Studio Museum in Harlem Reveals New 125th Street Building; Remembering Coney Island’s Elephant Hotel
July 6, 2015

Studio Museum in Harlem Reveals New 125th Street Building; Remembering Coney Island’s Elephant Hotel

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ShelfPack is a genius suitcase that pulls out into a series of collapsible shelves, which means you never have to actually unpack. [Travel + Leisure] The Studio Museum in Harlem reveals renderings for its new $122 million David Adjaye-designed building on 125th Street. [NYT] Check out the New York Hall of Science’s renovated Great Hall, designed to […]

Call Chelsea’s Historic Samuel Turner House Your Home for $17.95M
July 6, 2015

Call Chelsea’s Historic Samuel Turner House Your Home for $17.95M

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Okay history buffs, here's your chance to own the elegant former home of Reverend Dr. Samuel Turner, who was one of the head professors at the nearby General Theological Seminary. He built the house at 440 West 22nd Street in 1836 to match the merchant-class residences popping up in Chelsea around this time, and he lived there until he passed away of typhoid fever in 1861. When owner Michael Minick purchased the home in 1993, it had been subjected to years of neglect, but Minick lovingly restored it back to its Greek Revival glory, while preserving its turn of the 20th century Queen Anne exterior facelift. It's now available for the first time in over 20 years for $17,950,000.
Take a look around
Former Tribeca Hotel Could Be Transformed into a Grand Single-Family Home
July 6, 2015

Former Tribeca Hotel Could Be Transformed into a Grand Single-Family Home

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This five-story brick townhouse, located at 142 Watts Street in Tribeca, is rather unique. Constructed in 1886, the building has served as a tenement building, a hotel, and apartments. (There was also a diner on the ground floor in the 1940s.) It was last purchased 30 years ago by the Capsouto brothers, longtime investors and restaurateurs in the neighborhood. 35 years ago the brothers opened a restaurant at 451 Washington Street called Capsouto Freres, a mainstay eatery that shuttered after damage caused by Hurricane Sandy. Now it looks like the brothers have decided to get rid of some of their real estate in the neighborhood, listing 142 Watts Street for $12.25 million.
Hear more about the story of this property
Royal Letdown: Queen Elizabeth Actually Won’t Be Coming to NYC
July 6, 2015

Royal Letdown: Queen Elizabeth Actually Won’t Be Coming to NYC

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A few weeks ago, various media outlets reported that Queen Elizabeth had bought a $7.9 million apartment at 50 United Nations Plaza. City records listed the buyer of the three-bedroom, 3,000-square-foot residence as “Her Majesty the Queen in Right of New Zealand.” But as the Post informs us today, the royal family will not be taking up residence in NYC after all, as the actual buyer is the New Zealand government’s UN ambassador.
More details on the transaction
Live Lakeside for Less in This $400k Bungalow-Style Round House
July 5, 2015

Live Lakeside for Less in This $400k Bungalow-Style Round House

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It's obvious why this was once called the Blueberry Hill House. This 2,178-square-foot eclectic round house is the quirkiest residence in the Skaneateles Lake area thanks to its bold blue exterior and hut-like shape. With four bedrooms and three bathrooms, this house makes for the perfect forest hideaway, whether you use it as a vacation home or if you want to make your stay in Skaneateles permanent. Best of all, you can live your blueberry bungalow dreams for a very affordable $400,000.
Take a look around the house here
June’s 10 Most-Read Stories and This Week’s Features
July 4, 2015

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

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June’s 10 Most-Read Stories Own a Mansion with Celebrity History on a Private Island Overlooking NYC for $11M Beastie Boy Mike D’s Brilliant Brooklyn Townhouse Can Be Yours for $5.7M Queen Elizabeth Comes to NYC: Royal Family Picks up $8M Apartment at 50 UN Plaza Winston Marshall, Banjoist for Mumford & Sons, Buys $3.2M Nolita […]

Rent a Charming Upstate Barn Home Beautifully Renovated by Local Artisans
July 3, 2015

Rent a Charming Upstate Barn Home Beautifully Renovated by Local Artisans

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Located in Tivoli, a village in Dutchess County, this charming rustic barn has everything you would want in a home: There are cozy wooden interiors, it's surrounded by gardens, it has its own pond, there's small yoga deck right next to a stream, and there's even a cozy deck at the back. While you may think a home like this will forever be out of your reach, think again. This beauty is up for rent, and it's just two hours north of the city.
Learn more about this charming wooden barn
Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 7/2-7/8

Image via Michael Dougherty/flickr

July 2, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 7/2-7/8

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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 which start tonight! Of course, July 4th is on everyone's mind this weekend. If you're not into battling the crowds along the East River to see the fireworks (of if you're not lucky enough to have east-side roof access!), we've rounded up some patriotic alternatives for festive Independence Day fun, including the Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest, a ride aboard a replica 1780 sailboat, and music and fireworks at the Seaport. If you're going to be out on the Island, be sure to check out the ArtHamptons fair. And before we celebrate our own independence, let's not forget about our neighbors to the north; an exhibit at Westbeth marks Canada Day with pieces from Canadian artists. Next, shift gears to Copenhagen, as this month's #MidnightMoment in Times Square will transport New Yorkers to the Danish city. There's also the "Summer Show" with Jorge Pardo, Jon Pylypchuk, and Dirk Skreber at the Petzel Gallery, free public hours at the Judd Foundation and a giant installation art exhibit at the Knockdown Center.
Get the details on all these events here
Heidi Klum Settles on a $70K/Month West Village Rental for the Summer
July 2, 2015

Heidi Klum Settles on a $70K/Month West Village Rental for the Summer

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It was recently reported that Heidi Klum was eyeing this 3.5-acre $11 million private island off Manhattan as her next retreat, but it looks like the supermodel has decided to slum it in the West Village instead. The Post reports that Klum will be renting out a 7,200-square-foot Bob and Cortney Novogratz creation located at 400 West Street through the summer. The home is not an unfamiliar spot for the model who has shot hoops, hot tubbed, and made pizza at the glamorous property when she rented it in previous years.
Have a look inside her glamorous summer home

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A Hungarian Princess Once Kept a Pet Lion Cub at the Plaza

The Plaza (L) and Goldfleck’s headstone at the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery (R)

July 2, 2015

A Hungarian Princess Once Kept a Pet Lion Cub at the Plaza

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Last week, we explored the history of the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, America's oldest and largest cemetery of its kind. We mentioned that beloved pets laid to rest in this upstate burial ground include much more than just cats and dogs. One of the most notable unconventional pets is Goldfleck, a lion cub who lived the life of royalty in the Plaza Hotel. Goldfleck belonged to Princess Elisabeth Vilma Lwoff-Parlaghy of Hungary. She was a well-known portrait painter with a love for animals. After visiting New York twice, she moved to the city permanently in 1909, taking up residence in a 14-room suite on the third floor of the Plaza. She had seen a cute lion cub at the Ringling Brothers circus, but when she asked to buy him, the circus owners refused. They did, however, agree to sell him to Daniel E. Sickles, a Civil War hero whose portrait the Princess had just painted. He immediately turned the cub over to Princess Elisabeth.
Find out the rest of the story
JFK Airport Gets an Awesome Open-Air Roofdeck; Joan Rivers’ Penthouse Sells for Ask
July 2, 2015

JFK Airport Gets an Awesome Open-Air Roofdeck; Joan Rivers’ Penthouse Sells for Ask

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An UES woman found apartment hunting so stressful, she gave up her search and stayed in her over-priced studio. [NYT] Joan Rivers’ opulent apartment has sold for $28 million to a Middle Eastern buyer. [NYDN] NYCHA is looking for bids from developers interested in building affordable apartments. [NYDN] Tribeca Cinemas has closed down and the building is now […]

Upstate Dutch Colonial Has a Pool and Almost Two Acres, All for $675k
July 2, 2015

Upstate Dutch Colonial Has a Pool and Almost Two Acres, All for $675k

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We're going to venture out to the countryside today to visit a classic Dutch Colonial home in historic Quaker Hill, a hamlet in Pawling, NY. If you're looking for the kind of privacy that can only come from being on a 1.81-acre lot, along with easy access to the city, it doesn't get much better than this. The four-bedroom home offers original details like hardwood floors and exposed beams, along with sprawling countryside views and a pool house. And, are you sitting down? It's only $675,000. Boy, things sure are different outside the city.
Have a look around
Cute Cobble Hill Condo with Fun Pops of Pink Asks $800k
July 2, 2015

Cute Cobble Hill Condo with Fun Pops of Pink Asks $800k

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The listing calls this 800-square-foot condo a studio, but given its spacious duplex layout, we think it functions more like a one-bedroom. Located at 473 Hicks Street in Cobble Hill, the apartment puts a contemporary spin on its classic bones. The huge, geometric bookshelves, translucent kitchen stools, and funky bedroom wallpaper all elevate the home from a boring box to a designer-worthy pad. But what especially draws us in is the subtle use of pink, which doesn't read girly, but rather sophisticated and fun.
See the rest here
Get to Know Chinatown Through These Iconic Cultural, Gastronomic and Architectural Spots

Image by Madhu Nair via Flickr

July 1, 2015

Get to Know Chinatown Through These Iconic Cultural, Gastronomic and Architectural Spots

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Back in March, we took a look at how Chinatown is predicted to undergo rapid changes within the next decade, transforming it into another haven for hipsters and real estate developers. As of right now, these changes are hard to see–luxury condos like Hester Gardens stand alone among the array of colorful shops and signs covered in Chinese characters. In fact, a past poll shows that readers are equally divided on Chinatown's future. As with all gentrifying neighborhoods, one of residents' biggest fears is that the neighborhood will lose the cultural characteristics that make it unique. With this in mind, we're taking stock of the iconic places that make Chinatown what it is. We've highlighted some of the neighborhood's best restaurants and shops (think Economy Candy and Joe's Shanghai), along with a few standout structures (the largest Buddhist temple in New York City, to name just one) that make this neighborhood unlike any other in the city.
See which places made the list here
Newly Listed $3.6M Residence at the Dakota Appears Untouched by Time
July 1, 2015

Newly Listed $3.6M Residence at the Dakota Appears Untouched by Time

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If Lauren Bacall and Roberta Flack's Dakota homes are out of your budget, fix your eyes on this splendid apartment that has just been placed on the market for $3.6 million. This understated beauty is one that seems to have withstood the test of time, maintaining all the stunning details unique to its storied address. And with two bedrooms, incredible 14-foot ceilings (yes, they're taller than both Flack's and Bacall's) and south-facing windows flooding the home with light, even though it might not carry the same star cachet as the others, we're sure you wouldn't turn down a chance to sashay across its immaculate wood floors.
More photos inside the historic apartment here
NYC Makes Up 5 Percent of the Nation’s Property Value
July 1, 2015

NYC Makes Up 5 Percent of the Nation’s Property Value

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We know New York City is ridiculously expensive, but what about its property values? Because of the city's confusing "market value" system, true property values are often grossly underestimated. To provide a more accurate look, the data buffs over at Metrocosm have put together these visually telling cartograms of real property values in NYC, substituting land area for total property value. The maps not only compare values in New York with those throughout the rest of the country, but they also look at how property values are concentrated within the five boroughs. The data reveals some striking facts. New York City makes up a whopping 5 percent of the nation's property value, coming in at $1.5 trillion. When you single out Manhattan's $733 billion, it could be the 14th most valuable state in the country. The Upper East Side, which occupies less than one square mile, has $96 billion in housing value–more than entire states like New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Wyoming and Alaska.
More findings, maps, and graphs ahead
432 Park Unveils Model Unit; Renderings for Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6 Condos
July 1, 2015

432 Park Unveils Model Unit; Renderings for Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6 Condos

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The model unit at 432 Park is unveiled on the 38th floor of the almost-completed building. [TRD] Developers secure a $725 million loan for their supertall and super-skinny tower 111 West 57th Street. [Crain’s] Renderings revealed for Brooklyn Bridge Park’s controversial Pier 6 condos, designed by ODA Architecture. [Gothamist] A ten-story condo will rise on the […]

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GRADE’s Elegant Rustic Woodland Retreat Is Built for a Novelist
July 1, 2015

GRADE’s Elegant Rustic Woodland Retreat Is Built for a Novelist

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When a novelist client called up GRADE to design an upstate woodland retreat, the NYC-based architects knew it had to be elegant, rustic and also very tranquil. Following these guidelines, they erected the Ridge House, a home located on a leafy Philipstown plot that follows the ridge line of the Hudson River Valley. With comfortable, cozy spaces and walls lined with books, this home is nothing short of inspirational.
Inside this literary retreat
Wave Cabinet by Sebastian Errazuriz Opens and Closes in One Fluid Motion
July 1, 2015

Wave Cabinet by Sebastian Errazuriz Opens and Closes in One Fluid Motion

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Sebastian Errazuriz is one of the most diverse designers around. Not only does he create quirky, functional furniture like this spiky-skinned chest, but he also comes up with unique public art works such as last year's giant golden cow piñata and the more recent yawning video installation in Times Square. His most recent thought-provoker is the Wave Cabinet, a furniture piece that opens and closes in one fluid motion. Made from lacquered baltic birch, steel, and glass, the "functional sculpture" can open in various movements thanks to 100 linked slats, each of which pulls on the following one like a paper fan.
Watch a video of the cabinet in action
Average Sales Price in Manhattan Hits Record High of $1.8M
July 1, 2015

Average Sales Price in Manhattan Hits Record High of $1.8M

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The second-quarter market report from Douglas Elliman is fresh off the presses, and it shows that Manhattan sales have never been more expensive, averaging $1.87 million for all apartments, which is an 11.4 percent jump from this time last year. New developments averaged $2,011 per square foot, which is the first time ever prices have exceeded the $2,000 per square foot mark. Other records set during this quarter are for median co-op sale price ($795,000, up 9.7 percent from last year) and average price for luxury apartments ($8.2 million, up 12.8 percent from last year).
More from the report here

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