After years spent searching for a New York hideaway, roaming everywhere from the Financial District to Union Square–but never, no never Uptown–Jennifer Aniston has found a West Village perch to call home.
As The Observer reported last week, the bouncy actress closed on a penthouse in late April at 299 West 12th Street for $4.95 million, buying it under the name of Norman’s Nest Trust. (Norman was Ms. Aniston’s adorable corgi-terrier mix, who it was just revealed died last month.)
It had been previously reported that Ms. Aniston also purchased two one-bedroom condos downstairs, but according to two Aniston associates, this is not the case. She only bought one.
While the former Friend may be selling her Beverly Hills home for $42 million, she is looking for something more modest in New York and purchased only one of the 17th-story condos, unit G. L.R. Bernstein has lived there since the 1980s, according to city records, and he will be paid $2 million for his 900-square-foot spread, according to our sources. The sale has yet to be filed by the city.
The penthouse, which was owned by star stylist Susan Hershberger, came at a $950,000 discount, while Ms. Aniston paid an extra $200,000 for the cheaper unit. Together, they will create an unostentatious duplex designed by Stephen Shadley, who also did the L.A. home. The marquee feature will be the wraparound terrace, which, located as it is high above the Village, is rather private.
While the Village may be studded with starlets–Hello, Sarah Jessica Parker!–299 West 12th Street is rather demure by the neighborhood’s gilded standards. Ms. Aniston does count Molly Shannon as a neighbor in the 183-unit building, as well as Gregg Barnes, a Tony Award-winning costume designer, and one of the other penthouses belongs to Daniel Neidich, a hedgie of some repute.
Sotheby’s Karen and Alan Heyman represented Ms. Hershberger; Lauren Kende of Fenwick Keats Goodstein listed Mr. Bernstein’s home; and Bruce Ehrmann of Stribling was Ms. Aniston’s exclusive agent. All declined to comment.
