Showhouse Flipper Strikes Again

Recently, it seemed that almost every townhouse on the block of East 67th Street between Fifth and Madison avenues was up for grabs.

Last month (yes, now that we've moved down to the Flatiron District we don't get up there as often as we should), The Real Estate strolled the tony block and found four townhouses currently on the market, with the least expensive located at No. 9. Since November, that limestone mansion had been listed for $29 million, with Shel Joblin and C.B. Whyte at Stribling and Associates.

But now the 12,400-square-foot residence has been temporarily taken off the market, according to a source with knowledge of the listing.

At the center of it all (isn't she always?) is the Upper East Side's notorious Showhouse Flipper.

This latest move is just one of several changes in the building's status over the past year.

After a prolonged legal battle between feuding family members that owned the townhouse, Russian-born real-estate investor Janna Bullock snapped up No. 9 for $10 million in April 2005. (The deal was so grueling that it placed runner-up for REBNY's Residential Deal of the Year).

Configured as 13 apartments, Ms. Bullock began a renovation to a single-family home. Last October, the mansion became a designer showhouse, with the $25 cover charge benefiting the American Hospital of Paris Foundation. After all the curious visitors left, it was up for sale.

Now, deep-pocketed buyers in search of a trophy home can take solace the fact that the other three townhouses are still available, located at No. 7 ($34 million), No. 10 ($32 million), and No. 14-16--which was the former home of Penthouse founder Bob Guccione. Although listed at $99,999,999, the Guccione house is part of a private sale for discerning buyers, with sealed bids place in envelopes, and opened in April.