Over the past few days I've become fascinated by the story of Huguette Clark, the 104-year-old copper heiress who recently passed away. She was a bit of a recluse, but owned fabulous properties, including one in New Canaan, CT, and a palatial spread on Fifth Avenue and 72nd Street. All this, depsite living in assorted hospitals in Manhattan for the past 22 years.
I'm a bit of a nerd about Gilded Age Manhattan ever since reading 740 Park. This story taps into whatever reptilian part of my brain digs stories of heiresses and all things Brook Astor.
The New York Times had a great piece about her here.
MSNBC has a whole bunch of well done videos.
The New York Observer has the requisite piece about brokers licking their chops for the listing for the apartment, which is actually so large it would give any future owner a disproportionate amount of shares in the co-op, which could be an issue.
