Billionaire Abramovich in talks to buy 828 Fifth leftovers

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich is already in contract to purchase three unconnected co-ops at 828 Fifth Avenue that were listed as a package by the Ronson family. But the man has something else up his sleeve: he is also well on his way to restoring the colossal Berwind Mansion to its original incarnation as a single-family residence.

Abramovich is in the process of working out arrangements with the co-op’s other residents as well — enabling him, ultimately, to piece together the triplex, penthouse and duplex maisonette that at one time comprised the mansion.

The original details of the mansion, currently carved up into five co-op units, include a ballroom with 17-foot high Louis XV ceilings.

Prolific developer and builder Howard Ronson previously owned three of the units, and his family tried to piece pick up the others. But ultimately he listed their holdings for $72 million with Sharon Baum, Leighton Candler and Deborah Grubman of the Corcoran Group, as well as Stribling & Associates’ Alexa Lambert. The listing was pulled last year.

One holdout was the owner of a fifth floor unit who is said to spend most of her time in South America, and another is fashion designer Adolfo Sardina, who owns the duplex maisonette.

For the time being, there is no word on whether Abramovich’s other buyouts are included in the rumored $75 million price he will pay. Baum praised the mansion’s beauty when contacted by the New York Observer, but otherwise declined to comment on the sale. [NYO] — Julie Strickland