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Robert F. Kennedy’s former Manhattan co-op has sold for $1.99 million, the New York Post reported, closing a chapter for an East Side residence that had not traded hands in more than 50 years.
Kennedy bought the apartment in 1965, shortly before the complex was completed in 1966. At the time, he was establishing a political career in New York as a U.S. senator after serving as U.S. attorney general during his brother President John F. Kennedy’s administration. The apartment served as his official city residence while his wife, Ethel Kennedy, and their growing family lived primarily at Hickory Hill, the family’s estate in McLean, Virginia.
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U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy with his brother, U.S. President John F. Kennedy.
The co-op first hit the market last October for $1.79 million, attracting multiple offers and a $1.99 million signed contract. That deal, however, ultimately fell through. When the apartment returned to the market this spring for $1.99 million, it again drew buyer interest and ultimately sold at its asking price.
Tim Walman
The approximately 2,000-square-foot corner unit sits on the 14th floor of 870 United Nations Plaza, which was designed by Wallace K. Harrison and Max Abramovitz, the architects whose firm was also central to the design of the nearby United Nations headquarters. The co-op features two bedrooms, three baths, ten closets, an original galley kitchen, and floor-to-ceiling windows looking toward the UN garden and East River.
Among the building’s amenities are a state-of-the-art fitness center, a rooftop lounge with panoramic views, a free private storage unit, and a garage equipped with electric car chargers.
Tim Waltman
Mary Barbrack of Compass handed the sale, which brings a rare piece of Kennedy-era New York real estate into new hands, with its original architectural character—and sweeping East River outlook—still largely intact.
Julia Cancilla is the social media & news editor at ELLE Decor, where she oversees the brand’s socials and covers design, pop culture, and emerging trends. She also authors the monthly ELLE Decoroscope column. Her work has appeared in Inked magazine, House Beautiful, Marie Claire, and more.