Lauren Bacall’s Central Park Apartment!

Lauren Bacall's Central Park Apartment!

The Dakota at Central Park West in New York City is one of the most prestigious residential addresses in the world with a long history of some of the world's most powerful business, sports and movie star owners. The building’s design is a mix match of French Renaissance, German Gothic and English Victorian steep-pitched roofs, dormers, moldings, balconies, pavilions and a Dakota Indian figure watching over the main entrance. It has been the home for dozens of celebrities over the years.

One of the most famous long-time residents of The Dakota was the sultry, contralto-voiced actress, Lauren Bacall, who bought the apartment in 1961 for $48,000 and lived there for 53 years. Her nine-room, three-bedroom, four-bath home with almost 100 feet facing Central Park was put on the market in 2014. The large apartment retains the exceptional 19th century Dakota features such as 13-foot ceilings, foyer fireplace, 11-foot pocket doors, wainscoting, original butler’s pantry, plaster moldings, shutter-framed windows and hardwood flooring. The 70-foot long gallery opens to the major public rooms including the library, great room and formal dining room. There is also a Juliette balcony that opens over treetop Central Park views. Stage and screen star Lauren Bacall’s home in The Dakota in Manhattan was originally priced at $26 million then reduced last spring to $23.5. It recently sold for $21 million to Oaktree Capital managing director Ronald Beck.