Greg Carr, tech entrepreneur and co-founder of Boston Technology, has put his historic Flatiron penthouse on the market for a cool $25 million. The opulent duplex loft boasts 5,000 square feet of space, including four bedrooms and three bathrooms, as well as a coveted exclusive rooftop with sweeping 360-degree views of Manhattan, as reported by Crain's New York.
Known for its 40-foot gold dome, Carr was enamored with the building at 170 Fifth Ave. when he purchased the penthouse for $7 million in 2001. Speaking exclusively with Bloomberg about his decision to sell, Carr, who splits his time between Africa and Idaho, explained that his philanthropic endeavors in Africa's Gorongosa National Park now command much of his focus and resources. In a sentence marred by a misplaced modifier, he candidly shared, “Having spent more than $100 million of his personal fortune to protect the wildlife of Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, having the third home in New York doesn’t make sense for him anymore.” Carr insists all proceeds from the penthouse's sale will funnel towards these projects.
The luxurious residence spans across the 12th and 13th floors of the Beaux-Arts Sohmer Piano building, designed by architect Robert Maynicke. Boasting direct elevator access to both floors, the primary suite features unobstructed views of the Empire State Building to wake up to, as Carr detailed in an interview with BNN Bloomberg. The second floor is structured for entertainment, complete with a living room, dining room, and kitchen, all bathed in natural light from oversized skylights. Carr nostalgically recalls, “The magic of the house, for me, right in the dead center of Manhattan on Fifth Avenue and 22nd, is that you can get intellectuals, artists, human rights activists, authors and movie stars here for meaningful events.”
Throughout Carr's tenure, the penthouse has played host to various high-profile events, from book launches to fundraisers, even witnessing Hollywood icons such as Lauren Bacall grace its storied rooms. Carr tells Crain's New York that the property could suit a family or an individual keen on entertaining, given its size and grandeur. To the potential buyer, he muses, “You’re living up in a gold dome above Fifth Avenue with massive windows—it doesn’t seem like something for someone who’s shy.” With a misplaced modifier causing a slight tangle, Carr remarks on the penthouse's past, “If life is a three-act play, that was act two for me, and it was a magnificent act.” As he's ready to turn the page to the next chapter of his life, the sale represents more than just a change of residence—it's a transition from one significant phase of life to another.