May 8, 2014

Matthew Blesso’s Green Noho Penthouse Sells for $7.35 Million

It may not be easy being green but it sure is pretty. The new owner of Matthew Blesso’s famously renovated Noho Penthouse at 684 Broadway would likely agree. Blesso purchased the penthouse apartment back in 2006 from architect Hugh Hardy, then he proceeded to gut renovate the entire thing with the help of Joel Sanders Architect. Ow. Blesso’s vision was to create a pad sustainable enough to draw Thoreau himself to the concrete jungle. The apartment, listed by the Corcoran Group, is definitely in tune with mother nature with FSC-certified wood throughout, including its hardwood floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows keep it connected to the outside world, and just looking at the place makes you want to do a sun salutation. Well, if tables made from fallen trees and an original mural by artist Doze Green isn’t enough to convince you of the commitment of this apartment to green living, the roof deck definitely will.
Check out more photos of this urban oasis here
May 8, 2014

Socialite Valerie Mnuchin Buys a Slice of Heaven on Park Ave

Valerie Mnuchin, daughter of former Goldman Sachs exec and current art dealer Robert Mnuchin, has just become the proud owner of a gorgeous 4BR/5.5BA penthouse on the UES. This three story apartment, redesigned in 1953 as a collaboration between original developer Henry Mandel and architects John Sloan and Albert Nast, has retained much of its pre-war charm with an original wood paneled library and a tromp l’oeil ceiling. The opulent triplex, occupying the 15th-17th floors of 898 Park Avenue, features views of the city right from it’s brightly lit formal dining room. The views don’t stop there either. The entire apartment is outfitted with large windows, most notably the ones that line the walls of the 16th floor, showcasing a wraparound terrace large enough for plush lounging furniture and plenty of foliage. And while we’re on the topic of the plentiful, let’s discuss the insane amount of storage space in this 4,100 square-foot mansion disguised as an apartment. Each of the apartment’s four bedrooms comes with an abundance of closet space and an en-suite bathroom.
Check out more of this dream home here
May 8, 2014

NoMad Penthouse with Panoramic Views Sells for $8 Million

Two blocks north of Madison Square Park in Manhattan's increasingly trendy NoMad (north of Madison Square, if you're not up on your neighborhood acronyms) neighborhood is 241 Fifth Avenue, a 20-story boutique residential glass tower. Part of the Madison Avenue North Historic District, the building was designed by Perkins Eastman Architects and received landmarks approval in 2007. It was completed in 2013, and according to public records, its penthouse unit just sold for $8 million. Core originally held the listing at $9.75 million.
Check out the views
May 7, 2014

‘Simpsons’ Star Hank Azaria Buys New Pad With Stunning Views

star Hank Azaria just bought a piece of Gold Coast property overlooking Central Park. After selling his Soho apartment last year, Azaria has found a new love, in the form of a $9.2 million apartment in a pre-war, Neo-Renaissance building designed by architect Rosario Candela at 75 Central Park West. If it’s at all possible to have Central Park over for lunch, this 3BD/4.5 BA apartment makes it practically customary with oversized windows that make views of the picturesque landmark accessible from the kitchen - along with several other rooms. The stunning space also features large rooms with hardwood floors, beamed ceilings and gorgeous decorative moldings.
Take a peek inside the Gold Coast beauty here
May 7, 2014

Elegant Park Slope Townhouse Sells for $2.3 Million

The polished, Italianate rowhouse at 354 10th Street in Park Slope sold for $2.3 million, according to city records filed yesterday evening. The listing was held by Corcoran Group. Built in 1899, the two-family home has a modest façade with carved window lintels and an intact cornice. One in a row of three similar houses, it's basement level is brownstone and the upper two stories are brick. Inside, the refined details continue with decorative picture moldings and original tin ceilings.
rowhouse eye candy this way
May 7, 2014

Will Brooklyn Be Home to a New Ace Hotel?

Considering GFI Capital Resources' recent acquisition of several Bond Street parcels at the corner of Schermerhorn Street, downtown Brooklyn continues to be ripe for development in the vicinity of the Barclays Center. According to sources close to the deal, hotel developer Allen Gross, president and CEO of GFI, may be looking to bring Ace Hotel’s unique brand of lodging to the location, joining a growing list of hotels already planned for the area.
Read on for possible plans for the site
May 7, 2014

Artist’s Dream Space on Water Street Sells for $1.8 Million

If breathtaking views are the best muse then someone just landed the perfect pad. Noted photojournalist James Nachtwey has just sold his beautiful loft at 265 Water Street for $1.8 million dollars. Now the new owner can sit at her breakfast table and gaze placidly at the Brooklyn Bridge. Sounds like heaven, right? The 1,650 square-foot loft, resting atop a historic 19th century landmark building, is situated on one of New York’s charming cobblestone streets in the Financial District. This full floor penthouse suite is the perfect artist’s hideaway, with Artisan woodwork throughout, a wood beamed ceiling and a private studio — or second bedroom if she prefers.
Take a glimpse into this charming penthouse loft here
May 6, 2014

Ultra Hip Tribeca Loft at 137 Duane Street Sells for $2 Million

According to public records, unit 2D at 137 Duane Street in Tribeca was recently sold by photographer Sebastiano Tomada for $1,995,000 via Douglas Elliman. Located in the Tribeca South Historic District, the spacious apartment has a long, narrow floor plan, perfect for open-layout lovers or someone looking for a live/work space. 14-foot ceilings, natural oak floors, and entryways on both Duane and Thomas Streets are just a few of the other selling points. Is it worth its price tag? Find out more about the space ahead, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
photos and design details this way
May 6, 2014

Sales Officially Open at Ralph Walker’s Stella Tower – Will It be the ‘Star’ of Hell’s Kitchen?

Whether a reference to the Latin word meaning “star” or the lesser-known rare gold coin of the late 19th century, Stella Tower is aptly named. JDS Development Group, Property Markets Group, and Starwood Capital Group (the trio behind Chelsea’s Walker Tower) officially opened sales at Ralph Walker’s iconic Art Deco building, although a few sales have already moved forward quietly over the last few weeks.
See what all the fuss is about
May 6, 2014

UES Penthouse with East River Views in Every Room Sells for $14.9 Million to Former Presidential Hopeful

Who knew bloggers could afford $14.9 million apartments? David Alan Stockman, of David Stockman's Contra Corner (and other things discussed after the break), and his wife Jennifer, an art collector and the current president of the Guggenheim Foundation’s board of trustees, have just purchased a 5BR/6.5BA penthouse at 170 East End Avenue through brokers Andrea Wohl Lucas and Bruce Lucas of Corcoran. Though the building itself isn't much to look at, this 4,902-square-foot penthouse makes up for its stark, stacked exterior with a well-thought-out floor plan designed to make the most of the location's natural light and sweeping views of the East River, neighboring Carl Schurz Park, and the cityscape.
Have a look inside
May 6, 2014

Gorgeous Pre-War Upper East Side Apartment Sold

Apartment 7C, a palatial apartment at 911 Park Avenue has been sold. Marsh CEO Peter Zaffino purchased the astounding pre-war pad for $6.75 million. This Upper East Side beauty, represented by brokers Debra LaChance and Denise LaChance, has 10 rooms, with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and marble floors and hardwoods throughout. The high-rise also features a private landing, a library and a great room with a wood-burning fireplace for those cozy nights by the fire. It also contains an enviably large eat-in kitchen and the increasingly elusive formal dining room. The library features wall-to-wall built-ins and the entire apartment boasts coffered ceilings.
Take a look inside this astonishing apartment here
May 6, 2014

Unique East Village Apartment with Retractable Facade Sells for $2.4 Million

Oh, architects and their creativity. One such inventive architect Bill Peterson had a flash of “ahead of our time” genius when he decided to convert the front wall of his East Village apartment into a garage-style retractable facade after purchasing the pad in 2008. We suppose some people actually have too much privacy in New York City and would prefer to connect with the outside world (and terrify people with acrophobia simultaneously?).
Check out the inside of this unique beauty here
May 6, 2014

The Beresford: Old World Charm Meets Modern Day Living in Apartment #2G

What do comedian Jerry Seinfeld, singer Diana Ross, tennis player John McEnroe, actor Tony Randall and publisher Helen Gurley Brown have in common?  They have all called 211 Central Park West — better known as The Beresford — home. But The Beresford’s claim to fame isn’t its host of famous residents but rather its three majestic towers, whose design limits the number of apartments on each floor to only two or three. Opened in 1929, architect Emery Roth’s spectacular residential fortress boasts spacious rooms, soaring ceilings, a charming interior courtyard containing a fountain and a garden, and incredible views of Central Park.
Take a sneak peek inside Apartment 2G, listed at $10 Million
May 5, 2014

Links We Love: Happy Birthday to the World’s Oldest Man; Is Graffiti the New Must-Have for Luxury Buildings?

Remembering Architect Frederic Schwartz: The Observer remembers the designer of many 9/11 memorials after he lost his battle to cancer this past week. The New Must-Have For Luxury Buildings: Graffiti: The New Yorker questions this new trend. Real estate apps may lead to segregation: Teke Wiggin asks whether increased knowledge of neighborhood demographics will encourage segregation. Google […]

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May 5, 2014

Irony in Carroll Gardens (Alanis Morissette Style)

David Foster Wallace is credited with predicting way back in the mid-90s that excessive irony would lead to the ruin of our culture. Around that same time, Alanis Morissette had her own far less erudite and flawed take on irony, which went a little something like this: “It’s like rain on your wedding day A free ride when you already paid Some good advice that you just didn’t take...” With all due respect to the prescience of DFW, life for me — at least these days in my Brooklyn neighborhood of Carroll Gardens — far more resembles Alanis Morissette’s screwy version of irony. 6sqft’s Andrew Cotto — an author of two novels and a journalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Men’s Journal, and Salon.com — will be sharing his experiences as he makes his way around New York City. This week, he describes life in Carroll Gardens.
Carroll Gardens. Isn't it Ironic?
May 5, 2014

35XV: Chelsea’s New High-Tech Condo Tower by FXFOWLE Nears Completion

East Chelsea's stunning new landmark, the 35XV, is almost complete! We recently stopped by the site to survey the work that's been done over the past few months, and by the looks of things, 35 West 15th Street is just waiting for an outer-skin for its podium. Given the rapid progress that's been made so far, we think it's safe to say that we'll be seeing the transformation very soon.
More photos of the progress that's been made
May 5, 2014

This Gorgeous Apartment at the Mandarin Oriental Gives New Meaning to “Movin’ On Up”

Wouldn't it be nice to live on top of the world? Well, somebody is in luck because a spacious 3BR/3BA apartment just opened up at the Residences at Mandarin Oriental. This luxurious Columbus Circle pad rests on the 71st floor, with gigantic windows that overlook Central Park, as well as both the East River and the Hudson. The 3,168-square-foot apartment has ebonized oak floors and black granite accents. It also features a large eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a sub-zero refrigerator, and a wine cave. Whoever purchases this impressive, recently renovated home will not only have bragging rights, but access to all of the amenities of the Mandarin Hotel. So yeah, this person will basically be living in a hotel. Jealous yet?
See photos of the lavish pad here
May 5, 2014

Archilier Architecture’s “Chinese Lantern” Inspired Design to Light Up 470 Eleventh Avenue

Rising 720 feet tall from the corner of 11th Avenue and 38th Street, Archilier Architecture's new, unconventional mixed-use tower from developer Black House will bring 51 luxury apartments and 419 hotel rooms across the street from the newly-renovated Jacob K. Javits Center. While the ultra high-end skyscraper is one of many new construction projects in the city, it promises to be unlike anything we’ve seen before on the streets of Manhattan.
-See more of Archilier's beautiful design
May 5, 2014

Your Art and Design Events Agenda, Week of May 5, 2014

Looking for something to do in this great city now that the weather has warmed up? We've rounded up some of this week's best art, design and architecture events to kick off the month of May. Get your art fix in Times Square for Midnight Moment or head to Randalls Island for the third rendition of Frieze Art Fair, browse the latest in cutting edge design at Collective Design Fair, explore Jersey City with Mana Contemporary's massive open house or get outside and check out the latest installation at Socrates Sculpture Park. It's going to be a great week!
All the best events here
May 5, 2014

Reed Krakoff Pays $28 Million for an Opulent UES Townhome

It’s a great market for townhomes. 54 East 64th Street has been sold to designer Reed Krakoff and his wife Delphine for $28 million. This news is especially remarkable considering the townhouse’s history. Formerly a Kips Bay Decorator Show House and a one-time home of the New York Observer, this Upper East Side gem was transformed into a luxurious home when it was purchased by real estate investor David Quinlan for $18.74 million back in 2005. After failing to turn the hefty profit he was hoping for, Quinlan sold the townhouse for $20 million in 2011. Last year it was placed back on the market for $20 million; however, broker Dolly Lenz changed that, upping the asking price to $28 million. They don’t call her a superbroker for nothing.
Check out more photos of the townhouse here

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