Joan Didion’s Upper East Side co-op is on the market for $7.5 million

Joan Didion, who began her professional career as a copywriter at Vogue magazine, captured readers’ attention with her precise and observant writing style. Born in California, Didion first arrived in New York City in 1956. After eight years of living in the city, she moved to Los Angeles. However, the late American author eventually returned to New York and bought this apartment in 1988. Now, the Upper East Side co-op is looking for a new owner.

The 4-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom home is located in the limestone-based 1928 building in Lenox Hill. The future owner could access the apartment via a semi-private elevator, which opens to a gracious gallery. From there, you could enter an ample living room with a wood-burning fireplace surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. There are also an open library and a wet bar one step above the living room area.

The longtime home of Joan Didion has an eat-in kitchen with a professional-grade stove, as she was known to cook often. Next to the kitchen, there is a sophisticated dining room, a den, and a powder room. Each room also offers scenic views of the city, including the roofline of St. James’ Church. Other details include beamed ceilings, herringbone floors, and large windows. The apartment also has central air-conditioning. 

This Upper East Side co-op appeared in many interviews, as well as in the 2017 documentary Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold, which follows the life and career of the remarkable American author. Joan Didion also described this apartment in her 2005 memoir, The Year of Magical Thinking. Joan Didion lived here for 33 years until December 2021, when she passed away from complications of Parkinson's disease. 

The sale of Joan Didion’s New York City apartment follows an estate auction, which took place in November 2022. According to the Los Angeles Times, the estate sale included 224 items that belonged to Didion. One of her dictionaries was sold for $11,000, while the pair of Céline sunglasses went for $27,000. The auction raised more than $2 million in total, Curbed reports. 

The building at 30 East 71st Street has 24-hour doormen, hall attendants, and a resident manager. In addition, the future owner will also have access to a fitness center and multiple storage units. This apartment was the primary residence of Joan Didion, who also served on the co-op board. The listing allows a 50 percent financing.

Resources:

“Joan Didion’s Apartment Is for Sale,” by Kim Velsey and Christopher Bonanos (Curbed, 2023)

“Calling All Joan Didion Fans: A Piece of Literary History Just Hit the Market for $7.5 Million,” by Katie Schultz (Architectural Digest, 2023)

“Joan Didion's UES Apartment Hits The Market: Report,” by Peter Senzamici (Patch, 2023)

“You can now buy Joan Didion’s apartment in New York City,” by Jasmine Pirovic (Russh, 2023)