The American Irish Historical Society building is heading for the selling block again, the Echo understands.
The storied Gilded Age mansion at 991 Fifth Avenue was for sale a few years ago but there was no buyer.
At time of writing there has been no public statement from the society regarding a plan to sell its headquarters building.
Back in 2021, when the building was put on the block, the initial listing price was $52 million. But over time that was reduced to $44 million.
There has been a significant debate in the Irish American community in New York as to the future of 991 Fifth.
There are those in favor of selling, and there are those against.
There is no argument that for many years the AIHS at 991 has been a jewel in the Irish American crown in terms of location, architecture, and its centrality to Irish American culture and life.
In recent years the AIHS has been battered by argument and controversy. The building, as buildings do, has remained mute.
When it was offered for sale in January, 2021 the AIHS released a statement explaining the decision to sell the building.
That statement said: "The American Irish Historical Society is placing its present headquarters at 991 Fifth Avenue on the market. The building, which has been the Society's headquarters since 1940, was designed by James R. Turner and William G. Killian in 1901 as a private residence and has had three previous owners.
"Before moving to 991 Fifth Avenue, the Society was based first at the old Manhattan Hotel, then the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and then at 132 East 16th Street. The AIHS is a cultural and scholarly organization devoted to making better known the history of the Irish in the United States as well as to celebrating the riches of Irish culture globally.
"The decision to place the building on the market has been made in order to best enable the Society to pursue its cultural and scholarly mission in a sustainable manner. The Society has selected the firm of Brown Harris Stevens to represent the sale of the property."
