Fame Slept Here: In Search Of Famous Former Tenants

JANUARY 19, 2010

Some high-ticket apartments practically sell themselves, but sometimes it helps when there’s a famous name attached.

Letting it slip that you live in, say, Frank Sinatra’s former bachelor pad definitely wins conversation points. Maybe we secretly hope that a bit of that stardust will rub off on us. And a “seal of approval” from one of our idols—they were willing to move in—even if they’ve since moved on—might be enough to close the deal. As an agent who was showing David Bowie’s former Manhattan roost mentioned in this New York Times article, the idea that a high-profile celeb lived there, “speaks to the security of the building; they like that a celebrity lived here and felt safe.” Or the fact that designer Betsey Johnson once lived there might explain why everything in your apartment is pink (via Style Files).

Though an agent will very likely let you know even if the guy who fixed Keith Richards’ guitars lived next door, with a bit of diligence you can find this information on your own. Sites like Right Here NYC have done their homework on which big stars lived where. Realestalker follows the nesting patterns of current scenesters, and locally-focused culture publications like New York Magazine and Gawker frequently publish “star maps” for fans who enjoy not only looking up to their idols, but into their windows as well.

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Fame Slept Here: In Search Of Famous Former Tenants

JANUARY 19, 2010

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