660 Park Avenue

Overview of 660 Park Avenue

Built in 1926 by York & Sawyer in Italian Renaissance style, 660 Park Avenue stands as one of the most exclusive addresses on the Upper East Side, housing just 12 apartments within its 13 story limestone façade. Located on the northwest corner of 67th Street, directly across from the Seventh Regiment Armory, this co-op was originally developed by Frederick Ecker of Metropolitan Life Insurance as a private venture for himself and select associates, including Darwin Kingsley of New York Life. The building's restrained elegance features rusticated limestone, balanced fenestration, and a distinctive quoined corner that exemplifies the architectural firm's expertise in creating dignified, bank like structures.

The crown jewel of 660 Park Avenue is its legendary 27 room triplex maisonette, which maintains its own separate entrance and address at 666 Park Avenue. Originally designed by John Russell Pope (architect of the National Gallery in Washington, D.C.) for Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt II, this extraordinary residence features double-height entertaining rooms, including a spectacular 46 foot long, 22 foot wide salon with 18 foot ceilings. The maisonette incorporates museum quality architectural elements, including 17th century pine paneling from Spettisbury Manor in England, early 17th century French Chinoiserie from Chateau de Courcelles, and Georgian paneling from a Grosvenor Street townhouse in London.

The building has attracted a remarkable roster of prominent residents throughout its history, including fashion designer Oscar de la Renta. Early inhabitants included newspaper publisher William T. Dewart of The Sun, investment banker Francis Weld (founder of White, Weld), and Chase National Bank chairman Albert H. Wiggin. The famous maisonette passed through the hands of National Distillers founder Seton Porter, art collector Arthur Sackler, and mining magnate Evander Schley, whose entertaining was so legendary that Life magazine featured his parties, attended by celebrities like Lana Turner, the Duchess of Windsor, and Samuel Goldwyn.

Current apartments showcase the building's commitment to grandeur, with some units offering over 90 feet of Park Avenue frontage and encompassing entire floors. Residences feature dramatic wood paneling, multiple fireplaces, soaring ceilings, and generous layouts designed for entertaining, complemented by formal dining rooms, professional chef's kitchens, multiple master suites, libraries, and staff quarters. The building provides white glove service with doorman and storage facilities, and sales are exceptionally rare, with the current offering marking the first transaction in many years at this prestigious address.