SELLER: Alan Cumming
LOCATION: New York, NY
PRICE: $762,500
SIZE: approx. 600 square feet, 0 bedrooms, 1 bathrooms
YOUR MAMA’S NOTES: It was eagle-eyed New York City celebrity real estate snitch Polly Wannacracker who sent word via covert communiqué to let us know that Alan Cumming quietly sold a fully renovated, studio-style apartment in a full-service post-war building across the street from New York City’s fabled and perennially chic Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City for $762,500. Property records show the thrice Emmy nominated and Tony winning actor purchased the property in July 2011 — presumably as an investment or perhaps to house staff, family or friends — for $580,000.
As far as this property gossip can tell, the petite but hardly cheap top-floor apartment was not listed for sale on the open market but, last September (2013), it did come up for rent at $3,300 per month. Listing details from then show the cooperative apartment has high beamed ceilings, parquet floors stained a medium brown and large windows with lovely if not exactly earth shattering south and east city views.
A tiny entry vestibule opens to a surprisingly sizable foyer and a 20-foot long living/sleeping area. There’s an alcove dining area and a small and windowless but fully equipped kitchen with “top of the line appliances. We counted three good-sized closets on the floor plan plus a wee dressing room that leads in to an also windowless “designer renovated bathroom.”
The Scottish-born showbiz and art world iconoclast who recently released a revealing memoir and shakes his money maker on “The Good Wife” and “Web Therapy” and, according to property records, his artist/illustrator husband, Grant Shaffer, paid $4,650,000 for a four-story, fixer upper townhouse in the heart of the East Village last year. The couple also co-own a small apartment a couple short blocks away that overlooks Tompkins Square Park and that property records show they picked up in July 2005 for $1,695,000.
Listing photos and floor plan: Brown Harris Stevens (via Street Easy)