Comments by "" (@hewitc) on "The First Penthouse in Manhattan (Marjorie Merriweather Post Penthouse)" video.

  1. Building- yes. PH is subdivided into several apartments. Port cochere is gone.
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  2. When she died the estate tried to give it to the state and federal governments for public use. Neither wanted it because it is too expensive to maintain. It languished on the market. No one wanted it. Trump bought it for cheap (relatively) thinking he could live there but he couldn't afford that either . Then he tried to subdivide the property and sell lots but it that was prohibited by the Town. So created the "club" to bring in revenue to maintain the property and he got the National Trust to landmark it, giving him big tax deductions. But that necessitated permanently restricting the use of the property to "private club". That's why it can't be sold today as a private residence and greatly reduces the value of the property. That can't be undone, so he made a bad decision just to get the tax breaks. It's a commercial property, basically a restaurant and event space that the County values at $18M, based on revenue. If it could be sold as a residence it would be worth over $100M. But it can't.
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  3. And Jello
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  4. broken up into many apartments that were sold as coops (condos)
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  5. And he deeded away the ability to use the property as a private residence when he took tax incentives from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. MAL must be preserved intact but can only be used as a private club/recreational facility. It can't be subdivided and it can't be sold as a private home. It will forever have strangers swimming in the pool and eating in the dining room as a commercial property. The change was irrevocable.
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  6. In the winter the terraces get covered with snow. You can't just shovel it over the parapet wall. Make sure the fall leaves aren't blocking the drains or you, or your downstairs neighbor may have leaks in the ceiling.
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  7.  @sharksport01  The landmarks designation prohibits that.
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  8.  @lemorab1  Because Trump signed away the ability to convert it back when he accepted Millions in tax breaks from the National Trust. The property must now remain a "private club" forever. The Trust protects and preserves national landmarks. MAL will be preserved as a club.
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  9. It is completely broken up
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  10. You are often visited by building maintenance workers who need access to the roof. They replace the water tower or elevator motor, install brackets to hold scaffolds and need to repair roof leaks. They are great but it's still a building occupied by many people, some of whom take the required firestairs to look at your terrace. The ones by the river can be so windy that it's impossible to sit and read a newspaper or barbeque. But still fantastic, yes.
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  11. who converted it to a club because he couldn't afford to maintain it. Then he took tax breaks that permanently restricted the use of the property to commercial use as a club/recreational facility. No one can live their as a private residence. Trump is permitted to stay overnight because he swore he was the "live in property manager, or 'super'"
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  12.  @theresalynch3703  who? You mean tRump?
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