Two ultra-luxury contracts at Manhattan’s storied 15 Central Park West — the neo-classical limestone tower designed by the late architect Robert A.M. Stern — were the most expensive homes to go into contract across the city last week. Most of all, the deals were inked in the wake of Stern’s death at age 86 on Thanksgiving day.

The eight-figure deals mark a rare double play for the iconic building, where buyers have long been drawn to Stern’s signature blend of prewar elegance and modern luxury.

According to Donna Olshan’s Olshan Luxury Market Report, having the top two deals of the week in the same property was a phenomenon not seen since 2020.

Two of Manhattan’s priciest homes to enter contract last week were at 15 Central Park West, the Robert A.M. Stern-designed limestone tower long known for its A-list residents and luxury pedigree. Brian Zak/NY Post

The priciest unit, last asking $26.8 million, is a three-bedroom spanning 3,347 square feet with sweeping Central Park views from the living room, dining room and office. 

The runner-up, listed at $25 million (down from its original $27.5 million ask), includes four bedrooms, a formal entertaining layout and a separate sixth-floor studio.

Their final sale prices are not yet known, nor are the identities of their new owners.

A three-bedroom asking $26.8 million and a four-bedroom listed at $25 million topped the city’s luxury market just days after Stern’s death at age 86. Corbis via Getty Images

But it’s not just those two units. On Monday, city records revealed a $22 million sale for a three-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom unit at the building. However, the deed showed the contract was signed in October, one month before Stern passed away from a respiratory illness, and closed in the weeks after. The buyer, listed as an LLC, could not immediately be identified.

Jonathan Miller, CEO of appraisal firm Miller Samuel, said Stern’s death may not have created an immediate price surge, but his legacy remains deeply tied to the building’s sustained value.

“Having two sales in the same building gets the building greater attention in the market for future listings,” he told The Post. 

“But I don’t see the death of Stern as pushing values in his building up overnight,” Miller said.

This marks the first time in five years that the week’s two top contracts came from the same building. Edward Menashy of Evan Joseph Photography for Douglas Elliman

Stern, as seen in this archival image, died on Thanksgiving day. Getty Images

“The lack of future Stern projects will help sustain the premium they already achieve but probably won’t make them more valuable outside of existing market conditions,” he added. “I suspect we will see greater price growth at the top of the housing market and his buildings are an important part of that submarket.”

Built between 2005 and 2007, the building — just steps from Columbus Circle — has long been a bellwether for New York’s high-end market. 

Dubbed by the real-estate blog Curbed in long-ago years as the “Limestone Jesus” for its temple-like façade and devoted following, the building includes a 14,000-square-foot fitness center, a 75-foot skylit lap pool, a private restaurant, a motor court, a library and a residents-only screening room. 

It was also one of the first post-2000 condominiums to successfully replicate the proportions and grandeur of prewar Park Avenue co-ops while offering the amenities of a modern five-star hotel.

While appraiser Jonathan Miller noted that Stern’s death isn’t expected to drive prices up overnight, he said, “The lack of future Stern projects will help sustain the premium they already achieve.” Bloomberg via Getty Images

Built in the mid-2000s, 15 CPW pairs prewar design with five-star amenities and has housed stars like Denzel Washington, Robert De Niro, Sting, and Alex Rodriguez, earning it nicknames like the “Limestone Jesus” and “Tower of Power.” LP Media for NY Post

The building’s gravitational pull has lured a who’s who of celebrity and financial elites. 

Past and present residents have included actors Denzel Washington, Robert De Niro, Kelsey Grammer, and Mark Wahlberg; musician Sting; former Yankee Alex Rodriguez; and Spanx founder Sara Blakely. With titans of finance like Lloyd Blankfein and hedge funder Daniel Loeb also calling it home, the edifice also earned the nickname “Tower of Power.”

Stern was renowned for his ability to blend historical references with contemporary livability. 

A former dean of Yale’s School of Architecture, he designed some of the most successful — and expensive — residential buildings in Manhattan, including 220 Central Park South, 520 Park Ave., and 70 Vestry. His projects routinely set price-per-square-foot records and shaped the city’s modern luxury skyline.