Central Park North arguably has, arguably, some of the best views in Manhattan. While not the toniest address in a town of tony addresses, apartments along the park’s northern border nonetheless have heart-stopping views of the Midtown skyline and, of course, sweeping views over the park and the reservoir. This penthouse condo, asking $19.5 million and listed with Jill S. Sloane at Brown Harris Stevens, measures in at about 5,500 square feet. If it fetches near its asking price, would set a record for Harlem.
The seller is art collecting former Wall Street guy Mike De Paola, who purchased the condo in 2008 for just over $8 million. His eclectic collection is featured throughout the apartment, and includes one of those cool chairs made from coins by Johnny Swing. He is a serial entrepreneur who also works hard for charity, and says his Nick Cave sound suit requires a lot of dusting. De Paola splits his time between New York, Florida, and Los Angeles, as well as the Hamptons, where his wife, financier Brenda Earl, sold a legendary Southampton estate this autumn for a record breaking $105 million.
One superb feature of the penthouse is its envy-inducing 1,500 square feet of multilevel outdoor space that includes shade pergola and a hot tub. (Imagine relaxing in that tub with a glass of wine and that skyline, and at much less the cost of a comparable condo at the opposite end of the park!) There’s 51 feet of living space with direct frontage on the park, and the living room, with enormous windows, boasts a 30-foot ceiling to make the most of the light and views. In all, there are four bedrooms and four bathrooms.
The master suite includes two walk-in closets, a marble bathroom and access to the main terrace. Another bedroom has been converted to an art gallery. The kitchen is spacious, with an island covered in statuary marble and a pantry. One of the main features of the flat is the glass and steel spiral staircase, designed by architect Dean Maltz. (Beautiful, but possibly treacherous for anyone not completely sure footed!) Another handy extra is a dedicated parking space just 20 feet from the elevator.
Built in 2006 and facing Central Park, building amenities include a concierge, a club room, and a gym; maintenance for the penthouse runs about $5,500 a month. And while the price is quite a reach for Harlem, with the current record for an apartment on Central Park North being about $10 million, but this apartment is unquestionably sui generis, with unique pluses.
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