April 30, 2016

April’s 10 Most-Read Stories and This Week’s Features

April’s 10 Most-Read Stories The Bronx’s Depression-Era Boxcar Village, Where Lodging Was $3/Month Apply for 86 Affordable Apartments in Brownsville’s Prospect Plaza, Starting at $689/Month Lottery Launches for 181 Affordable Units in Pacific Park’s Modular Tower Uma Thurman’s Newly-Listed $6.25M Gramercy Duplex Comes With a Key to the Park Skyline Wars: In Lower Manhattan, A […]

April 30, 2016

The Upper West Side Readies For Two Synagogue-Replacing Condo Skyscrapers

The Upper West Side has proven to be one of the most difficult areas to build, with a growing amount of land area contained in historic districts and much of the remainder constrained by tight zoning regulations. Over the years, its protective residents have been involved in the city's most memorable development battles: fighting tooth and nail to reduce the scale of the Riverside South master plan; lessen shadows caused by the redevelopment of the New York Coliseum site (Time Warner Center); and more recently spearheading the downzoning of a 51-block swath of Broadway due to grievances caused by Extell's Ariel East and West towers. For the most part, the defensive strategy has allowed the neighborhood to retain much of its pre-war charms and human-scaled side streets. However, along its southern edge, where the buildings around Lincoln Center scale upwards to Midtown, zoning allowances are more generous. Two as-of-right towers are sure to ruffle some preservationists' feathers and are poised to be the neighborhood's biggest yet.
Get the scoop on the towers here
April 29, 2016

Charming $1.15M Greenpoint Garden Duplex Arrives Just in Time for Spring

If you find yourself drawn to the idea of living in Greenpoint, you're definitely not alone. An afternoon in the neighborhood that was until recently a sleepy north Brooklyn Polish enclave on the waterfront with artists' lofts and good schools would convince almost anyone that it's a perfect place to call home. There's a building boom happening along the river, new ferry service has arrived and the G train is becoming the popular underdog. All of that makes this two-bedroom condominium at 182 Huron Street a hot prospect, though the 1,250-foot duplex with a landscaped garden makes a good case all on its own.
More Greenpoint living this way
April 29, 2016

Website Launches for New City-Wide Ferry, Win a Free Annual Pass

The new city-wide ferry system is on schedule to launch in summer 2017, and ahead of that launch, the ferry service, which will be run by the San Francisco-based Hornblower, has launched their new website. Visitors can find out about the ferry, and, more importantly, enter to win a free annual pass. Winners will be announced when the service launches next summer. The site features updates, public meeting info, maps and schedules, and postings for more than 150 jobs that will be created by the new service.
Find out more
April 29, 2016

Spotlight: Mommy Poppins’ Anna Fader Shares Tips for Raising Kids in NYC

With school out for break this week, parents all over New York City have been looking for activities to occupy their youngsters. Many turn to Mommy Poppins, a local guide for the best preschools, classes, camps, events, trips, and generally fun stuff to do with kids in the city on every budget. The go-to site for parents was founded in 2007 by native New Yorker Anna Fader who wanted to share her vision for a "more artsy, educational, non-commercialized and community-oriented way to raise kids in New York City." It's since expanded to include Long Island, New Jersey, Westchester, Connecticut, Boston, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, as well as an app that helps parents find things like playgrounds and restaurants on the go. 6sqft recently caught up with Anna to learn about her personal experiences raising a family downtown and get some insider tips on the best things to do with kids in New York.
Read the interview here
April 29, 2016

Kitchen Balcony Creates ‘Critical Romance’ in This Contemporary West Village Loft

Loft living in the West Village is nothing short of a New York City fantasy, and this gorgeous property renovated by Daniel Frisch Architecture is certainly a dream come true for its lucky inhabitants. The multi-level apartment features a dramatic double-height master bedroom and living room, but the real showstopper is the snake-like upper level, which has a suspended balcony that hovers over the kitchen, creating the perfect perch for enjoying ariel views of the space below.
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April 29, 2016

Don’t Look Up: Would Traffic Signals in the Pavement Protect NYC Phone Gazers?

We've already seen the creation of texting lanes for smartphone addicts (in Antwerp, Belgium and Chongqing, China) so pedestrians don't have to be stuck behind someone hunting for the perfect emoji. Recently the German city of Augsburg has taken the step of actually installing traffic lights in the pavement so text-walkers could be made aware of when it's unsafe to walk–by which we mean they're about to walk into the path of a 50-ton train. The idea came about after a 15-year-old girl was fatally hit by an oncoming tram while wearing headphones and looking down at her smartphone. As reported in The Telegraph, the lights look like ordinary road markers, but flat to the ground. Bavarian public-works/transportation provider Stadtwerke Augsburg has installed the experimental earthbound traffic signals in two rail stations. The LED lights blink green when it's safe to walk and red when a train is approaching. They're visible from a distance, so they might even give pedestrians some lead time to realize an intersection is up ahead.
Find out more
April 29, 2016

Lottery Commences for 79 Affordable Units in Crotona Park East

A couple weeks ago, 6sqft got word of an affordable housing lottery at 1702 Bryant Avenue in the Bronx's Crotona Park East, "one of a few areas that seemed slow to catch up with the rest of the borough." Five years ago, the city rezoned this small neighborhood from light industrial use to residential, which created a rise in affordable housing opportunities. The latest offering is at 950 East 176th Street. It's Building A of the Crotona Terrace development and will have 79 affordable units. Though the address is just a few short blocks from the park, it's also directly adjacent to the Cross Bronx Expressway and elevated tracks of the 2/5 trains, a fact that might seem like less of a nuisance considering the apartments range from $975/month studios to $1,486/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
April 28, 2016

Ozzy Osbourne Meets Hansel and Gretel in Video Director Johan Renck’s $3M Tribeca Loft

With classic industrial loft bones and downtown shabby chic interiors, this big, bold loft at 79 Worth Street in Tribeca is asking $3.1 million. At 1,909 square feet, there's plenty of room to choose between shabby and chic, and to be fair, the decor is not only on-trend but fairly awesome. According to records, the current owner is noted Swedish video director Johan Renck (he's worked with everyone from David Bowie and Madonna to Karl Lagerfeld and directed episodes of "Breaking Bad"), who purchased the loft in 2009 for $1.5 million. We don't know if he's responsible for the apartment's current look, but we can definitely see both a creative and a Scandinavian influence.
Check out the rest of the loft this way
April 28, 2016

Queens’ Tallest Tower Gets Bumped to Supertall Status at 984 Feet

In February, Flushing-based developer Chris Jiashu Xu of United Construction & Development Group filed plans for a 79-story, 964-foot residential tower in Long Island City, giving it the title of would-be tallest tower in Queens. Dubbed Court Square City View Tower, it's located just north of One Court Square (the borough's current tallest building at 658 feet), but new information reveals that it will now steal the title by even more of a landslide. The developer put in a request with the Federal Aviation Administration for a 984-foot-tall tower, sending it into supertall territory. And with its mechanical bulkhead, the structure will rise 1,000 feet.
The rest of the details
April 28, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 4/28-5/4

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! Spring has finally arrived and with it comes another dose of stimulating art events, starting with an eye-opening photo exhibit of artists along the U.S.-Mexican Border, as well as the much-anticipated spring edition of Greenpoint Open Studios. If you're looking for a more interactive experience, check out the Mad Hatters Ball at the McKittrick Hotel on Saturday or the Art into Action later on in the week. From the gallery side of things,  Jenn Singer Gallery will be exhibiting an unconventional body of work from Brooklyn-based artist Emily Weiskopf, and the Booth Gallery will be debuting several works from the controversial Norwegian painter Odd Nerdrum. In addition to these thought-provoking solo shows, Brooklyn's Center for Performance Research will host a group show entitled Beaver, challenging the role of female sexuality in mainstream media.
More on all the best events this way
April 28, 2016

JDS and SHoP Architects Unveil Plan for 900-Foot Lower East Side Tower

There's a new tallest tower taking over the Lower East Side, and unsurprisingly it comes to us via the supertall super-team of JDS Development and SHoP Architects, the same duo responsible for the 1,438-foot-tall 111 West 57th Street and 9 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn's first 1,000+ foot tower. Their latest record-setter is a 900-foot, 77-story rental building planned for 247 Cherry Street, reports The Lo-Down. It will rise directly next to Extell's One Manhattan Square, which made waves for its 850-foot height in the low-scale Two Bridges area. The newest tallest tower between Midtown and Downtown will have a 10,000-square-foot retail base with 600 rental apartments above, about 150 of which will be made permanently affordable. Though the design isn't finalized, SHoP says it will likely be terracotta brick and glass and feature outdoor terraces in the middle. There will also be a top-floor amenity space for all residents, and SCAPE Landscape Architecture has been tapped to create a publicly accessible plaza surrounding the structure.
More details this way
April 28, 2016

First Look at COOKFOX’s Affordable Housing Development in East Tremont

Here's a first look at a new two-building development in the Bronx's East Tremont section designed by COOKFOX. Developed by nonprofit Breaking Ground, the project will include housing for low-income families and formerly homeless individuals, in addition to on-site social services and a community room. The structure will be encased in brick, which will have alternating rows protruding and receding by a half inch, giving it an appearance meant to reference "ocean sand or tree bark patterns." It will also boast many eco-efficient features and will qualify for Zone Green benefits, allowing extra floor area for affordable homes, according to the architects.
More on the project
April 28, 2016

Former Home of Alexander Hamilton Jr. on St. Mark’s Place Sells for $10M

Tickets to Broadway's Hamilton just keep going up and up, but the famous surname didn't seem to help Alexander Hamilton Jr.'s former East Village home in the price department. The founding father's son was the first owner of the Federal-style townhouse at 4 St. Mark's Place, which hit the market back in November for $12 million. But the Commercial Observer reports that the landmarked property (and recent home of famous punk store Trash and Vaudeville) sold for only $10 million to Castellan Real Estate Partners.
The history and future of Hamilton's former home
April 28, 2016

Live in a Lofty Triplex Apartment at a Former 1880s Firehouse for $4,500/Month

Before 735 Dean Street was anybody's home, it was the post of Engine Company 219, who moved in when the firehouse was built in 1880. The historic structure in Prospect Heights has since been converted to apartments, one of which is this 1,400-square-foot triplex being offered for rent. From the inside, though, you wouldn't guess this was in an old fire station; it looks like your typical Brooklyn loft.
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April 28, 2016

Meet the Man Behind Google’s Doodles; Movers for the One Percent

As Google’s chief doodler, 35-year-old Ryan Germick shows how creative types are integral to the tech sector. [BBC] An artist is suing Big Gay Ice Cream over their unicorn logo. [NYP] “White glove” moving services can cost luxury homeowners tens of thousands of dollars. [WSJ] The Textalyzer could help curb distracted driving in New York. […]

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April 28, 2016

Stuff You Should Know: How NYC School Zones and Districts Work

It’s a longstanding New York City tradition—families relocating to live in a desirable school district or zone. Currently, all five of the city’s boroughs are divided into districts and zones and both come with their own currency. Districts, which usually cover large swaths of a borough, impact students’ middle school and in some cases, high school choices. Zones, by contrast, can run just a few blocks and are usually the sole criteria for assigning students to schools at the elementary level. Like many things in New York City, however, a block can make a world of difference.
more on School Zones and Districts here
April 28, 2016

New Williamsburg Condos Tout Parisian Style and Industrial Craftsmanship

Near the corner of Union Avenue and Conselyea Street in East Williamsburg, a modestly sized six-floor condominium is underway. Addressed 476 Union Avenue, the project is designed and developed by the Meshberg Group, who purchased a four-story, walk-up building formerly at the lot for $2.4 million. Rising from the structural bones of the prior building, the 8,650-square-foot development will offer nine condos that the team proclaims are where "Parisian style meets industrial craftsmanship."
More details ahead
April 27, 2016

It’s Official! Construction on Barry Diller’s Futuristic Offshore Park to Begin This Summer

Earlier this month, Barry Diller's futuristic offshore park got closer to reality when the Manhattan Supreme Court dismissed a case against the development that claimed it could have a negative environmental impact. And now the $130 million project known as Pier 55 has cleared its final hurdle, gaining regulatory approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to Crain's, the Hudson River Park Trust revealed today that construction will commence this summer.
More ahead
April 27, 2016

Transit Think Tank Says MSG Move Could Be a $5B Example of ‘Architects Run Wild’

Moving MSG to make room for a bigger, better Penn Station train hub would be really expensive and probably not a good idea, according to a new report by transit think tank Rudin Center for Transportation Policy. Commercial Observer reports that the just-released study outlines the concern that moving the arena would come with a price tag of over $5 billion, take, like, forever, and would generally "become an urban planner’s worst nightmare." The study refers to the proposed overhaul of Pennsylvania Station and the idea of extending it to the post office off Eighth Avenue as well as suggestions by urban planners for relocating MSG.
So what's going to cost so much?
April 27, 2016

Exclusive Photos: Tour the Lavish South Wing of the Gilded Age Villard Houses

The Gilded Age mansions that once stood along 5th Avenue -- nicknamed Millionaire's Row -- have mostly met the wrecking ball. But the Villard Houses remain remarkably preserved since their construction in 1884. The famed architecture firm McKim, Mead and White designed this visionary six-house complex for Henry Villard, a railroad magnate whose empire began to crumble as construction wrapped. Today -- after many changes in ownership and a landmark designation -- the buildings stand as the entrance to the Lotte Palace Hotel. The hotel has just offered several rooms inside the south wing of the property, the former home of Villard himself, up for lease, offering a rare look into the lavish interior that's hardly changed since it was designed over 100 years ago.
More history and lots of interior photos this way
April 27, 2016

Tips for First-Time Renters and Students Leaving the Dorm

Rents across the city may be climbing, but that’s not keeping college students from wanting to flex their newfound autonomy even further by leaving their dorm for digs off campus. Unfortunately for many of these young scholars—and many first-time renters like them—searches typically start off with head-in-the-clouds expectations (“I had this fantasy about scoring a place with a fireplace and […]

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