FROM LEFT: Raphael De Niro; the Fairchild
Would a new building like Tribeca’s Fairchild exist without Robert De Niro? In the two-plus decades since the big-screen legend took a shine to the gritty “triangle below Canal” (street, that is), De Niro has been a raging bull for the neighborhood: opening hot-spot eateries like Nobu and Tribeca Grill to attract people to the area, turning old buildings into luxury apartments to convince them to stay and, finally, cofounding the Tribeca Film Festival after 9/11 to speed up Lower Manhattan’s economic recovery.
And though De Niro isn’t quite connected to The Fairchild, the latest überluxury condominium to hit the neighborhood’s north side, the Vestry Street development still bears his mark—his son, Raphael, is in charge of selling it.
Real estate is in the blood of Raphael De Niro, 32-year-old son of Robert and his first wife, Diahnne Abbott. In addition to his famous father’s dealings, Raphael has the example of his grandparents, who were involved in some of Soho’s earliest artist-loft conversions. “My grandmother always told me, ‘All great fortunes are built on real estate,’” the younger De Niro tells us.
Good advice, but he ignored it until the Tribeca bar he owned was shuttered to make way for condos. After becoming enthralled with the development process, Raphael decided on a career change: selling apartments. He has since climbed his way up to managing director at the massive Prudential Douglas Elliman agency, and his sales team, the De Niro Group, brought in more than $86 million in 2008. It’s a family business—there are four De Niros in the group, including Raphael’s wife, Claudine. The couple’s first child, Nicholas De Niro, was born in May.
While it may not be as challenging as fatherhood, Raphael faces a tough task at The Fairchild. Standing inside the 3,500-squarefoot model unit, he explains the harsh realities of the current market: “Buyers won’t make deals unless they feel like they’re stealing the place, and developers have to be willing to negotiate. It’s the new way.”
With its red-brick façade and tall arched windows, The Fairchild blends in seamlessly with its 19th-century neighbors. The historical imposter is even named for an old pharmaceutical company that once had a warehouse on the site. And while the outside may look old-fashioned, the inside is pristine and new. The 21 immaculate townhouses (many with 22-foot ceilings and private outdoor space) were guided by the hand of interior designer David Howell and outfitted with Poggenpohl kitchens and enough CaesarStone, travertine and Calacatta gold marble to fill a quarry. Residents also get access to the Shibui Spa in the nearby Greenwich Hotel, partly owned by the De Niro men.
Already there’s boldface buzz: Sopranos star James Gandolfini—a Fairchild investor—reportedly claimed a $7 million penthouse, and others spotted checking out the building include actress Jessica Alba and supermodel Adriana Lima.
While working on The Fairchild gives Raphael the chance to flex his encyclopedic knowledge of the neighborhood, it’s a neighborhood that’s no longer exactly his. After buying a Greenwich Street condo, he now finds himself on the other side of Canal Street. “But I’m still in the 10013 zip code, so it’s almost like being in Tribeca,” he’s quick to add. A loophole, sure, but like most of us, he’s got a tough father to please. The Fairchild, 55 Vestry St., 212-925-2655; tribecafairchild.com
