Linda Evangelista first listed her New York penthouse for $9.45 million in 2024; after price cuts and a rental stint for Keanu Reeves, the West Chelsea home has now sold for $6.75 million
Linda Evangelista’s longtime West Chelsea penthouse has sold for $6.75 million after more than two years on and off the market. The supermodel first listed the home for $9.45 million in May 2024, but later reduced the asking price before briefly renting it to actor Keanu Reeves. Both the New York Post and CityRealty reported the closing. Evangelista bought the residence in 2001, when West Chelsea was still emerging as an arts district, and remained connected to the property as Manhattan’s skyline and luxury market changed around it.
A purchase made before the High Line
Evangelista purchased the penthouse in 2001 for $1.4 million, according to the New York Post. CityRealty, citing property records, reported a different figure of $8.4 million as the original purchase price, creating a discrepancy in published accounts. Regardless of the exact amount, the purchase came before West Chelsea experienced the development boom that reshaped the neighbourhood.The home is located in the Spears Building at 525 West 22nd Street, a six-storey condominium conversion of a former industrial building. Evangelista bought the property eight years before the first section of the High Line opened to the public, when the surrounding area had a more industrial and gallery-driven character.Over the years, the neighbourhood gained luxury towers, restaurants, art spaces and some of Manhattan’s most sought-after views. The penthouse’s location placed it close to the High Line, while its height and open design gave it the kind of privacy and scale that are unusual in a city apartment.
A spacious industrial-chic interior
The four-bedroom, two-bathroom penthouse spans approximately 4,022 square feet, according to the reports. Its interiors combine the raw features of a former industrial building with the comfort expected from a luxury residence.The apartment has high ceilings, skylights, exposed brick walls and polished concrete floors. These details preserve some of the building’s original character, while custom built-ins and large open rooms make the space more practical for modern living.The living room features a fireplace and generous proportions suitable for entertaining. A chef’s kitchen provides a central gathering point, with space for dining and preparation. The layout also allows the rooms to feel connected without losing the sense of privacy associated with a multi-bedroom home.The residence’s most dramatic feature may be its 2,500-square-foot terrace. Outdoor space is especially valuable in Manhattan, and a terrace of that size gives the apartment room for dining, lounging and hosting guests above the streets of West Chelsea.
A bedroom designed for a supermodel
The corner primary bedroom suite has views towards the High Line and includes a spa-style bathroom. It also comes with an expansive dressing area and six custom closets that extend to the ceiling.The dressing space is a particularly fitting feature for Evangelista, who became one of the most recognisable supermodels of the 1990s. She was part of the celebrated group that included Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Claudia Schiffer and Tatjana Patitz.Evangelista’s career helped define the era when fashion models became global celebrities. Her home’s large dressing area offers a glimpse of how the apartment was tailored to her life, combining the practical demands of a fashion wardrobe with the dramatic proportions of the penthouse.Despite its celebrity associations, the property’s appeal is not limited to its former owner. The terrace, views, open floor plan and industrial details would also attract buyers looking for a distinctive primary residence or a large Manhattan base.
Photo credit: Nina Poon for Corcoran
Keanu Reeves rented the home
The penthouse gained fresh attention when Keanu Reeves rented it while he was in New York performing in the Broadway production of Waiting for Godot. The New York Post reported that the actor paid approximately $45,000 per month.The rental period gave the residence a second celebrity connection during its time on the market. It also showed that the apartment could function as a temporary home for someone seeking privacy, space and a convenient location near Manhattan’s cultural districts.Reeves’ tenancy came as the apartment was being marketed for sale. Rather than remaining vacant, the property was used as a high-end rental while Evangelista and her representatives continued looking for a buyer.The arrangement also added another chapter to the home’s public profile. Evangelista had purchased it before the High Line became a major attraction, while Reeves occupied it after the neighbourhood had become one of New York’s most recognisable luxury addresses.
Several price reductions before the sale
Evangelista initially listed the penthouse for $9.45 million in May 2024. The asking price was later reduced to $8.19 million and then to $7.99 million earlier in 2026, according to the New York Post.The final sale price of $6.75 million was below the original asking price and lower than the later reductions. CityRealty described the transaction as a loss for Evangelista, based on its report that she had paid $8.4 million for the home.Listing agent Steve Gold of Corcoran previously described the eventual price as a value opportunity. He noted that some nearby properties had sold for more than $5,000 per square foot, a comparison that highlighted the penthouse’s large size and location.The sale reflects the difficulty of pricing celebrity-owned property in a changing luxury market. A famous owner can generate attention, but buyers still weigh layout, building amenities, outdoor space, views and the broader condition of the market.
Evangelista remains in New York
Although she has sold the West Chelsea penthouse, Evangelista is not leaving New York. The New York Post reported that she purchased a three-bedroom apartment at 35 Yards for $5.24 million in 2025.Her move marks a change of address rather than a departure from the city. The new apartment gives her a different setting, while the sale of the Spears Building residence closes a chapter that began when West Chelsea was still developing into the neighbourhood it is today.For the buyer, the $6.75 million purchase offers a large and distinctive home with a terrace, industrial architecture and a direct connection to New York’s fashion and entertainment history. For Evangelista, the transaction concludes a long real estate story that began before the High Line and ended after the apartment had briefly welcomed one of Hollywood’s most recognisable actors.
