According to the Wall Street Journal, the tech tycoon Jeff Bezos has purchased three apartments in 212 Fifth Avenue for $80 million. The penthouse apartment and two units on the floor below it that were purchased by Bezos in May could be combined into a 12-bedroom, 17,000-square-foot home in the heart of NoMad.

Directly across from 1123 and 1133 Broadway, 212 Fifth Avenue has been described by StreetEasy as an “iconic neo-Gothic early skyscraper.” As such, it fits perfectly into the fabric of the neighborhood, which features so many fine examples of varied architectural styles including Kew’s own buildings. In fact, 212 is located on the site of the Gilded Age’s most famous restaurants— Delmonicos and Café Martin, which were frequented by the likes of Oscar Wilde, Mark Twain, and Stanford White.

Built as a commercial building, 212 was converted to condominiums in 2012, many of which boast exceptional views of Madison Square Park and the city beyond.

It is no surprise that Jeff Bezos, the chief executive of Amazon and reportedly the richest man in the world, has chosen 212 Fifth Avenue for his new Manhattan pad. It provides a rare opportunity for an enormous home, it’s in a vibrant creative/tech neighborhood, has wonderful views of the city, and offers the privacy he will likely welcome.

Bezos’s purchase comes despite the recent decision not to move forward with the plan to build a new headquarters in New York City. Nevertheless, Amazon still employs roughly 5,000 people in the city, and has a growing presence through its increasing number of retail stores. It has also been reported that Amazon has been looking for 100,000 square feet of new office space on the West Side of Manhattan.

We are happy to welcome Jeff Bezos as a neighbor, and perhaps after he sees the unique life/work balance that NoMad has to offer, he will be searching for office space closer to home.