House Of Stewart

Who's buying, who's selling in the world of high-end real estate:

Animal House

Jon Stewart Jon Stewart has hooked a $5.8 million Manhattan loft in a deal full of zoological twists, according to The New York Observer.

The comedian and host of the cable news satire the Daily Show, which airs on Viacom 's Comedy Central channel, bought a 6,000-square-foot Tribeca spread in the building that once housed the Wetlands Preserve, a nightclub with an environmental bent. The duplex penthouse has exposures on three sides, a 600-square-foot terrace and a private rooftop. It also was once home to about 1,000 turtles belonging to seller Richard Ogust.

Perhaps looking to maintain the animal theme, Stewart bought his new apartment through a corporate entity named for his cat and dog, the Observer says. Prudential's Douglas Elliman had the listing.

Stewart, 42, has been living in the West Village with his wife and infant son. They won't be the only high-profile occupants of 161 Hudson Street. Last year, Mets catcher Mike Piazza Mike Piazza bought his own $4 million-plus penthouse in the building. No word on whether pets were involved.

For Sail

Do you long for

Jonathan Leitersdorf Jonathan Leitersdorf 's famous $20 million Broadway loft? Now you can have its floating equivalent, too.

The Israeli businessman and bon vivant just listed his 54-meter luxury yacht, TIARA, with Wendy Maitland of The Corcoran Group. Maitland is also the listing broker for Leitersdorf's triplex spread, at the top of a 19th-century building in Greenwich Village. The 11,000-square-foot apartment features sumptuous details such as imported tin ceilings, a heated outdoor swimming pool and antique carved doors. It has hosted a Sex and the City shoot, Jerry Seinfeld Jerry Seinfeld 's wedding and Chelsea\ Clinton Chelsea Clinton 's birthday party.

The yacht, priced at $36 million, is no less impressive. It took three-and-a-half years to design and build the massive but sleek-lined vessel, said to be the largest sailboat able to pass through the Panama Canal.

"I wanted a boat that I could travel around the world with, that I could live on and not feel claustrophobic," Leitersdorf says.

Designed by Dubois Naval Architects, the high-speed cruiser will arrive in New York this weekend to participate in the Rolex Transatlantic Challenge. The interiors, by John Munford John Munford , feature square rooms and antique furniture, rather than built-ins. Leitersdorf aimed for classic gentleman's club styling with rich wood paneling and leather upholstery.

"It's got to be perfect, the performance has to be the best," he says. "But when you go in I want to have the turn-of-the-century atmosphere. If you do something modern, in ten years it becomes obsolete."

TIARA was built to travel the world, with a fireplace for Alaskan cruises, and an elegant tent for sleeping outdoors in the Caribbean. Under power, it can travel at 12 knots per hour and has space for a helicopter to land on its deck. It was built in New Zealand by Alloy Yachts International.

"The fun thing was to build it and do it," Leitersdorf says, explaining his decision to sell. "But now I have a 4-month-old son."

Leitersdorf, who founded New York-based L Capital Partners , has other projects underway, including a boutique hotel in Switzerland and penthouse lofts in Tel Aviv.

The boat is available for showings next week, but since it is not registered in the U.S., negotiations cannot take place until it reaches international waters, Maitland says.

The loft and yacht are available "as a set," at a lower combined price, Leitersdorf says.

St. Bart's Sale

A seven-acre Rothschild estate on St. Bart's recently sold for its $21.4 million asking price, making it possibly the most expensive residential transaction on the exclusive Caribbean island.

The elegant oceanfront property, known as Gitana Bay, extends from the beach up a hillside, giving its two villas views of the water. The houses are clad in exotic woods and lava stone, and both have deck pools and state-of-the-art electronics.

An unidentified American businessman bought the property from Benjamin de Rothschild Benjamin de Rothschild , who is from the Swiss branch of the legendary banking family. The property was previously available as a rental, but according to Eric Mangan, spokesman for Sotheby's International Realty, the new owner intends to use the property as a vacation home during the winter months.

Christian Wattiau of Sibarth Real Estate, an affiliate of Sotheby's, had the listing. In 2000, it sold a Gouverneur Bay property for about $15 million.

Real estate news can be submitted to Sara Clemence at saraclemence@forbes.net or by calling her at (212) 366-8937.

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