A grand Upper East Side townhouse that, in 2016, aimed to fetch a princely $84.5 million has re-entered Manhattan’s luxury sales market — though for less of a price.
The dwelling at 8 E. 62nd St., a 14,825-square-foot property formerly owned by Somerset Partners CEO Keith Rubenstein, now asks $70 million, according to a Monday update on StreetEasy.
Nearly a decade ago, Rubenstein listed the townhouse for that higher sum, which if sold for that asking price would have broken a townhouse sales record by many millions. At the time, the 2006 deal for the Upper East Side’s Harkness House — a $53 million transaction — still held the crown.
Ultimately, Rubenstein saw the residence bounce on and off the market until 2022, when it entered contract for “nearly” $50 million, according to reports at the time. City records now show the limestone property traded hands for $48 million that September — with the buyer, now its seller, listed as an anonymous LLC.
In the years following Rubenstein’s $84.5 million listing, an Upper East Side townhouse at 14-16 E. 67th St. traded hands in 2019 for $77.1 million, according to Jonathan Miller, of Miller Samuel. That still holds the record — and, in second place, is the 2024 deal for a double-wide residential townhouse in Greenwich Village that sold for $72.5 million off-market.
For $70 million, a deep-pocketed buyer can purchase this newly listed six-bedroom property that dates to 1903 — and one designed by the architect of Grant’s Tomb, John H. Duncan. Its listing images show a home with palatial proportions — large fireplaces, a sweeping marble staircase, 17-foot ceilings and oversize entryways among the perks.
It’s also newly renovated.
“The most recent phase, completed in the summer of 2024, was a meticulous undertaking designed to restore and elevate the property’s elegance, functionality and security,” listing broker Adam Modlin, of the Modlin Group, told The Post in a statement. “From revitalized finishes to state-of-the-art technology integration, every detail has been crafted to maintain the highest standards of New York’s elite architectural landscape.”
The listing highlights touches that include original malachite mosaic flooring, an eat-in kitchen that looks out to a courtyard garden and a primary suite that spans the entire third floor. What’s more, there’s also a formal dining room whose view corridor extends to the Pierre Hotel, according to the listing.
Most notably, a relic from Rubenstein’s residency remains: a billiards room that’s lined with Hermès-leather walls.
It’s all capped by a roof terrace, accessible via an elevator, with views of Central Park, as well as a lounge and dining area below a cedar pergola. The lower level, meanwhile, has a wine cellar, a skylighted gym, a new sauna and a steam room. But the best aspect, according to Modlin, is the convenience.
“8 East 62nd is a rare opportunity to own a ‘move-in’ ready mansion in the finest Upper East Side location across the street from 5th avenue, Central Park and Madison Avenue,” he said.
