Celebrity Real Estate Wrap: Loft Served Up to Venus & Serena

Monday, June 13, 2005, by Joey

1) Proving just how high its stock has risen over the weekend, the Garment District lands its second mention of the day, as tennis stars and aspiring fashion divas Venus and Serena Williams prepare to call the nabe their New York home. The sisters bought photographer Seiju Toda's 2,000sf co-op loft on 28th Street, which he had been using as a gallery called Artspace (right). The place was listed at $1.5 million. [William Neuman/Big Deal]
2) An update now on the $70 million Pierre Hotel penthouse. Owner Martin Zweig was just elected to the building's co-op board, meaning he may be sticking around for a while, so don't cut that check just yet. However, it could also mean that he just wants to put himself in a position of power to approve whichever shmuck decides to buy the place—perhaps Saddam Hussein if he beats the rap? [Braden Keil/NYPost]
3) It's spring correction time, so watch the townhouse prices come tumbling down! Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin unloaded their Greenwich Village townhouse for $6.995 million, down from $7.85m. Sony boss Howard Stringer wanted $8.75 million for his Upper East Side townhouse, but he parted ways with it for a cool $7.85m. And another UES townhouse/mansion that was on the market for over a year sold for $20 million. A huge chunk of change, but not quite the $23.5m desired by the owner. [Neuman]
4) Two-time Tony winner and former television alien John Lithgow renewed his lease on a two-bedroom rental on West 63rd St. just off Central Park. He's currently starring in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" on Broadway, but according to sources, he's quite the clean friendly neighbor. [S.Jhoanna Robledo/NYMag]
5) Rumors of the Hiltons' demise have been greatly exaggerated. The family—Rick, Kathy, Nicky and little Paris—are not ditching New York for Los Angeles, at least not completely: They've pulled their $6.3 million Colonial-style Hamptons mansion off the market. The 10,000-square-foot home has seven bedrooms, 10 1/2 bathrooms and ocean access, and it can be yours for all of July for $125,000. Or kick the price up 25 Gs and take it for August. Be sure to check all closet shelves and underwear drawers for unmarked videotapes. [Keil]