Musicians of Tribeca: The City’s Hottest ‘Hood for Pop Stars
Though Tribeca has long been considered a haven for artists, this tends to refer to those in the visual arts, thanks to the neighborhood’s chill vibes and spacious loft apartments. But over the last two decades, some of the world’s most famous pop musicians have been gobbling up real estate on its cobblestone streets. From Katy Perry and Taylor Swift to Chris Martin and Justin Timberlake, the hit makers can’t get enough of Tribeca.
Before we get into the details, let’s look at just how small a world the Tribeca musician scene is with this interactive map:
Beyoncé Knowles and Jay Z, a.k.a. Shawn Carter, have splurged on numerous properties of all sizes around the world, from remote beachfront paradise getaways to opulent condominiums in the sky. Of note is the 8,000-square-foot, $6.85 million penthouse at 195 Hudson Street where the power couple famously married in 2008. In honor of their seventh wedding anniversary, Jay Z recently took to Instagram to share a short clip of these private nuptials in their seventh-floor converted loft.
Among Beyoncé and Jay Z’s wedding guests were their good friends Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, who have owned two properties in Tribeca. In 2005, they purchased an open loft in 13 Harrison Street for $7.95 million. The prewar condominium was renovated in the late 1990s by architect Annabelle Selldorf and featured six bedrooms spread over three and a half floors for a total of 8,442 square feet. A couple of years later, Martin and Paltrow decided to make England their home base and sold the condo for $13.65 million, almost twice what they paid.
The Coldplay front-man and his then-wife still wanted a Tribeca address, so they downsized to a $5.1 million, 4,400-square-foot pied-a-terre penthouse at River Lofts on Laight Street in 2007. The three-bedroom unit was whimsically designed by Roman & Williams to serve the dual intents of entertaining and satisfying the needs of a young family. We’re not sure how the couple divvied up their real estate portfolio once they “uncoupled.”
In 2010, Katy Perry and Russel Brand purchased a romantic duplex loft at 65 North Moore Street for $2.68 million. The newlyweds enjoyed the sun-drenched two-bedroom unit that boasted a south-facing “garden in the sky” terrace, original wood beamed 11-foot ceilings, an elegant limestone kitchen, and a gracious Cherry wood staircase. Following a public split, Perry relisted her penthouse for $2.75 million; it sold for $2.62 million in 2012.
Singer/songwriter and actor Justin Timberlake briefly lived in Tribeca’s Pearline Soap Factory from 2008-2011. The property at 414 Washington Street was initially purchased for $4.77 million, but the former “Mickey Mouse Club” member relocated to a 3,000-square-foot, full-floor apartment in Soho Mews. Timberlake was hoping to make some profit from the turnover, as his initial asking price was $5.25 million, but he ended up taking a hit; it sold for 4.7 million.
In 1999, salsa artist Marc Anthony closed on a unit in the Ice House. Unfortunately, the penthouse had buckling floors, a leaking roof, and bad plumbing. Less than two years later, Anthony listed and sold his apartment at 27 North Moore Street for $3.99 million. And this past fall, his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez was seen checking out a $14 million penthouse in Chelsea’s Walker Tower.
In 2001, the five-octave vocalist Mariah Carey purchased the top three floors of Franklin Tower for $9 million. Two units were combined to create an opulent triplex penthouse. The singer’s diva personality is evident in a 38-foot-long master bath/spa and the fact that she named her son Moroccan after the style of the penthouse’s top floor. Carey and her twins also get to enjoy an expansive roof deck and a plethora of other luxurious amenities.
Sean Combs, also known as P. Diddy, bought a $3.65 million, 4,300-square-foot loft at 169 Hudson Street. The four-bedroom unit in the Roebling Building was relisted a year later for $4.3 million.
Last March, singer-songwriter sensation Taylor Swift added to her property portfolio when she closed on “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson’s penthouse duplex loft at 155 Franklin Street for $19.95 million (the second three-bedroom unit is used to house her security team). Combined, the two apartments have over 8,300 square feet of interior space and 4,000 square feet of exterior terrace space. The 25-year-old relocated to New York City to work on her recently released fifth studio album “1989.” She was also curiously named New York’s Global Welcome Ambassador.
RELATED:
