations were pushed to the opposite end of the apartment where even more pocket doors divide a roomy corner family room with fireplace from an adjoining study with built-in cabinetry.
Two separate and fairly discreet stairways ascend to the expansive, multi-level roof terrace divided into several sections that include a rigidly gridded terrace of potted trees, a fair-sized patch of (presumably faux) lawn, and a corner dining terrace with the exact sort of sweeping view from which many upper Manhattan real estate dreams are woven. Around the back of the penthouse-level conservatory an all but hidden stairway climbs to an upper level roof terrace with even more hair-curling wrap around views.
Other residents of the Prásadá include Oscar-nominated screenwriter Melissa Mathison, she's Harrison Ford's ex-wife; philanthropists and architecture buffs Jeanne and Kenneth Levy-Church, who lost big in the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme scandal; and married actors Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas
Besides his no longer wanted (or needed or whatever) penthouse at the Prásadá, Mister Stryker owns at least half dozen properties in and around his native Kalamazoo, MI, and earlier this year he forked out more than $4 million for a a 129-acre spread called Mystery Point on the Hudson River in Garrison, NY. Most of the property will remain accessible to the public as open and unspoiled lands as a result of a conservation easement.
Mister Stryker has maintained a residence in Palm Beach since at least 1998 when he paid $3,838,000 for a .55 acre lot with a 6,600 square foot Mediterranean-style house built in 1926 and originally designed by high-society architect Marion Sims Wyeth, the same fella who did the opulent Mar-A-Lago. Some time later, possibly in 1999 or maybe in 2003, he laid out an unknown sum of money to buy and adjacent parcel that gave him direct access to the beach, albeit by crossing Ocean Boulevard. In June 2010 Mister Stryker expanded his Palm Beach holdings considerably when he paid musician Jimmy Buffet $18.5 million for the gated and high-hedged 1.61 acre estate next door with its swimming pool, tennis court and 10,000+ square foot house.
exterior photo: Kate Leonova for Property Shark
listing photos and floor plan: Brown Harris Stevens
aerial photo (Palm Beach): Bing
40 comments:
I cannot say I am too impressed: the kitchen is particularly hideous. Too many recesses in the walls, awkward juxtaposition of modern sculpture pieces and decor from an East Coast good-to-do family house, hideous pilasters and awkward cornices where walls meet the ceiling.
I do love the cushions.
If it went a little bit the Sandy Gallin Way, i.e. a starker emphasis on contrast, it would have been much better.
Mama, you've provided the Kinderlach with a wealth of treasures and have been up all night. Have you transitioned from G&Ts to espresso or did Dr. Cooter accidentally swap your tranquilizers with another patient's diet pills?
The Stryker penthouse combo is quirky, light, bright, white, and fabulous. The rooms and baths are not enormous; however, the flowing circulation of the combined units, the architectural and prewar details, and the outdoor spaces of this wonderful home are superlative.
The Rabbi validates Mr. Stryker's decision to live openly and out as a gay man, aligns with Mr. Stryker's political views, respects Mr. Stryker's philanthropy, and wishes Mr. Stryker success, fulfillment, and happiness. Nevertheless, the Rabbi experiences unintended humor via the mission statement: "Arcus works to advance LGBT equality, as well as to conserve and protect the great apes."
Rabbi Hedda LaCasa
He also keeps a place in Aspen.
Rabbi will explain to us, using his immense knowledge of the history of art and linguistics, why on earth is this building described as a French Second Empire-style building and why are there two acutes in the name Prásadá, which is something Hindi doesn't recognize. Or perhaps Rabbi knows it to be otherwise and will enlighten us.
Any relation to Jeff Stryker?
;-)
(sorry, I just had too).
I love this place; oddly, there is a Stern-like quality to the design, much like many of his Hamptons interiors. And even though I'd rather greet the sunset than the dawn I've always preferred CPW.
An object lesson in how all of Mama's chillruns are such beloved, unique individuals -- unlike Leontine I find that practically the only thing I did not like were the karate-chopped cushions -- I quote: "...Your Mama's Decorative Rule #17 has long stated that decorative cushions of any size, shape or pattern are not, under any circumstances, to be karate chopped in the middle."
Oh and, a special meow to Mama for "...courts a younger and taller architect who works for Robert A.M. Stern..." -- everyone knows even Frodo is taller than Stern.
The Rabbi is a female! How dare you
Confidential to Anonymous 9:38 a.m.:
Oy, such challenging Talmudic questions you ask! Along with the Prasada, at 50 Central Park West (CPW), the Rabbi would like to refer you and all of the similarly interested Kinderlach to the Kenilworth at 151 CPW and especially to the St. Urban at 285 CPW. All are early 20th Century adaptations of Second Empire Revival architecture in the United States. This style is characterized by mansard roofs, dormer windows, central massing, rounded incorporated towers, and frequent columns. The Rabbi also refers the Kinderlach to Philadelphia's City Hall, a purer example of 19th century Second Empire Style in America. And of course the serious aficionado night also want to study the Addams Family house, the one from the 1960s television series. Please note that Second Empire architecture distinguishes itself from Beaux Arts style, as the former is without the Baroque-inspired sculptural details of the latter.
Concerning the etymology and acutes of Prasada, Hindi is not one of the Rabbi's first languages. The Rabbi can only suggest the Prasada apartment house is an eponymous architectural gift to the City of New York.
Confidential to LGB:
Were you suggesting the Rabbi is related to Jeff Stryker? If only!
Rabbi Hedda LaCasa
@ LGB
I thought something similar. My first quick glance at my phone, I read "porn...Stryker...$48,000,000" What? He has earned how much?
The Rabbi equated Jeff with Jon, didn't know from Jeff, initiated an internet search, and in walked Little Davey Shapiro-Schwartz for his bar mitzvah lesson!
Rabbi Hedda LaCasa
Ixnay on the French Second Empire theory. This CPW beauty is in the Beaux-Arts style by Romeyn & Wynne. The acutes are of French influence.
is his palm beach compound for sale?
http://samanthasellspalmbeach.com/idx/540-S-Ocean-Boulevard-Palm-Beach-FL-33480-mls_13-2112
For an apartment that was done fresh in 2002, it hasn't aged at all. If only I could rub all over my face, whatever they are using on that place. Says a lot about good bone structure.
For environmental do-gooders, shouldn't the February-November duo, have real grass? Especially since they seem to forego books for a kindle(I hope).
Much Thanks to the Rabbi, for pointing out the philanthropic mission of the ARCUS people. It brought humor and warmth to my heart. My ex and still bestest friend (20 years strong), is about as simian and gay as they come. It is a combination, that warrants conservation and saving.
I believe the ex-Mrs. Spielberg, Amy Irving, also owns an apartment in the building.
As for this one? Absolutely stunning. Definitely one of the best apartments in the city.
Palm Beach is for sale too....as of two weeks ago....and asking in the low 40's for that property. The question is, where is he off to now?
I don't like the floor plan. I hate how the master bedroom is in the middle of everything. Where does one entertain if the weather is bad?
This is a Shelton Mindel designed apt: http://www.sheltonmindel.com/PROJECTS/Apartments/Historic-CP-Triplex-33502/project.html
The apartment was designed by Shelton Mindel:
http://www.sheltonmindel.com/PROJECTS/Apartments/Historic-CP-Triplex-33502/project.html
Hi 12:16, Nice catch on the Palm Beach property. Wow, it's um ... significant. Those dense hedges hopefully do the trick on noise abatement. Found a few pics for the other buildings involved. It's an immaculate offering to be sure.
The NYC residence is as good as it gets, as the design firm is the best that can be had. Those outdoor areas are better than most back yards on the ground. Wow.
Ixnay 12:09 on French acutes, which occur only over letter e.
Few more great pics -- NYC
http://www.architecturaldigest.com/AD100/2010/shelton_mindel/mindel_slideshow_122007
So beautiful! I'm totally jealous.
Todah rabbah, thanks very much, for the AD pictures, Sandpiper! Updated prewar architecture and the curated contemporary furniture collection combine the absolute best of old and new! And couldn't help immediately noticing, even on a tiny iPhone screen, that in photo 4 the arrangement of chairs and table in front of the triple park-view window deviates from the furnishings/floor plan.
Hedda
I read this blog many times each day, really enjoy it but rarely feel compelled to comment (most others are so creative and witty - you know who you are...). But this apartment is perfect. I could take the lot. Leave every stick of furniture and just hand me the keys. Big fan of Sheldon and love the mixture of modern and traditional.
"...an informant we'll call Steven Harris Brown..."
Hmm ... I got a hunch it's only a matter of time before Mama discovers that extra special informant called Cora Coran ...
An object lesson in how all of Mama's chillruns are such beloved, unique individuals -- unlike Leontine I find that practically the only thing I did not like were the karate-chopped cushions -- I quote: "...Your Mama's Decorative Rule #17 has long stated that decorative cushions of any size, shape or pattern are not, under any circumstances, to be karate chopped in the middle."
M is always right! The karate-chopping is a no-no! I should have been more precise – I love the colours, that verdigris and black combination really appeals to me.
I am glad you like it, I think I presumed you would.
I am always curious as to the philanthropy of super rich people who won the Billion dollar sperm club. His is "gay rights and apes" I laughed so long at that. Seems odd to me that someone who inherited money from Medical, doesnt support a medical charity. Perhaps he does, but I thought the apes part was a riot. The NYC apt is so drool worthy.
the terraces make me squee!
Isn't this the building where they lived in "Three Men and a Baby"? As if (three men with a baby could afford to live here). A similarly unlikely scenario was the apartment in Friends.
I always wait outside this building for the M66 crosstown bus after events at Lincoln Center or artsy films at Lincoln Sq Cinema. The mosaic floors in the entryway are fabulous.
It's a beautiful apartment. I would never want to give it up. Wonder why he's selling. Saw he bought a place at Columbus Circle. This place is much better - the private exterior space, the views of Central Park, the Shelton Mindel design. Thanks for posting something worthwhile.
Trolls in the dungeon
dear mamma,
are you ok??
kinda concerned we haven't heard from you for a while...
bless
^was just thinking the same thing... hope all is well, mamma! xoxo
Mama is probably in therapy to deal with the rudeness of some of these ungrateful children.
Dearest Kinderlach:
Late last week the Rabbi sent Mama a brief communique concerning a famous movie star and her new apartment in an equally famous building. Mama replied with appreciation and indicated she was travelling. Perhaps Mama will send a postcard?
Rabbi Hedda LaCasa
Anonymous 5:34 pm, congratulations on your 33% failing grade. One of your three sentences is grammatically correct.
I'm sure this will be forgotten as soon as it's said, but just ignore the A-holes. It's all you can do. They are losers. They want your attention. They want to get a rise out of you. Don't give it to them.
Rabbi must tell us which lauded movie star bought what famous apartment and illuminate us as to where Mama has travelled.
He bought the penthouse in the Shigeru Ban building close to the High Line park. The Co Op board made his experience a living nightmare.
He has also has two houses in Aspen, one close to his fellow gay philanthropist - Tim Gill, also an under the radar real estate baller with houses across the country.
Problem with inherited wealth is that you have nothing to do but travel the world buying houses. What a life....
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