Chem Widhya, Cambodian ambassador to the UN, eagerly helped in the bargaining down of the Gigli's town house in New York to be used as his official residence. The NY Times reported that the town house was acquired by the cash strapped Cambodian government at a bargaining price of $5.1 million instead of the $5.5 million originally asked. However, in its (or the Ambassador's?) eagerness to acquire the famous property, the cash strapped government had to pay an extra $300,000 to another buyer who signed over a previous contract to buy it. The ambassador can now sleep peacefully in his newfound official town home residence, knowing that he saved the cash strapped Cambodian government from begging an extra $100,000. Congratulations and welcome home, Mr. Ambassador! Some poor Cambodian people can now have rice to eat for another day.
327 East 58th Street: Amb. Chem Widhya's new residence in New YorkA Picture-Perfect Town House Sale
By JOSH BARBANEL
The New York Times
FOR more than 30 years, Ormond Gigli, a photographer of celebrities for Life and Time magazines and many other publications, lived and worked in his town house at 327 East 58th Street near Second Avenue.
He tore out the ceiling of the garden level apartment to make a double-height studio, and put up a 16-foot-high wall of glass in the rear garden to let in the northern light. It was there that Mr. Gigli photographed the notable and ephemeral, from President John F. Kennedy to members of the Saudi royal family to the movie stars of the moment.
And looking out the window one day in 1960, he conjured up his most famous photograph, “Girls in the Window,” a dreamlike vision of 47 women in colorful clothing, with upraised arms, standing in the bare drab window frames of the windows of three brownstone tenements across the street, just a day before they were torn down. They were soon replaced by an apartment tower.
Mr. Gigli and his wife, Sue Ellen Gigli, lived above the studio and rented out other apartments in the building. But as the golden age of color picture magazines drew to a close, Mr. Gigli, who is now 81, moved to his farmhouse in West Stockbridge, Mass., in the Berkshires, keeping a small apartment on East 58th Street and renting the rest.
The Giglis put their town house up for sale for $5.5 million earlier this year as an open listing, available to all brokers. Dexter Guerrieri, the president of Vandenberg Inc., which showed the house, said buyers were drawn to the 23.5-foot-wide space and the wall of glass opening to the garden. A few weeks ago, the Giglis moved out the last of their possessions and closed on the sale for $5.1 million.
The apartment will enjoy a celebrity of another sort.
According to property records, the building was bought by the Kingdom of Cambodia. Mr. Gigli said he understood the upper floors would be converted into an ambassador’s residence, while the lower floors would be used as government offices.
At the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations, the telephone was answered by the ambassador’s assistant, who said that there was no press attaché or other staff members available and that only the ambassador, Chem Widhya, could answer questions. He was unavailable. Cambodian government Web sites show that the ambassador, who is also the nonresident ambassador to Canada, currently lives in Forest Hills, Queens.
Public records also show that the Cambodian government apparently was eager to buy the town house. In addition to the payment to Mr. Gigli for the town house, the Cambodian government paid $300,000 to another buyer who signed over a previous contract to buy it, according to Mr. Gigli.
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Note: Credit is due to Details are sketchy for posting this story.
He tore out the ceiling of the garden level apartment to make a double-height studio, and put up a 16-foot-high wall of glass in the rear garden to let in the northern light. It was there that Mr. Gigli photographed the notable and ephemeral, from President John F. Kennedy to members of the Saudi royal family to the movie stars of the moment.
And looking out the window one day in 1960, he conjured up his most famous photograph, “Girls in the Window,” a dreamlike vision of 47 women in colorful clothing, with upraised arms, standing in the bare drab window frames of the windows of three brownstone tenements across the street, just a day before they were torn down. They were soon replaced by an apartment tower.
Mr. Gigli and his wife, Sue Ellen Gigli, lived above the studio and rented out other apartments in the building. But as the golden age of color picture magazines drew to a close, Mr. Gigli, who is now 81, moved to his farmhouse in West Stockbridge, Mass., in the Berkshires, keeping a small apartment on East 58th Street and renting the rest.
The Giglis put their town house up for sale for $5.5 million earlier this year as an open listing, available to all brokers. Dexter Guerrieri, the president of Vandenberg Inc., which showed the house, said buyers were drawn to the 23.5-foot-wide space and the wall of glass opening to the garden. A few weeks ago, the Giglis moved out the last of their possessions and closed on the sale for $5.1 million.
The apartment will enjoy a celebrity of another sort.
According to property records, the building was bought by the Kingdom of Cambodia. Mr. Gigli said he understood the upper floors would be converted into an ambassador’s residence, while the lower floors would be used as government offices.
At the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations, the telephone was answered by the ambassador’s assistant, who said that there was no press attaché or other staff members available and that only the ambassador, Chem Widhya, could answer questions. He was unavailable. Cambodian government Web sites show that the ambassador, who is also the nonresident ambassador to Canada, currently lives in Forest Hills, Queens.
Public records also show that the Cambodian government apparently was eager to buy the town house. In addition to the payment to Mr. Gigli for the town house, the Cambodian government paid $300,000 to another buyer who signed over a previous contract to buy it, according to Mr. Gigli.
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Note: Credit is due to Details are sketchy for posting this story.
21 comments:
He deserved it.. We need this guy in the UN to represent the true image of Cambodia.....
We can't help the youth with jobs/training, but we can live in style while we think about it.
Anyway, its only 5.5millions, not 6m..
cong kak tu lation Mr ambassador
your are better than your dad
Mr Chem Sgoun Ex. Khmer Rouse
ambassador to China during Sdach Kraham Sihanouk.
Congratulation! what a wonderful life style of Mr. Chem Widhya and cambodian government! Wow the beggar government is begging until became a rich millionaire. I want to be a rich millionaire too, may be I should go around begging until rich. Oh $5.1 million for a townhouse? for a place to stay? But 14 millions Killing Field Kids don't have food and education. It is so sade, this is very hurt me. Seeing my khmer poeple starving, the Hun Sen government is very good in spending. The Cambodian Ambassador to the UN is just need the place to sleep and doing his jobs, why is he hungry for a $5.1 millions townhole. In the United State if you have $5.1 millions dollars you can buy up to ten houses. Oh million Killing field Kids! When are you going to see the life without sorrow and poverty. I urge all of you the corrupted government, please don't waste million dollars without thinking a bout the country and the people.
By Norodom Reajeasie
Well, at least he has the decency to bargain the price down instead of attempting to keep $0.4 million for himself. Properties around the U.N. and New York are not cheap, so the price is reasonable. Obviously, one can buy up to 10 houses with that amount elsewhere in the U.S., but one will have to fly to work at U.N. building in New York.
It is not his official residence forever, and the government can always sell it out when it is no longer needed. The price of such a nice property can only go up, not down, in New York. Of course, it's a lot of money for the cash-strapped Cambodia, but it does not justify dressing ourselves as beggars on international soil. One of the ambassador's duties is to hold occasional receptions at his offical residence for influential figures from the U.N. It's one of the necessary means to keep their interests in Cambodia. And, Chem Widhya should have a decent facility to host such an event.
He is Cambodia's face in the U.N., a civilised place. Whatever we want him to represent our country (a beggar country or a proud country with the famous Angkor Wat) should be properly justified. Of course, everyone will have different opinions on that.
Whatever sick man. You're making me sick!
Norodum Reajeasic and 4:09 Pm ! read it again!
The price of the town house by owner is 5.1 million, but the Cambodia Ambasador pay extra $300,000 (.3 million) to some crontract signers, after he negotiated down from 5.5 million!
Do you see something fishee about owner get 5.1 miliion and a lucky man get .3million for one draw of signature!
It sounds like you are one of his cronies. It would be just fine for Cambodia to buy such a property only if Cambodia government is serious in taking care of their people as the way they take care of their ambassadors. Just to let you know, Cambodians are not proud of their government. In this case Cambodians have the full right to criticize anyone who exploiting Cambodia's interests.
THE AMBASADOR STOLE $300,000 (.3MILLION) CAN YOU SEE CRONIES!
I can agree with all of you. Cambodia is poor and should not waste money on real estate; money that could otherwise help children or people in dire need of food, clothing and education. I am the father of 3 Cambodian children who recently came to the U. S. and I know how bad the Cambodian educational system is. On the other hand, the ambassador needs to represent his country, and unfortunately, a certain etiquette and style is required. But that can also be done by renting a ballroom at one of the bigger hotels in N. Y. Cambodia needs to get on its feet before it can act like a 'fat cat'.
Oh my people!
AH Chem Widhya is a monkey to begin with! Like all other monkeys in AH HUN SEN government they feel the need to look important!
Living in a big mansion, Wearing a three pieces suit, and Having alot of money to spend can make any monkey look important and successful and not to mention to attrack more women!ahahahahha.
You see this townhouse is too big to live all alone by AH CHEM WIDHYA! So this monkey better do his fucken job well and must produce result otherwise other monkey will have to take his place!
good discay!
Is Hun Sen's croony can do anything good for Cambodia and Cambodian, especialy Khmer?
There are proper rules and regulations in the U.S. in real estate dealing, it is certainly not the same as in Cambodia. Corruption is certainly not tolerated there. It is a general knowledge that rich Cambodians don't want to live in western countries, such as the U.S., because of the high taxes and there are law and order. In Cambodia, they can do whatever they want. Only Cambodians with little opportunity in Cambodia dream of making a new life in a western country, where they can work hard and earn good money for their families. It is also a sanctuary for those political activists who are persecuted by their own governments.
Obviously, there are always some rotten fish in a basket. Chem Widhya is a fine and humble man, who also earns his respect even outside the CPP circle. I bet none of the commentators here could speak as many languages as he does or would be properly qualified to do his job. Don't let your jealousy and blind passion cloud your judgement. That is one of the main factors causing friction in the Khmer society today. We kill each other over little nothing while ignoring the big picture. Somebody who speaks the truth is usually branded a crony by those who fear the truth, just like the Cambodian government brands the anti-corruption demonstrators as possible terrorists or troublemakers. May common sense prevail.
To 11:41AM
What? Now how many languages does a person need to know or speak to be an ambassador in United States? I thought English is the number one spoken language on the face of the planet!
I will tell you! Cambodia is living in HUN SEN's world! In HUN SEN's world the right has become wrong and the good has become evil! How do I know? Well just look at HUN SEN himself! He is a vice-president and yet he plays a role of the president and making all kinds of stupid decisions! ahahahahhahha
Halaluya!
It makes me wonder who in the he.. is going to clean that expensive property for him?
A housekeeper in the US isn't cheap either! get ready for a thousand bucks a month or more to keep up its appearance. Otherwise it will go to h... in 6 months or less!
Only a millionaire or a movie star can live in a 5M mansion in the US. Sucker!
It's just making me sick when he knows that our people live in a rotten sacks,especially the one that got chased out of Phnom Pehn not too long ago and Mr. Emb to the UN here show case himself in a lavish expensive mansion. I could just throw up right now!
For those of you who support that Monkey idea, please know that the whole know how poor and rotten we are. What is it showing off for more hates?
You got one now!!!!
Halaluya!
It makes me wonder who in the he.. is going to clean that expensive property for him?
A housekeeper in the US isn't cheap either! get ready for a thousand bucks a month or more to keep up its appearance. Otherwise it will go to h... in 6 months or less!
Only a millionaire or a movie star can live in a 5M mansion in the US. Sucker!
It's just making me sick when he knows that our people live in a rotten sack and don't even have anything to eat, especially those that got chased out of Phnom Pehn not too long ago and Mr. Emb to the UN here shows case himself in a lavish expensive mansion. I could just throw up right now!
For those of you who support that Monkey idea, please know that the whole world know how poor and rotten we are. Are you trying to be a counterfitter? or what is it showing off for more hates?
You got one now!!!!
We adore the SRP, because they are a lot more sensitve to our own poor people. In general to us Khmers who can think clearly what is good and what is bad or dumb or smart idea to us. Those ignorant current government just agitate me everytime I see or heard any thing about them. What would it take for them to get the point across? I just don't get it? Oil's money isn't, yet Mr! You 're the type of leader that people love to spit into your face when they see you! and you certainly deserve it! Act lovable, do lovable thing, if you want love . As simple as that. What is so hard about it?
Yes! what is so hard about it stupid?
Many many of our people's needs go unfulfilled and yet, one arrogant man supporting by an arrogant governemnt, goes cowardly and shamelessly showing off their money from begging the others.
5.1M is kind of waste of money. Where does former Ambossador live before this guy? A townhome of 5.1 and pay to other buyer for $300,000. What kind of deal is it? You're a stupid Ambassador. Why you don't find other property that don't need to pay other buyer? Can you live in a rental apartment?
So dump khmer leader....
My one of many concerns is that this is how our government wastes our hard-earned tax paid riel!! our children will even have to worry how they should deal with taxes that will be used extravagently like this.
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