960 Fifth Avenue facts for kids

960 Fifth Avenue, also known as 3 East 77th Street, is a very special apartment building. It's located on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York, right on the corner of East 77th Street.

Building History

This building, 960 Fifth Avenue, was built where a huge house used to stand. It was called the William A. Clark House.

The William A. Clark House at 962 Fifth Avenue, which was torn down to build 960 Fifth Avenue

When Senator Clark passed away in 1925, his family sold the mansion. It was bought by a developer named Anthony Campagna in 1927. The mansion was then taken down, even though it was only 19 years old.

The new building was designed by a famous architecture firm called Warren & Wetmore. They also designed the well-known Grand Central Terminal. Another important architect, Rosario Candela, helped with the plans. He was known for creating large, flowing apartment layouts. A famous interior decorator, Dorothy Draper, also gave advice on the project.

Construction on 960 Fifth Avenue began in 1927 and was finished in 1928. The apartments in the building are very large, usually having 14 to 17 rooms. They even include special rooms for staff. This building is one of the few in New York City that has its own restaurant inside for residents.

Building's Reputation

Many experts consider 960 Fifth Avenue to be one of the best apartment buildings on Fifth Avenue. It's often grouped with other top buildings like 820 Fifth Avenue and 834 Fifth Avenue because of its size, quality, and value.

A writer from The New York Sun newspaper once called 960 Fifth Avenue "the pinnacle of New York luxury living." This means it's seen as the very best in fancy living in New York. Some real estate experts even believe it's Manhattan's top residential building.

Important Apartment Sales

Over the years, several apartments in 960 Fifth Avenue have been sold for very high prices. These sales often make news because of how much they cost.

For example, in 2014, an apartment that belonged to Edgar Bronfman, Sr., who used to lead the Seagram Company, was sold. He had lived there for 40 years. This apartment was bought by Nassef Sawiris, a businessman from Egypt, for a reported $70 million. At the time, this was the most expensive co-op apartment ever sold in New York.

In 2017, an entire floor of the building was sold for $55 million. This apartment belonged to an art dealer named Robert H. Ellsworth. It became the most expensive co-op apartment sold in New York that year.