The longtime home of Vartan Gregorian, the man who was known for saving the New York Public Library from decay, has hit the market for ...
The longtime home of Vartan Gregorian, the man who was known for saving the New York Public Library from decay, has hit the market for $4.35 million, The Post has learned.
Gregorian, who was an Armenian immigrant, died last April after being hospitalized for stomach pain. He was 87 years old.
A philanthropist and scholar, he is widely credited with saving the New York Public Library (NYPL) system in the 1980s.
Gregorian had taken over the presidency during this time and used his charm to fund the library, branch buildings, and services throughout the Bronx, Staten Island, and Manhattan that had deteriorated after a decade of budget cuts.
The dilapidation was later symbolized by the dirt streaking the iconic marble lions, Patience and Fortitude, which still guard the Fifth Avenue entrance to the Beaux-Arts Main Library today.
During Gregorian’s tenure as NYPL president from 1981 to 1989, the library’s main branch in Manhattan was restored with $42 million. He was also successful in obtaining planning authority approval to restore nearby Bryant Park.
Spanning 2,600 square feet, Gregorian’s nearly 25-year-old condo near Columbus Circle is three-bedroom, three-bathroom. Located on the 18th floor, it was first purchased by the educator and historian in 1997 for $3.2 million, records show.
“It took a quarter of a century for this outstanding apartment in one of New York’s most iconic buildings to come to market,” the listing notes.
From the entrance is the fireplace lined with shelves. Features include two master bedrooms, each with an en-suite bathroom. There is also a third bedroom which can be used as an office.
The formal living room has a wood-burning fireplace.
Built in 1931, the pre-war building at 340 West 57th St., known as Parc Vendôme, offers easy access to Columbus Circle, Carnegie Hall, Broadway, and Lincoln Center. Facilities include full-time doormen, award-winning formal gardens, a billiard room, music room, library, private dining room and card room, the listing adds.
“Offered by the estate of Vartan Gregorian, the world-renowned philanthropic foundation and academic leader, historian and humanist, this residence hits all the notes on your wish list,” the listing reads.
Lisa Tarnopol Deslauriers and Linda Reiner of Coldwell Banker Warburg hold the listing.
Gregorian, born to Armenian parents in Tabriz, Iran, had come to America in 1956 to study history and humanities at Stanford University.
“As president from 1981 to 1989, his leadership and tenacity revitalized and reaffirmed the library as the preeminent civic and educational institution that New Yorkers know and love today,” the NYPL said in a statement.
“Thanks to his efforts and leadership, the Library has been able to overcome, recover and rebound from a decade of financial crisis, restoring branch hours of service, renovating many historic sites, developing and strengthening collections in circulation by emphasizing multilingual and multicultural materials, increasing education and literacy programs, and investing in curators and expert staff in research libraries, among others.
COMMENTS