Photo: Getty Images
Well, slap us silly and call us Treebeard — we never thought we’d see the day when New Zealand’s most famous hobbit, Peter Jackson, would set up shop in New York City. Turns out that like a nasty old barrow-wight, the Lord of the Rings director may have bought the top of an old Tribeca’s landmark and may begin haunting it momentarily. The purchase reportedly cost him $17.5 million coppers. According to the Gondor Observer, the penthouse hobbit hole at 54 Franklin in Tribeca was purchased from developer Chris Clark, who built it and had been living there. The combined interior space (it’s actually two separate apartments, one purchased last year and one closed last month) adds up to 8,018 square feet, with an additional 4,000 square feet of planted terrace space. According to Clark, you can see for leagues! (Bet you can even grow your own pipe weed up there.) Jackson might be in town enough to enjoy the place — he won’t be directing the Hobbit remake that’s set to come out from New Line, he’ll merely be executive-producing.
Our favorite part of Jackson’s new pad? In addition to ten total bedrooms, there’s a 2,300-square-foot living room — apparently in case King Kong crashes at your pad for a night. Or just Gandalf — he’s awfully tall, you know.
One Penthouse Duplex to Rule Them All: Peter Jackson Likely Buyer of $17.3 M. Tribeca Spread [NYO]
