NYC penthouse set inside a massive golden dome could sell for 76% off as it heads to auction

This Manhattan dome can finally become someone’s home.

A striking penthouse crowned by a 40-foot golden dome is heading to auction with an opening bid that could represent a staggering 76% discount off its initial asking price, The Post has learned.

The trophy residence atop the landmarked Sohmer Piano Building in the Flatiron District, listed in late 2024 for $25 million, will go under the hammer July 29 at Sotheby’s New York through Concierge Auctions. 

Bids are expected to start between $6 million and $9 million against a current list price of $14.9 million.

A buyer who lands the property at the low end of the expected bid range would walk away with one of Manhattan’s most storied penthouses for roughly a quarter of what the seller was asking just 18 months ago.

The man letting it go is Greg Carr, the tech mogul who built Boston Technology and once chaired Prodigy. 

He paid $7 million for the roughly 5,700-square-foot perch in 2001 and spent the better part of two and a half decades hosting luminaries beneath its gilded cupola. Lauren Bacall once danced under the dome, he has said.

Now his priorities lie elsewhere. Carr has directed more than $100 million toward wildlife conservation at Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, and splits his time between Africa and a home in Sun Valley, Idaho. 

The proceeds from this sale will go entirely to the Gorongosa Project, his conservation and community development initiative.

“I chose to work with Concierge Auctions because of their unmatched ability to connect exceptional properties with a global audience of qualified buyers,” Carr told The Post. 

“A residence of this caliber deserves exposure beyond the traditional marketplace, and the combination of Concierge Auctions’ international reach and a live auction at Sotheby’s New York creates a unique opportunity to present the property on a world stage.”

The two-floor residence features more than 40 oversized windows, an 80-foot greenhouse-style window expanse, two grand foyers linked by a circular limestone staircase — and a privately deeded rooftop deck with 360-degree views sweeping across the Empire State Building, Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building next door.

The corner primary suite alone spans more than 35 linear feet of closet space and includes a spa bath with a Waterworks soaking tub. Four additional bedrooms round out the floor plan.

“What initially drew me to this penthouse was the fact that it represents an extraordinary chapter of New York City’s architectural history,” Carr said. “From the moment I acquired it, we were committed to preserving its character while thoughtfully reimagining it for modern living.”

Listing brokers Lawrence Treglia and Claire Groome of Sotheby’s International Realty are handling the sale. 

Treglia described the residence as something beyond a conventional luxury apartment. 

“Whether you’re entertaining beneath the golden dome, enjoying sunset views from the private roof deck, or simply taking in the natural light that pours through the home’s expansive windows, every space feels connected to the energy and beauty of New York City,” he said.

Bidding opens online July 15 through ConciergeAuctions.com before the live event on July 29. 

Chad Roffers, CEO and co-founder of Concierge Auctions, called the property a cut above the typical ultra-luxury listing. 

“Positioned atop one of Manhattan’s most iconic landmark buildings with panoramic views of the city’s skyline on prestigious Fifth Avenue, the residence offers a level of rarity and provenance that resonates with collectors and discerning buyers worldwide,” he said.

For Carr, the sale closes a chapter he described in almost theatrical terms. 

“If life is a three-act play, that was act two for me, and it was a magnificent act,” he has said. “I loved that place and got a lot of use out of it.”