An Eight-Story Manhattan Mansion With a History of Famous Residents

Listing of the Day

Location: Midtown Manhattan, New York

Price: $28 million

Starting in the mid-1970s Ashraf Pahlavi, the twin sister of Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, the shah of Iran, counted this luxurious eight-story Beekman Place townhouse among one of her many homes. Though it has gone through several redesigns since its creation in 1934, the east side Manhattan residence maintains the austere, graceful style of a bygone era.

"You could say it’s a step back in time… to a lifestyle that actually still exists," said co-listing agent Kevin B. Brown of Sotheby’s International Realty. With a spiraling staircase connecting its many floors, to its ornate chandeliers and imposing fireplaces, it’s easy to see what Mr. Brown is saying. The wood-paneled library, grand parlor, imposing dining room, private wine cellar, industrial-sized kitchen, solarium and terraces only make his point clearer.

Yet, as co-listing agent Nikki Field points out, the mansion’s traditional interior and well-maintained architecture also give potential buyers a lot of options for possible redesigns. "It’s a classic. Its old--school architectural bones on opulent Beekman place," Ms. Field said, before asserting that a modern update could help bring the home’s regal charm into the contemporary world.

The stats

The eight-story townhouse has 12,240 square feet of interior space with eight bedrooms, seven full bathrooms and four partial bathrooms, in addition to nearly 700 square feet of outdoor space.

Celebrity cache

Built in 1935 as one of the premier homes on Beekman Place, the townhouse has been home to many culturally and historically significant residents over the decades. The residence’s original owners, for instance, were CBS chief executive William S. Paley and his wife Dorothy, who had once been married to William Randolph Hearst’s son John. Later, the home was owned by influential health advocates Albert and Mary Lasker. Finally, in the mid 1970s the residence was bought by the late Pahlavi, a women’s rights advocate.

"I would suspect every president from the 1970s onward went there to pay homage," Mr. Brown said.

More:Upper East Side Townhouse Next to the Guggenheim Asks Almost $30 Million

Neighborhood notes

Midtown Manhattan would never be called secluded, yet Beekman Place, between 49th and 51st streets, is often considered just that. As with the townhouse itself, Beekman is a quiet, secluded area that has housed some of Manhattan’s most luxurious residences and some of its most influential residents. As a result, the Rockefellers, Greta Garbo, Irving Berlin, Tom Jones and modernist architect Paul Rudolph all called Beekman Place home at one time or another. Of course, due to the area’s proximity to the United Nations, Beekman has also come to be the home of foreign dignitaries.

Agents: Nikki Field and Kevin B. Brown, Sotheby’s International Realty

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