The NYC Subway Is Filled with Bacteria and DNA from Unidentifiable Organisms
February 6, 2015

The NYC Subway Is Filled with Bacteria and DNA from Unidentifiable Organisms

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If you're a hand sanitizer-wielding New Yorker who often finds yourself ridiculed by friends for your hypochondriac germaphobe ways, good news, because you've got the last laugh—sort of. A team of researchers from Weill Cornell Medical College spent the past 17 months mapping the DNA found in the New York City subway system, and what they uncovered will certainly make your skin crawl. Not only were some bacteria samples associated with bubonic plague and anthrax, but they also found that nearly half of the DNA found on subway infrastructure—we're talking turnstiles and ticket kiosks amongst other things—did not match any known organism.
Find out more here
Facebook Expands Its Midtown Office; Buy a Condo at the Oosten and Get a Free Trip to Amsterdam
February 6, 2015

Facebook Expands Its Midtown Office; Buy a Condo at the Oosten and Get a Free Trip to Amsterdam

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Facebook is expanding its offices. The social media giant will add 80,000 square feet—at $100 per square foot—at its 770 Broadway locale. [Crain’s] If you buy a condo at the Oosten in Williamsburg, you’ll get a free trip to Amsterdam. [Brick Underground] How many jobs are accessible from your neighborhood? [DNA Info] The East River Waterfront […]

Cubitat: Sleek Plug-and-Play Unit Shelters a Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom and Living Room
February 6, 2015

Cubitat: Sleek Plug-and-Play Unit Shelters a Kitchen, Bathroom, Bedroom and Living Room

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A new plug-in home station for small-space living has just made its global debut. Called Cubitat, this giant "Rubik’s Cube" by Italian designer Luca Nichetto and developer Urban Capital, packs every modern convenience you need into a compact construction. The minimal storage container is divided by function, sheltering a fully equipped kitchen, a bathroom, a bedroom and a living room inside its sleek silver shell.
Learn more about this magical cube
As Developers Favor Large Apartments, Studio Prices Are on the Rise

Studio 505N at 540 West 49th Street, available for $815,000 via Halstead

February 6, 2015

As Developers Favor Large Apartments, Studio Prices Are on the Rise

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As anyone who lives in a studio apartment can tell you, it's often the best–if not the only–way to live without a roommate in New York. But with developers finding it much more profitable to build large apartments, studio apartments may be heading to extinction. And those existing one-room units are seeing steep price increases as demand is outpacing supply. As the Daily News reports, "Listings for new studios compose just 4% of the units in Manhattan — down from 15% in 2013... As of January, just 30 such apartments were on the market, compared with 161 in January 2012." The median price for a new Manhattan studio rose over the past year to $930,000, a whopping 60 percent increase. Comparatively, the median price for a new one-bedroom unit rose 30 percent and for a two-bedroom home it dropped by 11 percent.
More on the real estate trend here
$2.75M Victorian Brownstone’s Original Coal Stove Is a Park Slope Cover Girl
February 6, 2015

$2.75M Victorian Brownstone’s Original Coal Stove Is a Park Slope Cover Girl

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All around the city new structures of glass and steel are rising up as bastions of modernity, often dwarfing neighboring turn-of-the-century buildings that experienced a different kind of rise–that of New York City as an economic and cultural center of the world. Standing the test of time, homes like this 1893 Romanesque Revival style brownstone call to mind the saying “they don’t make them like they used to.” While it’s true there’s nothing quite like Manhattan’s gleaming skyline, the original details in this classic Victorian residence at 585 11th Street in Park Slope are every bit as breathtaking.
See more of this home's gorgeous original details
ArchDaily Announces Winners of Its Building of the Year 2015 Contest

Interiors winner WORKac’s Wieden+Kennedy NY © Bruce Damonte

February 6, 2015

ArchDaily Announces Winners of Its Building of the Year 2015 Contest

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The votes are in, and the people of the architecture and design community have spoken. ArchDaily has announced the winners of its Building of the Year 2015 contest. The winners of the 14 categories included NYC-based firm WORKac’s Wieden+Kennedy NY headquarters for Interiors (which have been featured on 6sqft before), Herzog & de Meuron’s Arena do Morro for […]

Chinese Real Estate Investors Expanding Their Search to the Long Island Suburbs

Old Westbury Gardens, a Gold Coast mansion also known as “the Gatsby House”, © Old Westbury Gardens

February 6, 2015

Chinese Real Estate Investors Expanding Their Search to the Long Island Suburbs

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In recent years, the Manhattan real estate scene has had a major upswing in the amount of wealthy buyers from China, who feel that New York City condos and other properties are a safe place for their money. In fact, high-profile real estate firms are even tapping Chinese brokers to cater to this growing clientele. But now the trend is moving east, with Chinese buyers eyeing the stately mansions that make up the Gold Coast suburbs of Long Island. According to the Times, "Some Chinese buyers are parking money in what they see as a low-risk investment. Others are seeking a trophy home. Still others are intent on living in these places full time while their children attend the area’s high-performing schools."
More details ahead
Photographer Jay Maisel Officially Sells 190 Bowery for $55M
February 6, 2015

Photographer Jay Maisel Officially Sells 190 Bowery for $55M

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It's being considered one of the greatest returns on investment in New York City real estate history, reports the Daily News. Photographer Jay Maisel bought the now-famous graffiti-covered home at 190 Bowery back in 1966 when it was abandoned for only $102,000, and he's now officially sold the Gilded Age bank building to developer Aby Rosen of RFR Realty for $55 million. Developers have been urging Maisel to sell ever since the Bowery changed from a seedy row of drugs and flop houses to a trendy destination for foodie-favorite restaurants and high-end boutiques. Rosen finally convinced the artist, who lived in the six-story, 72-room mansion with his wife and daughter, to sell on the basis that it had no heat and was in disrepair.
More on the epic sale

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Bask in Exquisite Finishes and Views for Days in This $20M East Asian-Inspired Penthouse
February 6, 2015

Bask in Exquisite Finishes and Views for Days in This $20M East Asian-Inspired Penthouse

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Brace yourself, because we’re about to take you on a tour of an MTV Cribs-worthy pad. This 3,600-square-foot duplex penthouse was purchased by a philanthropic millionaire named Drew Katz back in 2007. He and his wife paid $6.125 million for the fairly raw space, then brought in Cooper, Robertson & Partners architect Edward Siegel and designer Ernest de la Torre to create an East Asian-inspired abode so brilliant you almost can’t stare directly at it without burning your corneas. But what good is a life without risks? So let’s stare away at all of its glory.
Let's take a look
Andrés Jaque/Office for Political Innovation wins the 2015 Young Architects Program at MoMA
February 5, 2015

Andrés Jaque/Office for Political Innovation wins the 2015 Young Architects Program at MoMA

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MoMA PS1 has just announced the winning design for this year's Young Architects Program (YAP), which will be featured this summer in the Long Island City museum's outdoor courtyard, setting the stage for the Warm Up summer music series. The top spot goes to Andrés Jaque of the Office for Political Innovation for COSMO: Give me a pipe and I will move/celebrate the Earth, a moveable environmental artifact made out of customized irrigation components that will make visible and enjoyable the typically hidden urbanism of pipes. According to MoMA PS1, COSMO "is engineered to filter and purify 3,000 gallons of water, eliminating suspended particles and nitrates, balancing the PH, and increasing the level of dissolved oxygen. It takes four days for the 3,000 gallons of water to become purified, then the cycle continues with the same body of water, becoming more purified with every cycle."
More on the winning design
Grand Central Owner Enlists Harvard Professor to Stop 1 Vanderbilt and ‘Unconstitutional’ Seizing of His Rights
February 5, 2015

Grand Central Owner Enlists Harvard Professor to Stop 1 Vanderbilt and ‘Unconstitutional’ Seizing of His Rights

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Discord around the construction of One Vanderbilt continues to grow, and the latest contender to enter the ring is Harvard Law professor, "liberal constitutional scholar" and President Barack Obama's former educator, Laurence H. Tribe. Grand Central owner Andrew Penson has tapped the big-time lawyer to battle the city in his fight against the 1,514-foot supertall, according to The New York Times. Yesterday, with Tribe in tow, Penson went head-to-head—yet again—with the tower's developer SL Green at the City Planning Commission hearing. The meeting got as heated as one would expect, and "unconstitutional" and "ridiculous" were just a couple of the words thrown around.
Find out more here
Listings Launch at Fort Greene Church Conversion 232 Adelphi Street
February 5, 2015

Listings Launch at Fort Greene Church Conversion 232 Adelphi Street

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When we first got a look inside the church conversion at 232 Adelphi Street we were blown away by the amount of original architecture retained from the structure's holy days, including stained glass windows, vaulted ceilings with exposed steel beams, arched doorways, reclaimed hardwood floors, and plenty of exposed brick. And now that listings have launched at the Fort Greene rental building, we have even more to ogle at. Formerly the Carlton Mews Church, the landmarked 1888 Gothic Revival Church was completely restored by RSVP Studio to feature 12 distinct apartments, including studios, one- and two-bedroom duplexes, and three-bedroom triplexes.
Take a look at the offerings here
First Penthouse at the Oosten Hits the Market for $6.4M; ‘Bargain’ Condos Coming to the Market
February 5, 2015

First Penthouse at the Oosten Hits the Market for $6.4M; ‘Bargain’ Condos Coming to the Market

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One of four penthouses in the Piet Boon-designed Oosten is up for grabs at $6.4 million. [6sqft inbox] “Bargain” condos are coming to the market. Expect these to be priced $3 million and under. [Bloomberg] Guoqing Chen, the founder of China’s largest private airline company, has bought a full-floor condo at One57 for $47.4 million. [TRD] […]

Adam Charlap Hyman’s Eclectic NYC Apartment Is Like a Design Version of ‘I Spy’
February 5, 2015

Adam Charlap Hyman’s Eclectic NYC Apartment Is Like a Design Version of ‘I Spy’

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If you’ve ever been to a three-ring circus you know how difficult it can be to pay attention to everything that’s going on. You don’t want to miss a single part of the show. Well, touring designer Adam Charlap Hyman’s New York City apartment is more like a ten ring circus because everywhere you turn you will find magical little treasures and you don’t want to miss any of his eclectic and amusing aesthetic.
We spy a beautiful home right this way
Musical Data Project is the Soundtrack to Income Inequality Along the Subway
February 5, 2015

Musical Data Project is the Soundtrack to Income Inequality Along the Subway

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While we love a good infographic or interactive map, this "musical data-viz project" really sparked our interest as a new way of looking at geographic trends. Artist and programmer Brian Foo translated a 1.5-hour subway ride on the 2 train into a 4.5 minute song that rises and falls based on the income of the neighborhood the train is passing through. What results is an audibly beautiful rendition of the often not-so-pretty diversity in the city's income levels.
Listen to the full song here
92 Years of Architecture Through Time Magazine Covers; NY Accent on Its Way Out
February 5, 2015

92 Years of Architecture Through Time Magazine Covers; NY Accent on Its Way Out

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Brush up on architectural history through Time magazine covers from 1923 to now. [Curbed] Most New Yorkers leave their houses at 8am, according to this interactive map of when Americans leave for work. [FlowingData] If this isn’t romantic, we don’t know what is. Take a Valentine’s Day tour of the Newtown Creek sewage plant’s digester eggs. [Gothamist] Sean Lennon’s […]

Rents in Harlem Shoot Up, Brooklyn Studios Expensive as Ever
February 5, 2015

Rents in Harlem Shoot Up, Brooklyn Studios Expensive as Ever

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MNS has just released their 2014 report pointing to rental performance in the Manhattan and Brooklyn markets over past year. And as you've probably already guessed there are no surprises here—rents were up. Leading the charge in growth were Harlem where new luxury listings gave the area a major boost, and of course Brooklyn which continued see growth at remarkable rates, particularly with studio units which were up more than 20 percent in some nabes.
Find out more here
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Renderings Revealed for Sustainable Hudson Square Park by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects
February 5, 2015

Renderings Revealed for Sustainable Hudson Square Park by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects

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Back in June, the Hudson Square Connection (a neighborhood BID) announced their plans to turn Soho Square, the half-acre open space at the intersection of Spring Street and Sixth Avenue in Hudson Square, into a public park. Since then, the Business Improvement District, in partnership with the city and neighborhood stakeholders, has been seeking input from the community to inform the $6 million renovation. Just last night, the design by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects was presented to the Community Board 2 Parks Committee, and it features sustainable, green infrastructure, storm water management, and more.
Check out the renderings here
Map Revealed for de Blasio’s City-Wide Ferry System
February 4, 2015

Map Revealed for de Blasio’s City-Wide Ferry System

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While there were plenty of highlights in Mayor de Blasio's State of the City address yesterday–from affordable housing to raising the minimum wage–it was undoubtedly the announcement of a city-wide ferry system that really got New Yorkers talking. De Blasio said that the ferry service will open in 2017, with pricing on par with the Metrocard, as a way to accommodate the growing population of New York. It will serve neighborhoods including the Lower East Side, Astoria, the Rockaways, Sunset Park, Brooklyn Army Terminal, Bay Ridge, Red Hook, and Soundview, among others. A new map released today shows the entirety of the system, breaking down existing ferry lines, those planned for 2017 and 2018, and those proposed.
More details and the full interactive map ahead
Brooklyn’s Most Expensive Listing Ever: A $40 Million Mansion with a Mayoral Past
February 4, 2015

Brooklyn’s Most Expensive Listing Ever: A $40 Million Mansion with a Mayoral Past

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There's no shortage of beauty inside, out, or around this stunning Brooklyn Heights mansion which has just hit the market for a record $40 million—the most expensive residential property ever listed in the borough. While that amount may make our mere mortal hearts skip a beat, the price tag is certainly warranted when you consider the following: It encompasses 17,500 square feet, there are 15 bedrooms, 16 bathrooms, and more than 9,000 square feet of garden and outdoor space, and it boasts enough original details to make even the biggest history buff's head spin. As the listing so aptly states, "Much like a long awaited centennial celebration, a residential sale of this magnitude comes around very seldom, and when it does, quite often history is made."
Tour the spectacular $40M home here
Govert Flint’s Futuristic Computer Chairs Allow You to Click with a Kick
February 4, 2015

Govert Flint’s Futuristic Computer Chairs Allow You to Click with a Kick

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Although our bodies are designed to move, the furniture we possess is usually based on a monofunctional posture. Day to day, we tend to segregate our basic bodily needs and just stare at screens, often forgetting how important it is to keep joints and muscles moving. To compensate for this inertia, we'd like to introduce you to "Segregation of Joy" by Govert Flint. This innovative skeletal seat allows you to take different postures and move freely, and boost your health and happiness, all from the comfort of your chair.
Learn more about this interactive seat
A $10 Million Tree Grows in Sean Lennon’s West 13th Street Front Yard
February 4, 2015

A $10 Million Tree Grows in Sean Lennon’s West 13th Street Front Yard

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Well, at least that's what one disgruntled Greenwich Village neighbor is hoping. Gary and Addie Tomei, parents of actress Marisa Tomei, have filed a lawsuit against next-door neighbor Sean Lennon, son of John and Yoko, alleging that a tree on his property (153 West 13th Street) has spread its roots onto their property (155 West 13th Street), cracking the stoop, breaking the railings, and coming through the basement floor of their townhouse. Sure, they want Lennon to chop the tree down, but they also want $10 million, according to the Post.
More details on the neighborly beef

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