Condo 10W at 45 East 66th Avenue went up on the market for $6.5 million in July. The prewar condo consists of “an abundance of sunshine, excessive ceilings, and exquisite hardwood flooring,” in line with the itemizing. The format is “considerate and alluring.” The eating room is “supreme for a tranquil breakfast or cozy dinner.” Oh, and “pets are welcome” on this co-op constructing.
The vendor, Rudolph W. Giuliani, might actually use the money.
His lawyer, Adam Katz, filed an article concerning the condo being listed on the market as an exhibit to point out that Mr. Giuliani, 79, “was near broke.”
That was earlier this month at a courtroom listening to the place legal professionals for Smartmatic, an election know-how firm that sued Mr. Giuliani and Fox Information in 2021 over false claims of election fraud, argued that Mr. Giuliani was utilizing his monetary state as an excuse for not sharing discovery paperwork.
There “are a whole lot of payments that he’s not paying, from a $57,000 cellphone invoice to considerably extra,” Mr. Katz stated on the listening to. “I feel that that is very humbling for Mr. Giuliani.”
It’s a precipitous fall for “America’s Mayor” — the lawsuit is amongst a number of authorized issues entangling Mr. Giuliani. Final week, he surrendered at an Atlanta jail for the racketeering case in opposition to former President Donald J. Trump. Mr. Giuliani has been recognized as a co-conspirator.
The controversies have left stains not simply on Mr. Giuliani’s repute, however on the condo’s as properly. It was raided by the F.B.I. in 2021, overshadowing its strolling distance to Nobu and Bergdorf Goodman.
Years in the past, “it was a really constructive factor” to potential consumers that Mr. Giuliani lived there, stated Dolly Lenz, a luxurious actual property agent, who has had a number of listings within the co-op.
“It was like, it’s America’s mayor, he selected this constructing — all excellent issues ascribed to him dwelling in the identical constructing,” she stated. However right this moment, Ms. Lenz stated she “would suspect it might be wildly completely different.”
The Sotheby’s dealer at the moment itemizing Mr. Giuliani’s condo is Serena Boardman who New York journal as soon as known as the “dealer to the fallen stars” when she received the duty of promoting a distinct disreputable proprietor’s property — Bernie Madoff’s Manhattan penthouse. She didn’t reply to requests for remark. Mr. Katz additionally didn’t reply.
The Penthouse
Judith Giuliani, Mr. Giuliani’s ex-wife, recalled the condo’s glory days, which coincided with Mr. Giuliani’s peak as a nationwide family identify within the wake of 9/11.
By 2002, his mayoral time period had ended, and he launched into his condo search on the Higher East Facet whereas staying at a lodge, the New York Submit reported on the time.
He wanted a house that matched his heft, and he wouldn’t settle — Ms. Giuliani stated that he needed a top-floor condo.
After some negotiating, they snagged the 66th Avenue co-op condo for $4.77 million.
“He by no means even noticed the condo till we had already determined to purchase it,” she stated, including that the inside design and ornament was completed by her. “I discovered it, I embellished it, I made it his dwelling.”
There, she hosted many luncheons, holidays and charity occasions — however it was primarily about internet hosting and entertaining family and friends, not work, Ms. Giuliani stated.
“It was dwelling for us,” stated Ms. Giuliani, 68, who was married to Mr. Giuliani for 15 years. “He was my husband, and he beloved coming dwelling,” she stated. “It was a spot the place he went for it to be a respite.”
Within the paneled library room, Ms. Giuliani put in a particular humidifying system and plasma TV for Mr. Giuliani, “the place he might smoke cigars and calm down and watch his Yankee video games.”
One of many foremost appeals of the condo was that it was “constructed for entertaining,” Ms. Giuliani stated. “The eating room seats 40 folks,” she stated. “I beloved giving my themed luncheons — make an Easter egg for Easter, Valentine’s — I’m recognized for that, I nonetheless do this.” The Giulianis’ visitor lists have been simply as spectacular; the Kissingers, Vera Wang and George Pataki, amongst others, attended the occasions, she stated.
Tough instances have been spent there too. “Rudy had prostate most cancers, after we first met, which we additionally lived by way of in that condo,” Ms. Giuliani stated.
Through the years, Mr. Giuliani’s actual property portfolio additionally included a Hamptons dwelling which he purchased for $3.2 million in 2004, a personal locker on the storied Nat Sherman smoking lounge in Midtown Manhattan and two Palm Seashore condos — “I’m simply going to play some golf and calm down,” he instructed the New York Every day Information whereas in Florida in 2009.
However the Higher East Facet condo has remained on the heart of his belongings. The gothic-style condo complicated was constructed between 1906 and 1908, and it was designated as a landmark in 1977.
When architects utilized to construct a brand new penthouse addition on the prime of the constructing, Mr. Giuliani sought to dam the development. In 2014, Curbed reported that Brian Morgenstern, a lawyer for Mr. Giuliani, stated {that a} “penthouse on prime of a penthouse on prime of a penthouse” could be an excessive amount of.
The priority, on Mr. Giuliani’s half, was maybe as a result of on the time, his condo was on the highest ground, and he didn’t need to lose his personal penthouse standing.
“On the time that we purchased it, it was a penthouse. It was extraordinarily vital to Rudy that he lived in a penthouse,” she stated.
The brand new addition was accepted by the Landmarks Preservation Fee.
Mr. Giuliani was now not on the prime.
‘I Want Rudy Properly.’
His marriage would quickly wane.
By 2018, Ms. Giuliani filed for divorce. Mr. Giuliani’s dealings with Mr. Trump have been properly underway and public opinion began to show in opposition to him. “I’m unhappy to know that the hero of 9/11 has change into a liar,” Ms. Giuliani instructed The Instances in 2019, of the authorized battle to get from the divorce what she felt she was owed.
Although she had embellished the condo and had fond recollections of her events, “I needed to maneuver on,” stated Ms. Giuliani, who’s represented by the lawyer Dror Bikel. “He was, in spite of everything, the Mayor of the Metropolis of New York, at one level a really properly revered one. So, it appeared logical that he would have that condo.”
However it’s “now not a house,” Ms. Giuliani stated. His choice to movie within the library for a podcast collection in 2020 “gobsmacked me.” After which got here the search by the F.B.I., as a part of a prison investigation into his Ukraine dealings as Mr. Trump’s private lawyer.
“Irrespective of how issues ended up, there have been many, many, many blissful recollections in that condo,” stated Ms. Giuliani. “And I want the following individual properly, and I want Rudy properly.”
Alain Delaquérière contributed analysis.
