Yahoo News Joan Rivers Would Be Sad No One Lives in Her Old N.Y.C. Apartment, Says Daughter Melissa (Exclusive)
The property served as the late comedian’s home for 28 years before her death
Noam Galai/WireImage; Dolly Lenz Real Estate
Melissa and Joan Rivers, Joan River's N.Y.C. Apartment.Melissa Rivers is opening up about what she thinks her mother Joan Rivers' reaction would be to her iconic New York City apartment going uninhabited for so long.
In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE, Melissa, 55, says that she thinks her comedian mother, who died at the age of 81 in 2014, would be sad that no one is occupying her former home.
"That apartment was so special and filled with such warmth, laughter and happiness that it [would] make her really sad. I think she would be," Melissa says.
The producer and TV personality, who now hosts the Melissa Rivers' Group Text podcast, where she chats about entertainment, current events and more with celebrity guests, also notes that her "mother's best friend" still lives across the street from the apartment.
Melissa said that the woman has seen the lights on in the home only "a dozen times" since Joan's death.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Related: Joan Rivers’ $34.5 Million NYC Penthouse Is Taken Off the Market After Nearly 3 Years
Located just steps away from Fifth Avenue, Joan's former home features views of Central Park and the surrounding skyline. The space was designed in the neo-French Classic style and offers four bedrooms, five bathrooms, two terraces, five wood-burning fireplaces and a ballroom.
The property served as the late comedian’s home for 28 years before her death, and, according to property records, it sold in 2015 for $24 million, before it was later put back on the market in 2021 for $38 million. The home then received a price cut and was re-listed for $34.5 million in June 2023.
Earlier this month, the apartment was officially removed from the market after years of trying to find a buyer.
Listing agents Dolly Lenz and Jennifer Lenz of Dolly Lenz Real Estate previously confirmed to PEOPLE that while the property had been taken off the market, it can still be purchased by a serious buyer.
When asked if she has any interest in purchasing the home for herself, Melissa candidly tells PEOPLE that she does not see herself living there in the future.
"Everyone keeps asking me, am I going to buy it back? I'm like, why would I?" she explains. "It'll never be the same place it was."
While Joan loved the home dearly, she also admitted that she believed it to be haunted.
During an episode of Celebrity Ghost Stories in 2009, she revealed she brought in a voodoo priestess to help her deal with a ghost in the house after previously saying she didn't believe in paranormal activity. She said a ghost named Mrs. Spencer, who was a former resident and the late niece of financier J.P Morgan, haunts new residents.
She also noted that neighbors told her they witnessed apparitions throughout the ballroom and grand staircase. On the show, Joan said that she found an old portrait of Mrs. Spencer and hung it in the lobby, causing the haunting to finally stop.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
