While dailyDEEDS often sees high-profile figures list their posh homes, seeing a government sell a residence is not the norm. But, today, that’s the headline. The Qatari government just listed this elegant Manhattan townhouse just blocks from the United Nations Headquarters. It sits overlooking the East River on a corner of Beekman Place—a private enclave with a history of celebrated residents from heiress Gloria Vanderbilt to architect Paul Randolph. Priced at $32 million, the refined abode is clearly looking for an elite buyer.
In 2013, Qatar bought the home fully furnished for $34.35 million, Mansion Global reports. The residence was already thoughtfully restored when they acquired it. With 7,226 square-feet, five bedrooms, six full bathrooms, and two half-baths there is plenty of room for guests. There are five floors of living spaces, plus a roof deck. The wood-clad solarium is especially eye-catching as you can look out to sweeping city views. Stately and offering a grand sense of place, it feels like a room meant for weighty discussions.
While the exact capacity in which the Qatari government used the official state residence is currently unclear, the Consulate General of the state of Qatar is also just a few blocks away on 55th Street and Madison Avenue. It’s easy to imagine that perhaps over the years, Qatar’s top leaders have stayed in the residence or hosted evenings here with distinguished guests. Listing agent Les Meyers told Mansion Global that the owners “shifted direction in terms of what they were looking for from a private residence” and seek a “more of a full-service environment.”
The Qatari government isn’t the only prominent owner of this Beekman Street townhouse. The late Ellen Biddle Shipman, a famed landscape architect, also lived at this address—which is marked with her lush planting styles and formal gardens. Les Meyers and Carl Gambino of Compass holds the Midtown East listing.