998 Fifth Avenue contains 17 opulent residences and sits on the northeast corner of 81st Street across from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It is designed with six duplexes, which are all located on the southern corner, and 11 simplexes, each of which has seventeen rooms. The layouts are invariably magnificent with large entry halls, vast public spaces, sweeping stairways in the duplexes and at least 10-and-a-half foot ceilings throughout. From the start, 998 Fifth Avenue included marble framed doorways, a central vacuum-cleaning system, refrigerated wine cellars, safes for jewelry and silver, laundries with steam-drying devices, basement storage rooms and ample servants’ (hidden). Since becoming a cooperative in 1953, apartments have been augmented with several more layers of luxe, including dazzling new kitchens and updated fixtures. In 1974, 998 Fifth Avenue became a city Landmark. It is convenient to Central Park, the Met and many boutiques and shops...