Yue Sai Kan, the Emmy-winning TV host and cosmetics entrepreneur often dubbed the “Oprah of China,” has relisted her Manhattan townhouse for $19.99 million, a significant reduction from its 2020 asking price of $28 million. The listing highlights a rare urban amenity: access to Sutton Square Garden, a 12,000-square-foot private park perched along East River Drive with river views and a serene, park-like escape in the middle of Manhattan.
The 8,500-square-foot Neo-Georgian mansion sits on Sutton Square, a crescent of 18 townhomes where East 58th Street meets the East River. Built in 1920, the row of houses has long attracted Manhattan elites, including past residents such as Aristotle Onassis and Anne Vanderbilt. Kan’s home is among the handful of townhouses within Sutton Square that come with access to Sutton Square Garden, a park-side retreat that includes manicured lawns, blossoming cherry trees and rope swings that overlook the Queensboro Bridge and the river.
The residence itself includes seven bedrooms and 7.5 bathrooms, with a rooftop terrace spanning about 1,600 square feet that features an outdoor kitchen. Interior spaces emphasize classic detailing, including a living area with a gold dragon motif on the ceiling, a formal dining room, a sitting room with extensive molding and paneling, and a large bedroom. A modern kitchen completes the main floor, while a private rooftop terrace caps the property’s indoor-outdoor appeal. Kan’s renovation work over the years has preserved the home’s historic character while updating contemporary conveniences.
Kan purchased the residence with her former husband for $4.5 million in 1989 and has undertaken multiple renovations since. The property’s park-side facade, along with its proximity to the garden and river, has been highlighted by brokers as a defining feature that sets it apart from other townhouses in the area. The listing is handled by Serhant, with Lauren Mitinas-Kelly and Nicole Kelly serving as the listing agents. They note that the price reduction reflects ongoing adjustments in the high-end Manhattan market and the seller’s desire to provide a compelling entry point to a highly coveted, private urban retreat.
Sutton Square, which sits where East 58th Street meets the river, has long operated as a discreet enclave within Midtown East. The 1920 development is known for its privacy and exclusivity, attracting investors and homeowners who prize access to a tranquil, river-facing green space without leaving the city. The privately managed Sutton Square Garden has functioned as a much-anticipated amenity for select residents, offering a respite from the density of surrounding neighborhoods.
Kan has publicly described the home as a space that feels comfortable and energetically positive, referencing feng shui in conversations with local press. In describing the property’s appeal, she has contrasted the ease of living in a city home with the time and expense of long commutes to more distant getaways, underscoring the value of an urban retreat that combines greenery with panoramic river views. While the price has been reduced since the property first hit the market in 2020, the listing remains active as Serhant works to attract a buyer who values both the architectural pedigree of Sutton Square and the rare privilege of a private garden within Manhattan.
The listing’s emphasis on the lawn and garden setting reflects a broader trend among luxury buyers seeking outdoor space in dense urban settings. Sutton Square Garden’s presence adds a distinctive, bucolic element to a property that otherwise embodies historic Manhattan living in a modern, scale-rich home. With its combination of gracious rooms, outdoor living space, and a coveted riverfront lawn, Kan’s townhouse stands as a notable example of the city’s evolving luxury landscape, where privacy, heritage, and nature converge in the heart of Midtown.