New Research Shows More Than 58 Percent of NYC Airbnb Listings Possibly Illegal

Photo courtesy of Airbnb via Facebook

February 11, 2015

New Research Shows More Than 58 Percent of NYC Airbnb Listings Possibly Illegal

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Airbnb has been under constant scrutiny in recent months, whether for its potential threat to the affordable housing market or the fallout for bed and breakfasts forced to shutter in the wake of the battle. Now, new research from Capital New York shows that more than 58 percent of New York City's Airbnb listings could be illegal, as they are for "entire apartments or houses, meaning no one else would be present during a stay." According to a state multiple dwelling law that was introduced in 2010, it's illegal to lease homes (excluding one- and two-family homes) for less than 30 days when the owner or tenant isn't present. But Capital found that of the 15,977 apartments listings on Airbnb, only one cites a requirement for a stay longer than a month. While the data isn't conclusive on how many listings could be exempt from the law, more than 10,000 listings are in Manhattan where single-family residences are less likely.
More on the findings ahead
Douglas Manor Colonial for $2.7M Is Like Something Right out of ‘The Great Gatsby’
February 11, 2015

Douglas Manor Colonial for $2.7M Is Like Something Right out of ‘The Great Gatsby’

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With its sweeping staircases and exquisitely landscaped grounds nestled within a quiet waterfront community, this historic Douglas Manor colonial at 122 Grosvenor Street calls to mind one of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s most memorable characters, the inimitable Jay Gatsby. And although this six-bedroom masterpiece listed at $2.7 million might not quite measure up to the former James Gatz’s lofty standards, we are completely enamored with this astonishingly lovely home.
More pictures of this Gatsbyesque home this way
My 3,900sqft: Four Ladies Turn a Clinton Hill Townhouse into a ‘Pop-Up Mansion’

Our new series “My sqft” checks out the homes of 6sqft’s friends, family and fellow New Yorkers across all the boroughs. On our first interior adventure, we check out a home in Clinton Hill.

February 10, 2015

My 3,900sqft: Four Ladies Turn a Clinton Hill Townhouse into a ‘Pop-Up Mansion’

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What happens when you let four ladies run loose in a four-story Clinton Hill townhouse? Closets, corners and a pantry spilling over with shoes and coats, apparently. "There are shoes lining the kitchen pantry shelves; the tiny third bedroom upstairs that resembles a Swiss chalet in the twilight zone is filled with racks of vintage frocks, coats and designer handbags. You can really tell almost everyone in this house either works in fashion or hoards it," says owner and 6sqft writer extraordinaire Michelle Cohen.  We recently visited Michelle in her Brooklyn home to see the pretty amazing setup she has created for herself. Michelle, whose house you've certainly seen on our site before, is currently undertaking a major renovation that will turn her and her fiance Stanley's brick-clad buy into a modern-meets-historic home with a rental garden apartment. But while Michelle's poring over drawings with her architect, she's found a few friends to share the journey, and the house; namely three fabulous women with wonderfully different personalities. "Stanley likes to call it a sorority for outstanding ascendant young creative professional women," she muses. Jump ahead to meet Michelle and the girls—who range from a Vogue fashion stylist to a creative producer to a journalist who covers evolution, disease and health policy—in their home to get a closer look.
See more here
RAAD Studio’s Centre Street Loft Redesign with Stunning Wooden Dome Is…Arresting
February 10, 2015

RAAD Studio’s Centre Street Loft Redesign with Stunning Wooden Dome Is…Arresting

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Perhaps one of the most beautiful buildings in New York City, the Beaux-Arts style former police headquarters located at 240 Centre Street sometimes seems to have flown under the “great buildings in Manhattan” radar for much of its 100-plus years. But we’re pretty sure those lucky enough to reside in one of the 55 luxury apartments created when the building was converted to condominiums in the late 1980s have a true appreciation for the grandeur of this hidden gem. RAAD Studio recently redesigned one of those apartments, and there’s no way this transformation could go unnoticed.
More pics of this 'arresting' home
Tucked Away Behind a Landmarked Courtyard Is This Enchanting 1850s West Village Townhouse
February 10, 2015

Tucked Away Behind a Landmarked Courtyard Is This Enchanting 1850s West Village Townhouse

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Forget about curb appeal, this warm and cozy three-bedroom townhouse built in the 1850s has courtyard appeal. That’s because you can only discover this hidden West Village gem at 5C Carmine Street by walking through its gated entry and into the tranquil–and landmarked–courtyard. The unique and historic house listed at $4.5M is located directly across the street from the beautifully restored Father Demo Square. Modeled after a traditional piazza in Italy, this lively community gathering place is only steps away should you ever tire of the exquisite seclusion this home’s outdoor spaces afford.
See more of this hidden gem
Buy Your Sweetie an Empty Lot in Newark for $1000; Inside Brooklyn’s First Net Zero Condo Building
February 10, 2015

Buy Your Sweetie an Empty Lot in Newark for $1000; Inside Brooklyn’s First Net Zero Condo Building

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The city of Newark has announced a “Valentine’s Day Land Sale” of 100 city-owned empty lots at $1,000 apiece. [Brick Underground] Tour R-951, Brooklyn’s first net zero-capable solar-powered passive house condo building in Prospect Heights. [Inhabitat NYC] First look at the hotel planned for the huge hole near the Lorimer stop. [Curbed] A controversial plan to […]

New York’s Airports Come In Last for Mass-Transit Accessibility

Photo via Continental Airlines Boeing 737-500; N16617@LGA;05.02.2008/498af via photopin (license)

February 10, 2015

New York’s Airports Come In Last for Mass-Transit Accessibility

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If you've ever endured the long ride to any of the area's airports, all the while lugging your suitcase and anxiously wondering if you'd miss your flight, then this statistic probably comes as no surprise. According to a study by the Global Gateway Alliance, "John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports rank last and third-to-last, respectively, in mass-transit accessibility compared with 30 of the world's busiest airports," reports Crain's. The analysis looked at total travel time for public transit users, mode of transportation and number of transfers and cost, scoring them from 0 to 100. And if Anthony Weiner is correct, the new LaGuardia AirTrain will only increase travel times–not good news those for us who prefer not to sit in insane taxi traffic or fork over $99 for a private helicopter ride.
More on the study here
What Would NYC Look Like If Sea Levels Rose 100 Feet?
February 10, 2015

What Would NYC Look Like If Sea Levels Rose 100 Feet?

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We know that rising sea levels are one of the scarier parts of global climate change. Just take a walk past the beachfront houses in the Rockaways or on Staten Island that have been raised on stilts. According to the Real Deal, "the US Geological Survey estimates that if all the world’s glaciers melted, sea level would rise by about 80 meters, or more than 260 feet." Though this could take thousands of years, it would make unrecognizable many of the world's coastal cities, including New York City. A stunning map series created by Jeffrey Linn, a Seattle resident with a background in geography and urban planning, visualizes major US cities in "this doomsday scenario" using actual geographic data. In New York City, after sea levels rose just 100 feet, the island of Manhattan is almost submerged; Brooklyn and Queens look like little archipelagos; and the Statue of Liberty is out to sea.
More details ahead

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50 Building Inspectors and Contractors to Be Charged in Bribery Scheme
February 10, 2015

50 Building Inspectors and Contractors to Be Charged in Bribery Scheme

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It's not going to be a good day for up to 50 city building inspectors and contractors, as well as two mob associates, who are expected to be charged today in "one of the biggest corruption crackdowns in years." After a year-long investigation into projects that have been fast-tracked and received certificates of occupancies in return for cash, the Department of Investigation (DOI) and the Manhattan district attorney plan to charge 12 crooked city inspectors and nearly 40 contractors, according to the Daily News. Early this morning, the charged parties surrendered to authorities
More details on the charges
Modern Bucolic Townhouse in Cobble Hill Asks $4M
February 10, 2015

Modern Bucolic Townhouse in Cobble Hill Asks $4M

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It’s homes like these that make us appreciate the diverse architecture of New York. A glance at these photos would have you think you’re looking at an idyllic countryside setting, but don’t get out your riding boots just yet. You’re in Cobble Hill. That’s right, this Brooklyn townhouse has all the old-style charm you could dream of in a modern package with a convenient location, and it’s asking $3.995 million.
Take a look inside
PlaceInvaders Invites You to Have Dinner in NYC’s Most Extraordinary Private Homes
February 9, 2015

PlaceInvaders Invites You to Have Dinner in NYC’s Most Extraordinary Private Homes

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There's definitely no shortage of amazing homes to ogle over from your desktop (especially when on 6sqft), but how often do you actually get to experience one of these places up close and personal? PlaceInvaders is a cool new local startup that gives us regular folks the keys to some of the city's most incredible apartments. Here individuals are invited to schmooze with fellow NYC inhabitants while also wining and dining on often experimental fare. PlaceInvaders recently brought foodies into Cindy Gallop's infamous “Black Apartment,” while another event found a group eating delicious moose pot pie (yes, you read that right) in an artist's loft overlooking the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Find out how to sign up here
Joan Rivers’ Legendary Upper East Side Penthouse Is on the Market for $28M
February 9, 2015

Joan Rivers’ Legendary Upper East Side Penthouse Is on the Market for $28M

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Joan Rivers' Upper East Side triplex penthouse, where she lived for 25 years, is opulent to say the least, with a huge Louis XIV-inspired ballroom, a bordello-esque master bedroom and gilded details galore. And we wouldn't expect any less from the late, great comedienne, who once said of her lavish Spencer Condominium apartment at 1 East 62nd Street, "It's what Marie Antoinette would have done, if she had money," and described the décor as "Louis XIV meets Fred and Ginger." After Rivers' daughter Melissa inherited her mother's apartment in October, it's now officially hit the market for $28 million, reports the Daily News.
Tour the legendary home
Mapping Where in NYC Millennials Live
February 9, 2015

Mapping Where in NYC Millennials Live

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The initial results may not surprise you–young adults living in New York City tend to set up shop in North Brooklyn, the Far West Side, the Upper East Side, the East Village and western Queens. This data is courtesy of a new mapping project from the University of Waterloo School of Planning in Ontario called Generationed City. Using census and crowd-sourced data, the project compares demographic patterns of millennials (typically defined as those born between 1980 and 2000) to that of older generations like baby boomers. It looks at North American cities with populations over 1 million where it's commonly accepted that millennials live in central parts of cities. While the largest chunk of NYC-based data is pretty on par with what we already knew, there are some other trends, both within the city and compared with other cities, that are a bit more curious.
More findings ahead
Building on Sunnyside Yards Comes with a Slew of Political, Cost and Engineering Complications
February 9, 2015

Building on Sunnyside Yards Comes with a Slew of Political, Cost and Engineering Complications

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Of the new city initiatives laid out by Bill de Blasio last week during his State of the City address, few were as ambitious as the mayor's plan to build 11,250 affordable apartments on Sunnyside Yards. But, as it turns out, more than just the mayor are looking to turn the 200-acre property into their legacy project. Crain's reports that since the plan was announced, Governor Cuomo has emerged with his own ideas, namely tunnels that would bring the Long Island Rail Road into the heart of Midtown. Former Bloomberg administration Deputy Mayor Daniel Doctoroff has also chimed in with a plan of his own that encompasses a huge new money-spinning convention center. But it doesn't stop there; the clashing of ideas is just one of the burdens that comes with building on this coveted site—meaning we probably won't see any affordable housing here for more than several decades.
More on the complications here
There Were Nearly 600 Manhole Fires Last Week; The Psychology behind NYC’s Wildest Wardrobes
February 9, 2015

There Were Nearly 600 Manhole Fires Last Week; The Psychology behind NYC’s Wildest Wardrobes

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Last week, thanks to salt in melting snow, there were 570 manhole explosions, fires, and other incidents. [DNAinfo] Just in time for Valentine’s Day, take a culinary tour of 15 Harlem bakeries. [Untapped] The past and present of Park Slope’s Plaza Hotel. [Brownstoner] Check out this handmade rope screen at a new Chelsea restaurant. [Contemporist] […]

Foreign Shell Companies Hide the Names of the Seedy Buyers of NY’s Luxury Real Estate

The Time Warner Center

February 9, 2015

Foreign Shell Companies Hide the Names of the Seedy Buyers of NY’s Luxury Real Estate

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We've been talking a lot lately about foreign investors with their hands in the NYC real estate market, but a story in the Times took the investigating one step further by uncovering the secrecy of more than 200 shell companies at the Time Warner Center, documenting "a decade of ownership in this iconic Manhattan way station for global money transforming the city’s real estate market." Though most of these were simply wealthy Americans, at least 16 were rich foreigners who "have been the subject of government inquiries around the world, either personally or as heads of companies," ranging from environmental violations to financial fraud. In 2014, around 50 percent of all $5 million+ sales were to shell companies, but at the Time Warner Center it was 80 percent. With this growing trend, however, the government hasn't taken a closer look at the money being used to buy luxury real estate, allowing shell companies to make the movement of foreign funds largely untraceable.
Find out more about Mr. Low and this real estate trend
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Colorful Chic Furnished Loft in the Ice House Asks $7,500/Month
February 9, 2015

Colorful Chic Furnished Loft in the Ice House Asks $7,500/Month

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There’s a really chic loft available for rent in the Ice House in Nolita, right on the edge of Soho and the Lower East Side, and it’s asking $7,500 a month. This 1,033-square-foot space has the potential for two bedrooms, along with all the classic loft must-haves like reclaimed oak floors throughout, 10-foot beamed ceilings, and exposed brick walls. And the best part? It's available fully furnished.
More pics inside
Adrian Grenier Buys Five-Story Clinton Hill Townhouse for $2.1 Million
February 9, 2015

Adrian Grenier Buys Five-Story Clinton Hill Townhouse for $2.1 Million

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Recently it was reported that filmmaker, actor and Entourage star–and sometime boutique brewer and Brooklyn renovator Adrian Grenier had been spotted checking out a three-bedroom co-op in Chelsea, accompanied by his mom, Brown Harris Stevens broker Karesse Grenier. While Chelsea may be in their sights as well, city records show that the pair recently inked a deal on a huge, historic five-story townhouse in prime Clinton Hill at 112 Gates Avenue, not far from the house he brought back to life with a green reno in 2007.
More on the story this way
Photographer/Pillsbury Heir Snaps Up Turnkey Clinton Hill Flip for $3.5 Million
February 9, 2015

Photographer/Pillsbury Heir Snaps Up Turnkey Clinton Hill Flip for $3.5 Million

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We’ve been a bit obsessed with the house at 102 Gates Avenue–a Brownstoner House of the Day not once but twice–since it hit the market as an estate sale back in 2013; lines stretched down the block and 350 people showed up on one Sunday to view the house, which was asking $1,295,000, a great price at a time when townhouse prices in the area were hitting their recent hot streak. The house, in estate condition but dripping with gorgeous original details, set off a bidding war and sold in a matter of weeks for $1,555,000, becoming a poster child of sorts for the frenzied brownstone Brooklyn townhouse market. After a high-end renovation that spared no detail, the house, a two-unit stunner with a sweet garden apartment and a beautifully restored triplex plus landscaped yard and deck, re-emerged less than one year later at the head-turning asking price of $3.35 million.
More on this brownstone Brooklyn Cinderella tale this way
Sebastian Errazuriz’s Bizarre Magistral Chest Hides Valuables Behind Its Spiky Skin
February 8, 2015

Sebastian Errazuriz’s Bizarre Magistral Chest Hides Valuables Behind Its Spiky Skin

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Chilean-born, New York-based artist, designer, and activist Sebastian Errazuriz isn't happy simply designing nice things to please the eye. Through his work, the internationally acclaimed creator wants to provoke some thoughts and make exceptional pieces, tackling everything from political artworks to experimental furniture. Just take a look (but do you dare to touch?) at his Magistral Chest, a porcupine-like chest of drawers that can hide and protect your most valuable treasures inside its spiky shell.
Learn more about this spiky chest of drawers
MADE IN BROOKLYN: A Rep for Authenticity and Excellence That’s Well-Earned–and Far from New
February 8, 2015

MADE IN BROOKLYN: A Rep for Authenticity and Excellence That’s Well-Earned–and Far from New

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The story behind cheese-aging facility Crown Finish Caves in Crown Heights tells of an enormous amount of risk and dedication to making something on a small scale; to doing one thing well. It also once again stirs the hive of buzz around today’s Brooklyn. Article after article raises the idea that Brooklyn’s moment as the new hot spot for excellence in food, culture and authentic, hand-crafted goods, is in some quarters regarded as trite and trendy hype with little substance to it. For some, the underground cheese caves are just one more example: Cheese caves. How Brooklyn. Thirty feet below street level, in the lagering tunnels of a former brewery beneath the Monti Building in Crown Heights, Benton Brown and Susan Boyle spent several years renovating and creating “Brooklyn’s premier cheese-aging facility” complete with state-of-the-art humidity control and cooling systems. The couple created the 70-foot space with advice from the world’s top cheese experts; Crown Finish Caves opened in 2014. On an article in Cheese Notes, a commenter raves: “If I were a mouse, I would move to Crown Heights.”
More excellence and authenticity this way
Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff
February 7, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

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Map Revealed for de Blasio’s City-Wide Ferry System Developers Rush to Break Ground and Add Affordable Housing Before Tax Incentives End What Would Happen if New York Let Everyone Ride the Subway for Free? Wake Up Over and Over Again in This $6M Yorkville Townhouse with Soaring Vaulted Ceiling Brooklyn’s Most Expensive Listing Ever: A […]

New Yorker Spotlight: CurlNYC Has Brought Curling to New York and They Want You to Try It
February 6, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: CurlNYC Has Brought Curling to New York and They Want You to Try It

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Maybe it's the throwing, or the sweeping, or just the way the athletes yell down the ice, but something about curling intrigues us every four years during the Winter Olympics. And now, thanks to the efforts of CurlNYC, New Yorkers can try their hand at the game. Since 2013, CurlNYC has been on a mission to get the city hooked on the sport. The visionaries behind this start-up are Dean Roth, Dean Gemmell, a former U.S. Curling National Champion who competed at the 2012 World Championships, and Chad McMullan. Their eventual goal is to build the first ice facility in the five boroughs dedicated to the sport, and they're well on their way. Upsilon Ventures hired the group to manage the curling program at LeFrak Center at Lakeside in Brooklyn's Prospect Park and the South Street Seaport. CurlNYC has a roster of curling instructors, like husband-and-wife duo Luke Hansen and Kendall Speten-Hansen, to introduce the sport through demonstrations at both locations and during league play at Lakeside. We recently spoke with U.S. National Champion Dean Gemmell and curling instructors Kendall and Luke to find out why New York and curling are a winning combination.
Read the full interview here

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