September, 2014 | 6sqft

September 4, 2014

Unique South Slope Loft Breaks the Mold with a Steel Mezzanine

On a quiet tree-lined block, among the rowhouses of South Slope, you’ll find 459 12th Street. Being a mid-century loft surrounded by turn-of-the-century conversions might already set this building apart from the rest. Yet, unit #3D takes it to the next level, as a previous owner decided to make the most of the high ceilings… and added an entire second floor.
Take a look inside this quirky loft, here

September 4, 2014

Penthouse Perfection: Peeking into Manhattan’s Top Sky-High Listings

By Dana Schulz

The penthouse craze began in the early 20th century thanks to media tycoon William Randolph Hearst. He took up residence in a three-floor apartment at the Clarendon at 137 Riverside Drive and, when his landlord refused to let him expand further, Hearst bought the entire building, adding two new floors to the top of his mansion, crowned by a new copper mansard roof. Now, 100 years later, the rich and famous are still making headlines with their pricey penthouse purchases. Fellow media mogul Rupert Murdoch recently purchased a $57.25 million triplex penthouse, along with an additional full-floor unit (because why stop at just three?) at One Madison. His bachelor pad totals more than 10,000 square feet of interior space, wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass. Is this the new standard for penthouse living? We're taking a look at some of the top sky-high listings in Manhattan to find out.
Don't miss these incredible penthouse stunners

Coffee Culture: Are Neighborhood Cafes the First Sign of Gentrification?

Photo: Cafe Grumpy in Greenpoint by Premshree Pillai cc

September 3, 2014

Coffee Culture: Are Neighborhood Cafes the First Sign of Gentrification?

By Michelle Cohen

From “coffices” to lab-like minimalist gourmet coffee meccas to cozy neighborhood hangouts, neighborhood cafes are a fine example of the essential “third place” mentioned in discussions of community dynamics: that place, neither work nor home, where regulars gather and everyone’s welcome. Along with yoga studios, art galleries, community gardens, vintage clothing shops, restaurants with pedigreed owners and adventurous menus and, some say, a change in the offerings on local grocery shelves, cafes are often the earliest sign of neighborhood change. The neighborhood cafe serves as a testing ground for community cohesiveness while adventurous entrepreneurs test the still-unfamiliar waters around them. Beyond the literal gesture of offering sustenance, cafes provide a place where you can actually see who your neighbors are and appreciate the fact that at least some of them are willing to make an investment locally.
Get a fleeting glimpse of old New York City cafe culture in the West Village, meet the future of coffee distribution in Red Hook.

September 3, 2014

Real Estate Wire: The Helmsley Building Could Hit the Market for $1.5B; Carnegie Park Going Co-Op

By Diane Pham

The Commercial Observer interviews Gary Barnett of Extell. The developer discusses everything from his aggressive development stance to the “poor door” controversy that’s gotten everyone all riled up. [CO] An epic tale of murder at 31 Bond Street—the site of new condos coming to the NoHo market. [NYT] The “Gossip Girl Penthouse” at 1136 Fifth Avenue sold […]

September 3, 2014

Your Home Can Smell Like Bushwick for Just $81

By Diane Pham

You may have scoffed at the $200 Hudson Yards fragrance released earlier this year, but this “smell like an up-and-coming neighborhood” trend seems to be catching on. NYC fashion brand OAK has just released a brand new candle that will fill your home up with the scent of Bushwick. Mmmmm? Aptly titled ‘Mckibben + Bogart 03’ (named after the […]

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September 3, 2014

Olivier Van Herpt Crafts Beautifully Functional 3D-Printed Ceramics

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Dutch designer Olivier Van Herpt has been experimenting with 3D printing for many years. But it wasn't until he made his own machine that he managed to craft the imposing designs he imagined. Olivier created his own extruder and experimented with different types of clay before coming up with his stunning Functional 3D Printed Ceramics collection.
Learn more about this 3D-printed ceramics collection

September 3, 2014

Park Slope Loft in Former Ansonia Clock Company Building Has Timeless Appeal

By Stephanie Hoina

There are lofts, and then there are lofts like this three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath duplex in an 1880s factory building at 420 12th Street. Once home to the Ansonia Clock Company, the building was converted into a co-op by Hurley & Farinella Architects, nearly a century after being constructed. With intentions of keeping the building's provenance intact, the architects worked diligently to maintain original details like exposed brick, factory beams and wood ceilings, and combined them with modern updates that mesh seamlessly with the building’s historic bones.
See more of this timeless beauty

Distinctive Homes

September 3, 2014

Daily Link Fix: Sleep on the Job; Toasted or Untoasted Bagels?

By Alyssa Alimurung

Thrillist explores the city’s oldest bars from Fraunces Tavern to McSorley’s Old Ale House TIME tells us why IKEA furniture in their catalogs look so much better than in person Architizer shares Calmspace sleeping pods for your office, which takes the saying “sleeping on the job” to another level Gothamist answers the most important question for […]

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September 3, 2014

Fashion Wunderkind Kira Plastinina Buys $2.5 Million Chelsea Apartment

By Dana Schulz

You may remember Kira Plastinina making headlines back in 2008, when she, all at the age of 16, launched her namesake fashion line, opened a dozen US stores, and later that same year closed them all and filed for bankruptcy. Originally from Moscow, Kira has now launched a new high-end fashion line called Lublu in Dallas, Texas, but it looks like she might also be planning to make some moves in the Big Apple. According to city records, she purchased apartment 3A at the Slate Condominium at 163 West 18th Street for $2.45 million.
Take a look inside here

Distinctive Homes

From the pool to the pergola, this $1.1M Hudson Valley home blends Colonial with contemporary

$2M mid-century modern home in Westchester has 21st-century energy efficiency and zero carbon footprint

For $8M, this newly-constructed Williamsburg townhouse has every design trend covered

This $4.5M Lenox Hill duplex combines pre-war elegance with architectural drama

This $3M Williamsburg home is the rare condo with all of its loft charm intact

For $6.75M, everything you'd want in a Park Slope brownstone

From cozy to bold, this $10M Soho condo embodies post-loft luxury

Location, location, location–and a pretty renovation–make up for square footage in this $620K East Village co-op

Amy Schumer paid $6.25M for Central Park West condo

Steve Madden's former Trump Palace pad lists for $11.5M

VIEW ALL

September 3, 2014

REVEALED: SHoP-Designed Condos by Anbau on the Upper East Side

By Dana Schulz

Looks like the Upper East Side will be adding another luxury condo project to its roster--but this time it's an "affordable luxury" building. Located at 1711 First Avenue at East 89th Street, the 34-story building is being designed by SHoP Architects for Anbau Enterprises, who has shared renderings of the project with New York YIMBY. The building will have a bluestone base with a small cantilever over the 89th Street entrance. The rest of the façade will be brick and glass, offering floor-to-ceiling windows without the total curtain wall appearance. The western façade will be slightly glassier than the rest of the building.
More details here

September 3, 2014

Gunn Landscape Architecture to Design the Rooftop of Williamsburg’s Futuristic Level Hotel

By Diane Pham

Williamsburg's upcoming Level Hotel is right on track for its 2016 opening as construction continues moves full speed ahead at 55 Wythe Avenue. Back in July, architects Yohay Albo and Nick Liberis of Albo Liberis LLC were revealed as the brains behind the building's ultra modern form, and it's just been announced that Gunn Landscape Architecture will be taking charge of the expansive rooftop escape that will sit atop the retail pod of the futuristic hotel.
A look at the rooftop design here

September 3, 2014

Historic Renwick Triangle Townhouse in the East Village Asks $7.5 Million

By Aisha Carter

Situated in the St. Mark’s Historic District, 114 East 10th Street and the surrounding Anglo-Italianate houses make up what many consider the most beautiful street in the East Village. Prominent architect James Renwick Jr. designed the original home as part of the distinguished Renwick Triangle back in 1861—some of the last single-family dwellings built in the neighborhood. This gut-renovated, historic townhouse didn’t have the best of luck when it sold for $5 million cash after several price drops from its initial $7 million asking. However, after four years, the six-story townhouse has emerged bright, fresh, and asking $7.5 million.
Take a look inside, here

September 3, 2014

Prodigy Network Closes on $85 Million FiDi Site for Their ‘Cotel’ Crowdfunded Hotel

By Dana Schulz

Back in June, we took a look at the winning designs for Prodigy Network's 17John 'Cotel' (collaborative + hotel = cotel), the city's first crowdsourced hotel and the world's first collaborative hotel. Now, the real estate crowdfunding startup has closed on the 15-story rental building at 17 John Street for $85.3 million, $25 million of which came from crowdfunded equity. Additional financing came from Deutsche Bank and another institutional investor. The property will be transformed into a 23-story, 191-unit extended-stay hotel, designed for the next generation of business traveler.
More on the first-of-its-kind project in NYC

September 2, 2014

An Endless Spiral Staircase Ties This Spacious David Hotson-Designed Soho Loft Together

By Stephanie Hoina

Anyone who incorporates an 80-foot multi-floor slide into a home and repurposes a riveted steel column into a 50-foot-tall climbing wall in the living room knows how to make the most out of a space in our book. When we saw what architect David Hotson did in the penthouse in FiDi, we were more than happy to check out another Hotson-designed residence: this stunning Soho loft featuring an incredible spiral staircase that winds though the entire home.
What does White and Bright and Stunning Look Like? Read on

September 2, 2014

Frank Lloyd Wright Designs Destined for NYC But Never Built

By Jason Carpenter

Many wonder why such a prolific and famous architect as Frank Lloyd Wright didn't have more buildings in New York City. It's safe to say he wasn't a huge fan of urban density, but how could one possibly create something as iconic as the Guggenheim's spirals without getting any other work in the city? As we showed in a previous post, two Wright designs have actually been demolished. Now, we will look at the two buildings Wright intended for the New York area which were never fully realized—at least, not in Manhattan.
See the Frank Lloyd Wright designs here

September 2, 2014

Real Estate Wire: SHoP’s B2 Modular Tower Runs Into More Problems; It’s Cheaper to Buy Than Rent

By Diane Pham

It’s cheaper to buy than rent in a number of US cities. [Business Insider] Forest City is suing Skanska over the Pacific Park (formerly the Atlantic Yards) B2 modular tower. Skanska issued a Stop Work Order last week over cost overruns, and Forest City is now countering with a lawsuit saying Skanska agreed to a […]

Real Estate Trends

September 2, 2014

INTERVIEW: Andrew Berman, Executive Director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

By Dana Schulz

There's been a lot of controversy around preservation in New York City as of late, and through it all, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) seems to always make its voice heard. From debunking myths about affordable housing and historic districts to advocating for the Village's next great landmark, GVSHP remains on the front lines of the field. Founded in 1980 to preserve the architectural heritage and cultural history of the Village, the organization now includes the East Village, South Village, Far West Village, Noho, and Meatpacking District in its purview. Part of the reason for GVSHP's expansion stems from the tireless efforts of its longtime Executive Director, Andrew Berman. Since 2002, he has overseen the research, educational programming, and advocacy of one of the city's leading preservation nonprofits. We recently sat down with Andrew to learn more about his views on the current state of preservation in the city and where he hopes to take GVSHP in the future.
Read our full interview here

September 2, 2014

Green Roofed Pool Pavilion by Gluck+ Heats up with Geothermal Energy

By Ana Lisa Alperovich

Just because summer is officially over doesn't mean we've stopped imagining weekend getaways and warm-weather retreats. And the Pool Pavilion in New York´s beautiful Adirondack Mountains along the shores of Lake George is the perfect place to satisfy our daydreams. Design by Gluck+, this elegant recreational structure works as a central gathering space, uniting the existing family and guest houses around a series of exterior and interior spaces. Naturally heated by a deep geothermal well and topped by a luscious green roof, this sustainable shelter blends in beautifully with its rolling environment.
Learn more about the green Pool Pavilion and peek inside

Contemporary HEDGE Planters Pay Homage to the Pioneering Women of Landscape Design

By Dana Schulz

There's nothing we love more than an innovative, green design that also carries a social message, and these contemporary HEDGE planters do just that. Aside from being a fun way to bring the outdoors in to small spaces, they are named after the pioneering women who broke into what were once the male-dominated fields of landscape and garden design. They include Gertrude Jekyll, Beatrix Farrand, Marian Cruger Coffin, and Florence Bell Robinson. Cora Neil, a Los Angeles-based environmental designer, created HEDGE with these notable women in mind while working on a public garden space project at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. The colorful, indoor/outdoor planters look great anywhere, notes Cora. She also says, "It's hard to find planters that fit—and actually look good—in your home or on your patio or balcony. The modern design and clean geometry make them fashionable solo, but look equally as good as a pair, trio, or sextet."
More on the design ahead

September 2, 2014

Rudolf Stefanich’s SONO Could Help Block Out City Noise and Keep Your Home Quiet

By Diane Pham

If you're one of the many who love city living but constantly curse the stress-inducing sounds of construction, car horns, garbage trucks, and yelling children, SONO will restore your sanity and bring your home to the pin drop quiet, peaceful state only found in the suburbs. Designed by Rudolf Stefanich, this pebble-shaped device could be applied to all of your home's windows, turning them into a comprehensive noise canceling system.
Find out more here

September 2, 2014

Daily Link Fix: The East Village 30 Years Ago Compared to Now; Interactive Map Shows You the Best Place to Hail Cabs

By Alyssa Alimurung

The East Village 30 Years Ago – Laughing Squid featured photographer Daniel Roots’s collection of photos comparing the ones he took in the 80s to the ones he took this year. See how much the nabe has changed in just 30 years. What It Means To Be “Local” – Mashable sent one of its writers to follow […]

Events & Things To Do

September 2, 2014

REVEALED: 125 Greenwich Street Will Rival One WTC and Become Downtown’s Tallest Residential Tower

By Dana Schulz

The latest in the world of New York City supertalls comes to us from New York YIMBY, who has revealed renderings for the Rafael Viñoly-designed 125 Greenwich Street. At 1,356 feet, it will become Downtown's tallest residential tower, the first to rival the 57th Street skyscrapers like Extell's planned Nordstrom Tower, which will rise 1,479 feet. It will also be just 12 feet shy of One World Trade Center's roof, making it the second tallest skyscraper in the Financial District.
More details and renderings here

September 2, 2014

This Cobble Hill Apartment with Lofted Bedroom is a True Brooklyn Gem

By Aisha Carter

There’s something about this $1.5 million loft at 44 Cheever Place that truly captures the best of Brooklyn living. Residing in a converted former Catholic schoolhouse, this two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo has more than just a rich history. The quintessential loft also has an open floor plan, soaring ceilings, exposed brick walls and hardwood floors. Yet, its most impressive features may be a lofted second bedroom and well-concealed storage.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

September 1, 2014

Robert Young Architecture’s Peaceful Montauk Lake House is Not Your Average Vacation Home

By Patty Lee

There is no shortage of colossal poolside palaces in the Hamptons — it is, after all, where many of New York's rich and famous go to party and play during the dog days of summer. But for those who live in the area full-time — like the growing family of this Montauk lake house — they need homes that are as functional as they are pretty.
Take a quick escape to the lakefront property

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