Dutch Bankers List Spectacular Fifth Avenue Aerie With Central Park Views

Perched high above the city, this lovely penthouse features breathtaking views of Central Park and the city skyline, both from its large windows and from its two sizable terraces. Listed for $11.5 million with Meredyth Hull Smith of Sotheby’s International Realty, maintenance charges clock in a rather ouchie $7,963 per month.

With just two bedrooms and two baths in about 2,000 square feet, the apartment is ideal for a single person or empty nesters, while features such a wood-burning fireplace, plenty of wall space for art, a glass-fronted 500-bottle “wall of wine” wine fridge, together with a fixed awning over a terrace that’s complete with a grill and lounge area, make this petite penthouse perfect for entertaining.

The building was designed in 1940 by noted architect Emery Roth, best known for designing several elegant apartment houses on Central Park West that include the San Remo and the Beresford. It was constructed by the Uris Brothers, who were also responsible for some of the city’s more exclusive residential addresses, such as 2 Sutton Place and 888 Fifth Avenue. Residents of the building have included late author Patrick Dennis — his 1958 novel was the inspiration for the enduring Broadway musical “Auntie Mame,” late insurance mogul Cornelius Vander Starr, and late opera star Risë Stevens. Megarich “Will & Grace” characters Stanley and Karen Walker fictionally resided in the building’s penthouse, and in real life Woody Allen resided in a penthouse he sold in 1999 for $14 million.

Tax records indicate the plushly appointed aerie is owned by banker and department store heir Wouter Korijn and his financier wife Ann Korijn. Together they oversee the investment concern OrangeGaia. Their purchase of the apartment in November 2010 caused a commotion in New York as well as their native Amsterdam; it had been for sale for $11 million since 2008, but the Korijns paid just $7.5 million. The previous owner was socialite Dorris Carr Bonfigli, a victim of conman Bernie Madoff.

The Korijntjes, as they’re referred to in Dutch, took a financial hit after their department store Miss Etam went bankrupt, though it is still around. Still, as the Dutch magazine Quote, which is similar to Forbes, put it, “because the Korijntjes have also invested heavily in real estate, they will not have to eat dry bread.”

Speaking of real estate, the Netherlands-based couple also own what is reputed to be the most valuable house in Amsterdam (see below for a couple of exterior photos of the charming Dutch house). They paid about $10 million for the villa that spans about 7,000 square feet of living space with another 13,000 square feet of garden, along with an indoor pool and garaging four cars. Mooi!