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Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is locked in a stalemate with a woman who is demanding US $ 23 million for his Manhattan apartment, in its tender reported to take an entire historic building, according to the New York Post last week.
We reported three weeks ago about Roman Abramovich planned buying three units, a beautiful former private residence located at 828 Fifth Avenue in New York, for US $ 75 million. The building is located at Lenox Hill, Manhattan, on the corner of 64th Street and of course with a view of Central Park. It was built in 1886 in pseudo French Renaissance and even once was described by architectural historian John Taurananc as "about as near as New York residential Versailles has to offer."
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828 Fifth Avenue
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For the owner that preceded him, Howard English which kept Ronson has now entered into an agreement to sell the apartments, Abramovich had been a longtime dream to buy other remaining units. Designed to restore the Palace to its former splendor as a single-family house that was originally for American coal Baron Joseph Berwind. It was only later disappeared and divided in the 1920s to become a coop building, although "ne plus ultra" – that is exquisite and exclusive of all others.
Over the years, many observers thought the task of Howard Ronson existing regulations impossible then co-op, and so it proved in the course of his life. But after the building changed towards the direct involvement of the condominium, in itself reflecting the imperatives of planning against the whole notion of exclusivity, took a little easier the legal process and it became just a matter of price.
If anyone can do it will be Roman Abramovich, and it looks like he now need to buy the apartments of two more residents of the building in order to be able to restore the mansion of a unique residence, according to the Post.
Clearly at least one hold-out understands that, after Abramovich offered his reported US $ 15 million: "she is not leaving for less than $ 23 million. He can afford it, "the New York Post quoted a source as saying in his report.
One of the owners, the designer Adolfo Sardina, have reportedly already entered into an agreement with Abramovich at a price of between US $ 10 million and US $ 15 million for his apartment. A source told the newspaper that the sardine also asked and obtained at least a year to move. If so then the final check, a lady reported a Eugenia Olazabal, who apparently lived there for over thirty years now can have a lot of leverage.
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Deal of reported US $ 75 million by Abramovich just to units that have committed to purchase so far, would be a record price for an apartment in New York, surpassing the US $ 54 million paid by American Entertainment Mogul David Geffen last year for another property of Fifth Avenue. However the reports of other high-priced transactions are bandied about in New York real estate talk these days too, like candy, as the city continues to be a magnet as the destination address and luxury for the super-rich in a turbulent world.
The goal of restoring the mansion to former glory not Berwind-demised in itself is quite a beautiful, although it is certainly now going to make obscene amounts of money to do it. We can say objectively what could be spent in ways less extravagant for sure and probably do more good for humanity too. However, Howard Ronson, who died in 2007 with the unfulfilled dream, certainly greatly approve of it for sure. And I do really well at the end, just like an external observer.
After all, after some years of Abramovich and Dasha Zhukova and brilliant live in it and enjoying it, inevitably claim its appointment mortality inexorable and could someday end up in public hands; Maybe as a museum. In New York City generations of rich have always come and gone, but the real gems on the island of Manhattan somehow manage to remain intact during all the dramas, the turmoil and conflicts that may accompany the lives of their owners.
Then it all starts again with the next generation of owners, or maybe "keepers" or "temporary" keepers can be better descriptions. These important trophy buildings themselves can remain silent, but in a sense are the true guardians of their heritage and manage successfully to indoctrinate their successive generations of owners regarding their lasting value.
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