realestate

NYC penthouse buyer's $80M dream home ruined by looming skyscraper

Upper East Side home boasts solarium, private elevator, and "dazzling panoramic views" from all exposures.

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Manhattan Supreme Court lawsuit alleges that real estate developers Arthur and William Lie Zeckendorf duped a client into buying an $80 million Park Avenue penthouse with a stunning Central Park view. The buyer claims the Zeckendorfs rushed to sell the five-bedroom, 6.5-half bath duplex at 520 Park Ave. before news broke about a high-rise next door that would ruin the vista.

    The developers allegedly couldn't sell the triplex atop 520 Park Ave., so they split it into a single apartment and a duplex. The penthouse's "defining feature" is its unobstructed Central Park view, but a planned 37-story skyscraper on adjacent lots next door will likely block this view.

    The Zeckendorfs allegedly knew about the new building through their connections as New York City real estate insiders and understood that if the public found out, the penthouse would not sell at its $80 million price tag. The buyer is seeking to undo the November deal and unspecified damages.

    The Zeckendorfs are known for high-end developments like 15 Central Park West, which boasts celebrity residents such as Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein and Robert De Niro. However, their attorneys claim the lawsuit is a "shameless attempt to renegotiate a binding agreement" and that the court will dismiss it as buyer's remorse masquerading as a complaint.

NYC penthouse buyer's $80M home overshadowed by massive looming skyscraper construction.