May 31, 2016

The NYC Subway Accounts for 100-Percent of the Nation’s Transit Growth, Says New Study

Although the NYC subway system may be hemorrhaging money, unable to turn a profit despite annual fare increases, expanded services and a slew of other measures, there is one thing that it can gloat about. According to a just-released annual report from the American Public Transportation Association (h/t New Geography), the New York City subway accounts for ALL of the transit increase seen in the United States between 2005 and 2015. In the last decade, subway ridership has ballooned nearly a billion trips, while transit systems outside the New York City subway saw a loss of nearly 200 million riders over the same period. And if current figures are any indication of what's to come, this trend will only strengthen. As 6sqft reported in April, NYC subway hit 1.7 billion annual trips, the highest since 1948 when ridership was at its peak.
more details here
May 31, 2016

Celebrated Neurologist and Author Oliver Sacks’ West Village Apartment Lists for $3.25M

Oliver Sacks, British neurologist, author and enchanted, inspired seeker of the human mind finally succumbed to cancer last August at the age of 83; the good doctor’s apartment (used as his office in recent years) in one of the city's venerable prewar apartment buildings developed by the legendary Bing and Bing at 2 Horatio Street is now for sale for $3.25 million. Apartment 3G (fittingly, somehow, as we can imagine the denizens of the soap-noir newspaper comic strip living in one of these prewar classics) is one among many in the developer's iconic Manhattan residences that boasts lovely prewar architecture, generously-sized rooms and enduring modern design.
Take a look
May 31, 2016

After a Luxurious Gut Renovation, this Beekman Townhouse Asks $14.5M

It's pretty bold for a listing to deem its property "sheer perfection," but that's the case when it comes to 319 East 51st Street, a townhouse in the Beekman enclave of Midtown East. The home was last purchased by the hedge fund executive Timothy Greatorex and his wife Deborah Greatorex for $4.6 million in 2011. After a top-to-bottom, dripping-in-luxury gut renovation, it's back on the market for a cool $14.5 million.
See more of the reno
May 31, 2016

Lottery Opens for 36 Middle-Income Apartments Across Harlem, Starting at $1,156/Month

Now that de Blasio's made a pretty significant dent in his goal of building or preserving 200,000 units of affordable housing over the next decade, there seem to be more middle-income housing lotteries opening, in addition to the influx of low-income lotteries that began popping up with a vengeance at the end of last year. The latest offers 36 newly rehabilitated units across five Harlem buildings, running from the border of Morningside Heights at 116th Street up to 138th Street. They're priced between $1,156 for studios, $1,562 for one-bedrooms, $1,591-$2,611 for two-bedrooms, and $1,831-$3,009 for three-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify
May 31, 2016

Lift-Bit Is the World’s First Digitally-Transformable Sofa

For the first time, a remote will control a section of your living room furniture that doesn't include your lights or home entertainment center. From the international design and innovation studio Carlo Ratti Associati, Lift-Bit is the world’s first digitally-transformable sofa. The wired furniture was created with the support of Swiss-owned furniture company Vitra and is made up of a series of modular seats fully stacked with the Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies. Each separate seat has the ability to raise or lower independently, thus introducing a multitude of seating configurations and functionality that can be controlled with the click of a button.
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May 31, 2016

Historic Wood-Frame House With a Lush Garden Asks $8,750/Month in Clinton Hill

Wood-frame houses are some of the oldest standing townhouses in Brooklyn, and the neighborhood of Clinton Hill boasts quite a few of them. This one at 123 Cambridge Place is now up for rent and would make for a nice summer pad. Not only does it have a rustic, country vibe inside the home, it's got a garden growing strawberries, plums, tomatoes and zucchini.
Take a look around
May 31, 2016

First Hudson Yards Tower Opens, Welcomes Coach to Its New HQ

10 Hudson Yards, the first building in what is one of the country's largest construction sites, is officially open for business on Manhattan's far west side. Fashion brand Coach is in the process of moving its headquarters to the 900-foot, 52-story mixed-use structure–known as Coach Tower–from its former location a few blocks away, the Wall Street Journal reports. For the luxury brand, the move represents an important milestone in a quest to re-establish its upscale image. The deal to move into a 738,000-square-foot office in the Kohn Pederson Fox-designed building made headlines when it was announced in 2013. Coach invested $750 million to buy the retail condo space for its new headquarters. Coach's design team worked with STUDIOS Architecture on their new workspace and dedicated entry lobby, which will feature a replica of the company’s famed product library: On display will be 2,000 handbags from past times to present, viewable by High Line visitors.
Find out what else is in store for 10 Hudson Yards
May 31, 2016

Ice Cream Truck Turf Wars; No One Wants to Stay at Trump Hotels

Long time ice cream truck favorite Mister Softee is being threatened by “occasionally bloody feuds” with competitor New York Ice Cream. [NYT] There have been more turf wars going on among feuding musicians at Central Park’s Strawberry Fields, but they’ve recently found a way to get along. [NYT] Bookings at Trump Hotels this year are down 59 percent compared […]

May 30, 2016

Two Bridges Rental Offers Family-Sized Homes with East River Views for Under $5,000/Month

The Two Bridges waterfront is one of the last bastions of affordability in lower Manhattan, but lately it seems word is getting out about its scenic waterfront locale that overlooks the rejuvenated East River shoreline and turn-of-the-century suspension bridges. Recently, two of the city's top high-end builders, Extell and JDS Development have penned soaring towers for the down-to-earth corner of the Lower East Side. Adjacent to those developments, sits the rental building 275 South Street, which is currently undergoing a dramatic overhaul that will renovate its exterior, makeover many of its capacious apartments, and debut a brand-new package of amenities.
Pricing this way
May 29, 2016

60 Affordable Studios Now Up For Grabs at the Boston Road Apartments in the Bronx

Applications are now being accepted for 60 newly constructed rental apartments at 1191 Boston Road in the Morrisania section of the Bronx. The 90,000-square-foot development is situated between East 167th and 168th Streets and will exclusively house studio apartments priced at a monthly rent of $550/month. The building is geared for low-income individuals and formerly homeless single adults. To qualify for an apartment, applicants must fall within annual income ranges of $18,000 to $35,280 per year.
Find out more
May 28, 2016

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

May’s 10 Most-Read Stories Lottery Launches for 29 Affordable Units at Extell’s 70 Charlton in West Soho, From $833/Month 50 Years Ago, Donald Trump’s Father Demolished Coney Island’s Beloved Steeplechase Park 7,500-Name Waitlist Opens for 975 Affordable Units at Harlem’s Riverton Complex Live in Extell’s Hudson Yards Skyscraper 555Ten for $910/Month 15 Air-Purifying Plants to […]

May 27, 2016

Rent a Former Carriage House in the Historic Washington Mews for $30K/Month

Washington Mews might be one of the best blocks not just in Greenwich Village, but in all of New York City. It's a gated, cobblestone street that's lined with quaint carriage houses and one of them has just hit the market, asking $30,000 a month. Located at 64 Washington Mews, it's been totally renovated into a lofty and modern two-bedroom home with three levels connected by an open staircase and lit by skylights.
Take a look
May 27, 2016

Housing Lottery Launches for 135 New Rentals in Mott Haven, From $538/Month

Up-and-comer "It" neighborhood Mott Haven in the South Bronx kicks off a brand new housing lottery today with 135 new rentals up for grabs at 500 Union Avenue. The 14-story residence, dubbed the Crossroads II Plaza, has been dedicated to below-market rate housing and is part of the larger three-building Crossroad Plaza project, which includes a include a 21,278-square-foot community facility and 37,687 square feet of commercial space. Affordable apartments have been priced between $538-$861 for one-bedrooms, $655-$1,042 for two-bedrooms, and $749-$1,196 for three-bedrooms.
FInd out if you qualify here
May 27, 2016

Spotlight: Adam Blumenthal Keeps Magic Alive at 91-Year-Old Tannen’s

At a time when the inner workings of so many things have been demystified, magic still has the ability to stump us. But for magicians to make tricks look seamless, a tremendous amount of time is invested in perfecting the craft and engaging with colleagues who can help them grow and develop their skills. And in New York, magic is cultivated on a daily basis above the hustle and bustle of 34th Street at Tannen’s Magic. The business has been serving the magic community since Louis Tannen opened a street stand in 1925. He later took the business indoors, where it became a gathering place for magicians of all ages and skill levels to purchase and practice their tricks. The current keeper of Tannen’s tradition is Adam Blumenthal, who fell in love with magic at a young age, in part thanks to the store, and is now responsible for ensuring its legacy and introducing it to a new generation of magicians. 6sqft recently spoke with Adam to learn more about magic, Tannen’s, and New York’s magicians.
Read the interview here
May 27, 2016

All Engines SHVO at Three New Manhattan Condo Developments

Earlier this month, the Wall Street Journal profiled broker-turned-developer Michael Shvo and revealed his development company SHVO now has more than $4 billion dollars worth of projects in the works for the city. While many are still in planning stages and have yet to be released to the public, construction is moving ahead on a trio of condominium developments along Manhattan's western spine -- the Getty, 125 Greenwich Street, and 565 Broome SoHo (as a development partner). While varied in neighborhood and scale, they all enlist high-caliber architects and will bring Shvo's characteristic high level of attention to detail and "pursuit of perfection."
Get the rundown on all three developments
May 27, 2016

Uroboro Is a Simple Yet Stylish Home Composter That Feeds Your Plants Using Worms

New Yorkers tend to be pretty environmentally conscious, but when it comes to composting, we just don't have the means to make it work without backyards or bulky, high-tech appliances. With these limitations in mind, Portuguese designer Marco Balsinha has come up with a solution. His  home vermicomposter called Uroboro is a simple design of stacked pots that hold dirt and food waste, which is broken down by earthworms. Explained by Core 77, it's corked on the bottom and topped by a planter that indicates the level of decomposition.
Learn more
May 27, 2016

This $1.35M Barrel-Fronted Bay Ridge Townhouse Is Definitely a Goldilocks Situation

If you're dreaming of a townhouse in Brooklyn and you haven't considered Bay Ridge, this 2,424 square-foot two story home at 654 76th Street might change your mind. With four bedrooms, tons of parlor living space, beautifully restored original details and a large, lovely and landscaped yard, there's not much that isn't just right about it. Even the $1.35 million ask seems reasonable in this market, when expanding families are scrambling to find space they can afford. That said, the house last changed hands in 2012 for $625,000 (and we're thinking the seller was probably happy with that number even then, especially since the home likely hadn't been renovated).
Tour this not-to-big-not-too-small-home
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May 27, 2016

Angular Skyscraper One Sixty Madison Offering Two Months Free Rent

Soaring nearly 500 feet into the Manhattan skyline, One Sixty Madison is a shimmering 45-floor rental tower at the boundary of the Murray Hill and Nomad neighborhoods. Developed by J.D. Carlisle Development and designed by SLCE Architects, with interiors by Philip Koether Architects, the uniquely massed building is rotated 45 degrees from its Madison Avenue and 33rd Street frontages, guaranteeing homes an abundance of light and air and stunning skyline views. For a limited time, the leasing team is offering incoming renters two months free on two-year leases and one month free on one-year leases, both with paid OP (broker fees). Current availabilities include an 11th floor studio with a net effective price of $3,263/month, one bedrooms starting from $4,412/month, and two-bedrooms beginning at $6,692/month.
Find out more about the building
May 27, 2016

MTA Flaunts Future Subway Map With Second Avenue Line

Perhaps in an attempt to distract disgruntled riders from looming shutdowns and never-ending delays, the MTA has released a new subway map that features stations along phase one of the Second Avenue line and the reinstated W line to Astoria. The former isn't planned to open until December (which, as Gothamist notes, we'll believe when we see) and the latter November, but if you were stuck on a sweaty platform this morning, this eye candy is surely a welcome treat.
See the full map here
May 26, 2016

Lottery Launches for 30 Affordable Units in Large New Crown Heights Building, From $913/Month

The building itself, designed by Issac & Stern Architects, may be pretty unremarkable, the same for the block on which it's located, but 505 Saint Mark's Avenue is in a prime Crown Heights location and offers some great amenities. It has 147 brand new units and is just steps off foodie haven Franklin Avenue and right around the corner from trendy food/beer hall Berg'n. While the market-rate apartments are pretty par for the course (a one-bedroom goes for about $2,500/month and a two-bedroom for around $3,600), a housing lottery has launched today for 30 affordable units, including $913 one-bedrooms and $1,065 two-bedrooms for individuals and households earning between $31,303 and $51,780 annually.
Find out if you qualify here
May 26, 2016

Harriet the Spy’s Upper East Side Townhouse Hits the Market for $4.95M

Retrace Harriet's "spy route" and settle in with a tomato sandwich at this Queen Anne-style townhouse said to be the residence that inspired the fictional home featured in "Harriet the Spy," the beloved book starring a precocious 11-year-old who spends her days documenting the moves of her friends and neighbors. According to The Post, the stunning 1880s property at 558 East 87th Street has just listed for $4.95 million, and it's the first time in nearly 70 years that it's been put up for sale. The rare Upper East Side gem is a corner construction, which gives it fantastic views of Gracie Mansion, Carl Schurz Park, and the East River—on top of excellent light from three exposures. And being situated on one of the leafiest and quietest blocks in the city, it's the perfect setting to get into covert shenanigans, à la Harriet.
Have a look inside here
May 26, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 5/26-6/1

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! If you're not heading out of town for the big holiday weekend, there's still plenty to keep you busy and cultured. Jeffrey Deitch's Coney Island Walls continue for a second season, with new murals starting this weekend. Arthelix will stay open for 72 hours for a tireless performative festival, while Williamsburg's former Cinders Gallery resurrects for a month at Brilliant Champions in Bushwick. Governors Island opens up for the season, with a free Kids festival, joined by a Classical Music festival for adults. If you're headed to the Hamptons for the weekend, be sure to check out Agathe Snow's curatorial project with Eric Firestone, or a rousing art talk with Annika Connor at the library. And while you scoot from one place to the next, be sure to check out Leah Oates' new exhibition for MTA Arts & Design, giving a burst of nature underneath Bryant Park.
More on all the best events this way
May 26, 2016

Anne Hathaway’s Infamous Former Midtown Love Nest for Rent for $48K a Month

We've followed ingenue Anne Hathaway through various life events as expressed in real estate transactions, including the Upper West Side penthouse she currently shares with husband Adam Shulman. Before that, there was the DUMBO Clocktower loft the actress reportedly used as an expensive closet. Now here's a peek at the glossy midtown duplex in the Olympic Tower condominium at 641 Fifth Avenue that Ms. Hathaway shared with ex-con ex Raffaello Follieri for $37K/month in the mid-2000s (h/t WSJ); the apartment is currently on the rental market for $48,000 a month. The listing points out that the glass-clad, dubiously decorated pad has the distinction of having been the rented home of the ill-starred couple during their "storybook romance," which makes a lot of sense if the storybook you're reading is a white collar crime novel about a 30-year-old con man arrested, convicted, incarcerated and deported for embezzlement and fraud, possibly with the aid of his actress girlfriend. But a different choice of words and more context should put this dressed-to impress duplex in a better light.
It would be a crime not to check out the views from here
May 26, 2016

C3D Architecture’s 232 Seventh Avenue Begins Its 17-Floor Climb in Chelsea

Near Chelsea's raggle-taggle intersection of Seventh Avenue and 23rd Street, a new residential building has begun its 17-floor rise skyward. The 53,135-square-foot tower designed by C3D Architecture will boast 50 rental apartments with first and cellar levels dedicated to commercial and retail uses. Floors two through 11 will be configured with four apartments per floor and floors 12-16 just two apartments apiece. According to C3D, the exterior will be clad in a subdued mix of limestone and metal panels with full-height glass windows wedged in between. The second floor will be provided a large rear terrace and all levels above will have west-facing balconies. The twelfth floor is setback and the uppermost four levels will be outfitted with street-facing balconies.
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