2-bedroom apartment for sale in East Midtown-Turtle Bay

I.M. Pei designed this superb penthouse atop the building he loved and lived in for many years. Comprising over 3100 square feet of elegant interior space completely surrounded by 2200 square feet of planted terraces with stunning views of the East River and Roosevelt Island to the East and dramatic cityscapes in three directions, this is truly a unique New York trophy apartment. A private elevator landing opens to an art-welcoming gallery that leads to the two bedrooms in one direction and the living and entertaining spaces in the other. The two living rooms (one formerly a large formal dining room, now used as a library), each with a wood-burning fireplace, run the entire length of the apartment and are bathed in sunlight all day long. They are entered through a windowed seating area (with a guest bathroom) at the end of the gallery. The large master bedroom faces East with floor to ceiling windows and an entrance to the terrace. Its en-suite windowed bathroom, adorned throughout with exquisite marble and stone, is as large as some studios. Down the hall is the second large bedroom with windows facing West and South. Its en-suite bathroom is also clad in marble and stone and includes a closet ideally suited for washer/dryer (which is permitted). The spacious eat-in chef's kitchen with a wall of windows facing West includes top of the line new appliances. At one end it opens to a sophisticated wet bar that connects to the adjacent living room/formal dining room/library. 30 Beekman Place, designed by George Pelham, was built in 1930. Amenities include a recently restored lobby, 24-hour doorman service, a resident manager, modern gym, basement storage, and a building water purification system. Beekman Place is a serene, intimate enclave that has been home to such luminaries as Irving Berlin, John D. Rockefeller, and William Paley. And, of course, it was the fictional "glamorous" residence of Auntie Mame of Broadway musical fame. The Beekman /Sutton Place neighborhood is a charming, highly desirable community replete with some of the city's finest luxury buildings and townhouses. Excellent restaurants, food markets (Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Morton Williams, International Cheese), and general shopping make it a very livable community. Its close proximity to the Park Avenue office district and its location in the heart of the East Side medical corridor are especially appealing. And easy access to the FDR Drive, the Queensboro Bridge, and Midtown Tunnel allows for quick escapes for those going to Long Island, Connecticut, and the airports.