Olivia Dunne, known for her considerable social media following and celebrity status, recently faced an unexpected setback when the co-op board denied her application to purchase a $1.59 million apartment in New York City once owned by baseball legend Babe Ruth. This rejection highlights how stringent co-op boards can be, regardless of fame or financial capability.
Reasons Behind Olivia Dunne’s Apartment Purchase Denial
Olivia Dunne, also called Livvy, is a 22-year-old former LSU Tigers gymnast turned Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model. Over the years, she has built a massive online presence with 8 million followers on social media platforms. Despite her popularity, the co-op board at 345 West 88th Street, where Babe Ruth’s former residence is located, was unimpressed with her celebrity status and chose to reject her application.
On July 8, Dunne addressed her followers in a TikTok video, revealing that the co-op board had declined her bid to buy the prestigious New York condo. She expressed her disappointment, saying,
“The week that I’m supposed to get my keys to my brand new apartment, I get a call. The co-op board denied me,”
—Olivia Dunne, Athlete and Model.
She had planned to make an all-cash offer for the apartment and even visited the unit accompanied by her boyfriend Paul Skenes, a professional baseball pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Although Dunne acknowledged that her fame may have played a role in the board‘s decision, she admitted the rejection still hurt significantly.
Olivia Dunne’s Public Reaction to the Apartment Rejection
Several weeks after the rejection, on July 27, Dunne shared another TikTok clip showing her walking cheerfully through New York City streets while searching for alternative housing options. The video was captioned,
“What the NYC realtor’s hear when I’m back in NYC looking for an apartment.”
She added,
“It isn’t Babe Ruth’s apartment but it’ll do,”
—Olivia Dunne, Athlete and Model, indicating a spirit of resilience despite the earlier disappointment.
This follow-up video came as a response to the initial denial and portrayed Dunne’s continued efforts to find a new home in the city, accompanied by lighthearted music as she moved energetically through the urban landscape.
Challenges Posed by Co-op Boards for Celebrity Homebuyers
Cooperative housing buildings, or co-ops, are unique in that residents do not purchase individual units but rather buy shares in the corporation that owns the property. Ownership is thus linked to holding shares proportional to the size of one’s apartment. The approval process to become a co-op resident involves interviews with a board of directors who hold the authority to reject prospective buyers based on various criteria, including financial stability and perceived fit within the community.
Often run like nonprofit organizations, these co-op boards oversee the building’s budgets, maintenance, and general operations. Their decisions aim to protect the community’s interests, leading to strict buyer scrutiny and frequent denials, especially for those who do not meet subjective standards.
The building located at 345 West 88th Street on Manhattan’s Upper West Side consists of 52 units. Babe Ruth, the New York Yankees legend officially named George Herman Ruth, lived there from 1929 to 1941 along with his wife, Claire Merritt Ruth, and their adopted daughter Julia Ruth Stevens.
The apartment, originally a large 12-room residence now divided into two separate units, is known for its spacious layout, high ceilings, and distinctive wood flooring. It also features a broad living room window and built-in storage areas that reflect the charm of the historic home.
Impact and What Lies Ahead for Olivia Dunne and Similar Buyers
Olivia Dunne’s experience underscores the difficulties that even wealthy and famous individuals can encounter when navigating New York City’s complex real estate environment, primarily because of the rigorous co-op board approval process. Such boards often prioritize compatibility with the cooperative community over celebrity influence or financial offers.
Dunne’s efforts to find an apartment following the rejection demonstrate her persistence in securing a residence in the city despite obstacles. The incident also sheds light on the often opaque criteria co-op boards apply, which can be unpredictable and unyielding.
Looking forward, Dunne and other celebrity buyers may need to adjust expectations and strategies when pursuing co-op apartments in New York, perhaps focusing on buildings with less stringent boards or opting for different types of property ownership to avoid similar disappointments.