NYC's Priciest Townhouse Slashes Cost To $79M

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Upper East Side townhouse of billionaire businessman Vincent Viola is back on the market after taking a price cut, but it remains the most expensive townhouse in New York City, according to real estate listings and reports.

Viola is asking $79 million for the double-lot, five-story home at 12 E. 69th St., located between Fifth and Madison avenues, according to listings. The home was previously marketed at an asking price of $88 million and debuted on the market at $114 million six years ago, luxury real estate publication Mansion Global first reported.

The house contains six bedrooms, 9 bathrooms and 18 total rooms, according to real estate listings. Luxury features include: Huge rear windows flooding the home with natural light, a dining room that can fit 50 guests, a 40-foot-wide kitchen with high-end appliances, an in-house movie theater and an indoor pool. Architect William Bosworth, who was hired to restore the Palace of Versailles, designed the home.

Viola, who owns the National Hockey League's Florida Panthers franchise, bought the house in 2005, according to public real estate records. The businessman is hoping to turn a profit on the property, having only dished out $20 million at the time.

News junkies may find Viola's name familiar. In addition to running many successful businesses, he was in the news after being nominated Secretary of the Army by President Donald Trump. Viola, an Army veteran and West Point graduate, eventually backed out of the nomination because his business investments would have presented a conflict of interest.

Check out the Realtor.com listing for the property here.