Indeed, the 23rd-floor penthouse of 110 Central Park South did not manage to fetch the $27 million it was asking when it came on the market in May 2011. And the owners—VRHNYC, LLC—were only hoping to double the $12.9 million that they paid for the apartment back in 2006.

They got a measly $18 million from buyers 110CPS 23rd Floor, LLC., according to city records—which is $900,000 less than the most recent ask. And it was just done over by Joanna Poitier of Beverly Hills and Clive Christian of London, the Sotheby's listing, held by brokers Serena Boardman and Eva Mohr name drops ostentatiously. Although the results could hardly be called breathtaking by anyone but the stodgiest of uptown dowagers.

Granted, the co-op with condo rules, or condo-op, may be lovely, but it's no 15 CPW or Ritz-Carlton. Still, it does have park views, loads of closets and five bedrooms (the Ritz Carlton penthouse, listed for $95 million, only has three). Quite possibly a realistic measure of the heady, but not altogether heedless, luxury market?

kvelsey@observer.com

Are these $90 million views? (Extell)

If only Gary "The Best" Barnett were editing The Times, the Gray Lady wouldn't have buried the lede.

"I think the story got a little carried away," Mr. Barnett told The Observer by phone this afternoon. He was referring to a report in today's Times that Extell, Mr. Barnett's development company, had sold the penthouse at his 1,005-foot One57 luxury tower for somewhere in the neighborhood of $90 million to $100 million.

We asked how—and why—the sale had been kept under wraps for a few of months now, even as the price was raised from $98 million to $115 million in the face of the sale of Sandy Weill's $88 million spread at 15 Central Park West. "We wanted to tie the two together," he said, "the penthouse announcement and the fact that we're 50 percent sold. We thought 50 percent would be the big news, but shows what we know."

As though he doesn't know exactly what he is doing.

Still, Mr. Barnett has a point: The Times totally ignored (downplayed) the 50-percent-sold news, not mentioning it only once. (See Correction below.) While The Observer finds those "Development X is Y percent sold—yippee!" announcements to be incredibly annoying and boring, we have to admit, this is kind of remarkable news, as well, especially when you put it in context.

"We're basically at a billion dollars worth of sales, which is good for six months, I think it's a record," Mr. Barnett said of the still far-from-finished project, which has only been on the market for six months. If he can continue to put up the same sales numbers, Extell would be on track to match, or maybe even best the current best-selling building, that godhead across the park and recently usurped record holder, 15 CPW, where the Zeckendorf's brought in $2 billion in sales.

Mr. Barnett's numbers may be even more impressive, considering One57 has 135 units, compared to 202 at 15 CPW. (Obviously, the construction costs and price per square foot would determine the real winner, but we're journalists, not astrophysicists, so let's stick to shorthand for now.)

One thing about all the gaga reports over the sale stood out, though. The Post reported that some buyers were unhappy with the quality of One57 and had walked away from some possible purchases:

Also, some potential buyers have walked away from deals at One57 citing, “design flaws,” real estate sources said.

Among the complaints so far are that its builders went against the advice of its architect and neglected to provide enough elevators—particularly problematic for people buying on high floors, who would have to wait a long time for their rides up or down.

Mr. Barnett called those claims ludicrous. "We've got got three elevator banks, that's about one per 35," he said. "Normally, it's one per 90. If anything, the building is super-elevatored."

He thought that the comment might be a dig from Post reporter Jennifer Gould Keill, angry about getting scooped on possibly the story of the year. "She was calling and calling and cursing, trying to get this story, and I think this was just her way of getting back at us." Ms. Gould Keill could not immediately be reached for comment.

Flaws or not, Mr. Barnett said he sees continued interest in the project, which has not even topped out yet. "Sales have been very good," he said, "and now, I think they're only going to get better."

Correction 5/31: The Times actually did make mention of the fact that "Since One57 opened for sales in December, about half of its 92 apartments have been sold." The Observer regrets the error, and perhaps should not give Mr. Barnett so much leeway when writing our stories. Also, as the paper pointed out, there are 92 units in the building now, due to combinations, not 135, as originally planned.

mchaban [at] observer.com | @MC_NYC

Part of the appeal of living of New York is its inherent energy and vibrancy, but all that action can be wearying—especially if you happen to call the middle of Midtown home. It was this tension, between the hustle and bustle outside and the calm within, that inspired Mr. Pei and his father, the Pritzker Prize winner I.M. Pei as they designed the Centurion, right in the middle of Manhattan at 33 West 56th Street. One need only step into the quiet, nearly romantically lit lobby to feel the city melt away. (This is no PR b.s.: this is truly one of the nicest, most embracing lobbies The Observer has ever set foot in, like warm blanket of marble and mood lighting.)

The building has seen respectable sales, since it came on the market in 2009, but 13 of the 39 units remain available, including the three penthouses. To help push sales along, and demonstrate the true potential of the spaces, which currently sit bare, the developer contracted Sandi Pei's firm, Pei Partnership, to design two sets of interiors for the penthouses, which range in price from $12.3 million to $14.5 million. All three can be had for $39 million, to create a zen-like triplex spanning some 9,098 square feet.

"You look at this space and there's so much here, people can have a hard time envisioning it," Julius Schwarz, a principal at the sponsor MCP, told The Observer as brokers and perspective buyers milled about the space, champagne in hand. "People are overwhelmed by the lobby, the water garden, the serenity of it all. Except for the floors, when you're in the apartments, it's basically an empty space, and we wanted to help buyer conceptualize that."

Mr. Schwarz said he began discussing ways of improving the space with Mr. Pei when they hit on the idea of having Pei Partnership design the spaces itself to convey their possibilities. The firm is available to create the spaces for real, should buyers choose. The design work is not included in the price, but Mr. Schwarz noted "everything is negotiable."

For the demonstration, Mr. Pei created two layouts for penthouse 1A, the $14.5 million top-floor spread. The traditional layout is more curvy and smooth, the contemporary one more sleek, sharp and edgy. "They both draw from the same warm palette," though, Mr. Pei said. Among the noticeable differences, beyond the shape of and style of the finishes, is that the traditional layout has a library while the contemporary one combines that space into a larger dining room that connect through a sliding wall to the living room to create one of those chic "great rooms." Both have three bedrooms while the traditional layout also has a maid's room.

"The most important thing to take from this is there are a million different things to do with this unit," Mr. Pei said.

Only about 20 percent of his firm's projects are residential, so he said it was a special pleasure not only to have designed the building but now also to have the opportunity to fit out the interiors, as well, even if only on paper. "Residential work is very different from the other work we do," Mr. Pei said. "Clients can be very particular about what they want, it's a special kind of challenge, and that's why it's nice to give them so many different options."

"We wanted to show that the place can go either way, and we're very comfortable with that," Mr. Pei said.

mchaban [at] observer.com | @MC_NYC

The prize for that eye-popping price tag is a six-bedroom apartment covering 10,923 square feet at One57, a tower under construction by Extell Development Co., on West 57th Street opposite Carnegie Hall. The $110 million figure is nearly 12% above an earlier asking price for the unit, according to documents filed with the New York state attorney general.

It's no secret that Extell has been  courting foreign buyers for One57, and they were evidently encouraged by the recent Russian investment at 15CPW.

While the nine-figure price may seem outrageous, the price point isn't totally off point. At the current ask, the condo is priced at $10,070-per-square-foot, a number that while high, is definitely not unheard of.

Still, judging by the strange hooded shape of the building, it doesn't seem like the penthouse will have much, if any, terrace space, a feature that typically increases property value significantly. Then again, as the tallest residential building in the city, that might not be the best idea, either.

eknutsen@observer.com

Not so edgy, are we? (Curbed)

If the construction of The Edge condominiums on the North Brooklyn waterfront, along with North Side Piers next door, did not seal the fate of Williamsburg As We Know It, then the latest sale in the building certainly has.

The two-towered condo project has been the best selling building in New York through the first half of the year, and helping propel it to that point is Jordan Milman, a former Deutsche Banker trader who left the firm last year to help found a hedge fund. According to The Journal, Mr. Milman and his pals at LibreMax weren't down with the Volker Rule.

Could things get any less hip?

Mr. Milman bought a three-bedroom condo atop the 30-story south tower for $2.2 million, according to city records. The price includes a storage unit. (Remember when you moved to Brooklyn for the space? Now you have to pay extra for it.)

The 1,987-square-foot spread first came on the market in June 2008 for $2.56 million, but that was when the towers were still rising and Mr. Milman and his cohort were about to take a fall, so units languished. With both the bankers and their flashy homes back in action, this unit came back on the market in February for $2.47 million.

It looks like Mr. Milman, like his boss, knows how to spot a housing deal, having netted an 11 percent discount.

His home was the most expensive listing in the building, though another three-bedroom penthouse sold for more than Mr. Milman's in November, $2.24 million. It was purchased by LED artist Teddy Lo, who must appreciate the Edge's illuminated roof.

In addition to all the standard features—"LEED certified, unobstructed views, and everything else a buyer could want. Over 40,000 sqft. of amenities," as the MNS listing boasts—Mr. Milman has the pleasure of of a large roof deck accessed through a private stair in the apartment.

Some day soon, in a fit of irony, Brooklynites are going to start buying grand Park Avenue co-ops.

Read past Manhattan Transfers here. >>

mchaban [at] observer.com | @MC_NYC

The inimitable Jennifer Gould Keil is reporting in the Post that Carl Bernstein was seen apartment hunting in Soho recently. The writer "was spotted checking out two penthouse rentals at 55 Thompson in SoHo. Both are in the $18,000 to $20,000 price range," Gould Keil writes.

So did the long-time Upper East Sider make the downtown jump like everyone else?

The only rental fitting Gould Keil's description is unit 12209, an $18,000-per-month top-floor two-bedroom with a balcony off the master suite. As the listing describes it, "At the intersection of everything you ever dreamt of and above and beyond anything you’ve ever expected to find in a rental, 55 Thompson is a true gem."

According to StreetEasy, the unit was rented six days ago. Have Bernstein's dreams been realized by this gem? Consider, too, that Kuehbeck tried to sell her Upper East Side one-bedroom co-op last year. She'll certainly fit in in Soho with all the other models and former models, like herself.

The Observer was unable to reach Bernstein for a non-denial denial. Perhaps there is a Deep Throat out there with some clues about the couple's whereabouts.

mchaban [at] observer.com | @mc_nyo

According to a deed filed in city records Wednesday afternoon, a penthouse at 15 Central Park West has sold for $37 million, which would have made for the most expensive New York apartment sale only a decade ago. There's something particularly magical about it, considering that no one saw it coming: The $45 million listing for the penthouse with Brown Harris Stevens came off the market half a year ago with no sign that it was going to be sold.

But, to be realistic, the sales price is nowhere near the $80 million that the penthouse was once asking. "I think there is an element of some paralysis," listing broker Richard Wallgren told The Observer last year, after the apartment was taken off the market, and before it was re-listed at nearly half the price this February.

Reached on his cell phone Wednesday, Mr. Wallgren hung up twice. His listing had described the penthouse as a 5,276-square-foot, 14-foot-tall, 9.5-room, four-bedroom sprawl--with an additional 1,222-square-foot suite on the building's ground floor.

The seller is a limited liability corporation, Prominence, which bought the apartment for only $21.5 million in 2005, though the deal didn't close until last year, when the building was finished. That corporation has been tied to Amit Ben-Haim, a London-based investor who made his fortune with the sale of a medical-device company based in Israel. The buyers are listed as the corporations Novgorod and Novgorod Two--as in the Russian city. Paul Wrobleski of Clarfeld Financial Advisors, listed as a contact for the buyer, did not return several messages.

So is New York back to its old, plush ways? Not necessarily. The sale is a lot like Andrei Vavilov's $37.5 million purchase at the Time Warner Center this year: Hilariously huge, but somehow slightly disappointing. That sum was enormous, but also a lot smaller than the $65 million the owner there had originally wanted.

Still, that seller, and this one at 15 Central Park West, made an ungodly amount of money. "Somebody saw something that was irreplaceable and unique, and they were willing to pay for it," the broker Paula Del Nunzio, who sold the city's most expensive townhouse, said about this penthouse sale. "They wouldn’t pay $80 million! But they would pay $37 million."

mabelson@observer.com

The thing is a doozy.

Under the headline Sophisticated Penthouse Duplex, the brokers describe the villain's lair thusly: "Perched atop a distinguished white-glove prewar cooperative, this 9 into 7 room duplex penthouse affords spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. The beautiful residence boasts an impressive Gallery with an elliptical staircase, a grand Living Room with triple exposures and an elegantly proportioned Dining Room. These sun-flooded rooms feature French doors that open onto a tremendous wrap-around planted and irrigated terrace."

It gets better: "Adjacent, the large and well-appointed chef's Kitchen incorporates a Breakfast Room and Staff Room with bath. Downstairs the private quarters include a very gracious corner Master Suite with a huge walk-in closet and an over-sized marble bathroom. Beyond there is a cozy Library featuring custom built-ins and an en-suite bathroom plus another Bedroom with an en-suite bathroom and ample closet space."

And the finale: "Offered in superb condition, the impeccably renovated apartment incorporates herringbone hardwood floors, hand-carved moldings and four wood-burning fireplaces."

Besides all that excellent writing, be sure to check out the duplex's interior photos and, better yet, a floor plan that shows off the bar in the hallway on the lower level.

mabelson@observer.com

But an evaluation has been made. According to a source, the Sotheby's International Realty brokers Anne Corey and Serena Boardman have been picked to sell Mr. Madoff's government-seized home. Neither returned messages.

Ms. Corey is lesser known. Her profile at Sotheby's says her "clientele encompasses a wide group of individuals, including corporate executives, bankers, entertainers, media executives and the international elite." She attended Stanford and Cambridge, and worked for JP Morgan Chase and Bankers Trust.

Ms. Boardman was the most successful broker in the country last year, according to a ranking published in the Wall Street Journal. "Real estate is serious," the wonderfully press-shy broker once told The Observer. "It’s not a game."

"I’m not going to make an announcement or make a remark about who you think we’re selecting. I’ll do this in a matter that’s done in a right way, with a press release," Deputy U.S. Marshall Roland Ubaldo told The Observer. "I will tell you this: The competition between the realtors for the New York property is stiff; it has been very competitive."

Earlier on Wednesday, a video tour of the penthouse was released. But no matter what the thing looks and feels like, it will be 2009's most talked-about listing--a Ponzi version of last year's Brooke Astor duplex. In March 2008, some of the most proper New York apartment brokers in all the land--Leighton Candler, Kirk Henckels, Roberta Golubock and more--filed into Astor's red-lacquered library to audition for the right to list her Park Avenue duplex. "Oh, very easy!" Astor's daughter-in-law, Charlene Marshall, told The Observer about picking Ms. Candler for the job. "She’s very attractive, she’s very nice... She’s very funny, she’s from the South—yay! Good girl, like me." After a while, the listing went to Mr. Henckels.

"This is now in the hands of the broker," Mr. Ubaldo said about the Madoff apartment. (It's not clear if he meant there will be only one official broker, with the second assisting, or if he was speaking colloquially.) "People think that the Madoff name will tarnish it. But I really believe that the cloud has lifted. This is a prime piece of realty."

mabelson@observer.com