[U] Kramer V. Zeckendorf

In June 1998, construction began on a luxury condominium building at 515 Park Avenue, a project of Messrs. Arthur William Zeckendorf and William Lie Zeckendorf, known to be major real estate developers in New York City. The sponsor of 515 Park Avenue and its selling agent marketed the building as synonymous "with privilege and luxury living," reminiscent of the residences of "the elite of Manhattan society." When prices for the condominium units reached $3,000 per square foot, William Lie Zeckendorf explained that the building would "reflect the grandeur and workmanship of the classic Park Avenue apartment house." He further explained, "nothing like it has ever been built then or now." Sales materials described the building's amenities as "truly unprecedented . . . inspired by the luxuries of another era", and touted the design elements as out of "a short story by Fitzgerald". The buyers may wish they had instead read the works of Jerome K. Jerome, who wrote "I want a house that has got over all its troubles; I don't want to spend the rest of my life bringing up a young and inexperienced house." Jerome K. Jerome, They and I (1909).