August 13, 2015

Marilyn Monroe and Milton Greene Conspired in This Upper East Side Townhouse

Back in 2006, this 3,500 square-foot four-story Upper East Side townhouse first surfaced on the rental market, and again three years later; in 2010, its owner attempted to find a renter for the winter holiday season (a portion of December) apparently without much luck. After bouncing through several different agencies, 127 East 78th Street landed at Sotheby's in 2011 with the intent of marketing the house as a summer rental for $25K; not much luck there either, as townhouse renters tended to want something more long term. A lesson seems to have been learned here, as there are no short-term stipulations mentioned in its new listing for $27,500.00 a month. What is mentioned is more interesting: The townhouse once belonged to famous fashion photographer Milton Greene–known for his collaboration with Marilyn Monroe on photo shoots as well as their joint film production company–and his wife, Amy. Marilyn considered the home a sanctuary among friends when she was in town. And though its interiors have likely been updated since Marilyn's day, the elegant Upper East Side enclave still retains the aura of an East Coast refuge for Old Hollywood.
Take a look around
August 13, 2015

Could This Honeycomb Tower Be Moshe Safdie’s Bancroft Building Replacement?

Images of a mysterious high-rise project have been posted on the website of Architecture Work Office, depicting a balcony-laden 50-story residential tower that balloons in area as it rises. The rendered skyscraper appears to align with a block-through development site near the corner of West 29th Street and Fifth Avenue that has been assembled by Ziel Feldman's HFZ Development. That site was purchased from the Collegiate Churches of New York in 2013 and was partially occupied by the striped brick and limestone Bancroft Building dating to 1896. Despite pleas from preservationists, the building was demolished earlier this year and has gone down as one of the city's most heart-wrenching architectural losses in recent years.
is this new tower in the works?
August 13, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week, 8/13-8/19

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 end of week picks for 6sqft readers! This week, time travel to relive two iconic, yet very different, New York moments. Head to Times Square to recreate the 1945 sailor kiss that became famous on the cover of LIFE Magazine, or scoot up to the Bronx for the restaging of City Maze, the seminal exhibition from 1980 during the dawn of street art. Revive Marcel Duchamp at the Queens Museum, experience the exciting new present of an art-infused South Street Seaport, or get a glimpse of the future by spotting a dude walking around in an air conditioned suit (we swear it's art). You can live in the now and see what Brooklyn’s Cotton Candy Machine is up to, or see if athletes can really cut it in contemporary art.
All the best events to check out here
August 13, 2015

Rents Are Soaring Everywhere; Brooklyn and Queens Set New Records

We always hear that the summer months are the worst time to move, and the July rental report from Douglas Elliman confirms this belief, as median rental prices rose in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Like they did in June, median Brooklyn rents set a new record, rising 4.1 percent to $2,968, just $450 less than the median Manhattan rent. If you thought you could seek refuge in Queens, you'd better go to your plan B; the borough's median rent rose 14 percent, coming in at $48 above Brooklyn, also setting a new record after several months of decline. And unlike Manhattan and Brooklyn, large apartments in Queens had higher rent increases.
More from the report
August 13, 2015

Inside Brooke Shields’ Hamptons Cottage; A NY Cabby Scores a $226/Month Chelsea Pad

Taxi driver Hamidou Guira has finagled himself a $226/month apartment at the Chelsea High Line Hotel using a little known rent regulation law. [NYP] Take a tour of Brooke Shields’ colorful and classy cottage on Long Island. [Better Homes and Gardens] Real Estate bigwig and “Shark Tank” star Barbara Corcoran is reportedly eyeing Tavern Island as her […]

August 13, 2015

This Chair Helps Break Smartphone Addiction by Blocking All Cellular and Wireless Service

As much as most of us hate to admit it, we're completely addicted to our smartphones. We eat dinner with a fork in one hand, iPhone in the other. We walk down busy streets like zombies. We even found a way to project a touch screen onto our bare arms. But there's still hope for curing these nasty habits, and a good first step might come in the form of a chair. First spotted by designboom, the Offline Chair by Polish product and furniture designer Agata Nowak looks fairly simple at first glance, but it's actually a brilliant piece of technology. An exterior "offline pocket" blocks all Wi-Fi and mobile signals to the device inside, leaving the phone owner free to sit sans scrolling and typing.
Find out more about the Offline Chair
August 13, 2015

Drovers Tavern, an Upstate Property with Many Past Lives, Seeks a New Owner

In its 195 years of existence, Drovers Tavern has changed hands several times; however, the one thing that hasn't seemed to change is its facade. Completed around 1820, the Cazenovia, New York property is a typical Federal-style house, but its history is anything but. In its earliest days, the four-bedroom house served as a resting spot for drovers shipping livestock down to New York City. After the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, the droving profession, and consequently the tavern, became obsolete. Eventually, the 114-acre property was put to use as a family farm. Drovers Tavern has had its share of notable residents. It was home to Melville Clark, the creator of the Clark Irish Harp, and his nephew Melville Clark, Jr., a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project. Now up for auction, the historic mansion is in search of a new owner to continue its long, quirky history. Bids start at $525,000 and will be accepted until August 31st.
Tour the historic tavern here
August 13, 2015

West Village Co-op Asking $800K Fits In Charm Over 650 Square Feet

If you're on the lookout for a Manhattan property in a great neighborhood that costs less than $1 million, you're going to have to compromise on space –that's just the daunting real estate market we live in right now. Take, for example, this one-bedroom co-op at 80 Charles Street in the West Village. It's asking $800,000 and you're getting 650 square feet. That's not a ton of room, but this unit definitely manages to fit in personality and charm. And of course, it doesn't hurt that it's located right in the heart of the Village, between Bleecker and West 4th Street.
Check it out
August 13, 2015

Listen to the First 3D-Printed Violin; 50-Year-Old Subways to Remain in Service Until 2022

Subway trains from 1964 on the C and J/Z lines won’t be replaced until 2022. [NYDN] A local artist is planning a funeral procession down the High Line. [DNAinfo] The world’s first 3D-printed violin sounds pretty darn good. [Fast Co. Design] Have fun in the sun on Saturday at Coney Island’s 25th Anniversary sand sculpting competition. [Brownstoner] These […]

August 13, 2015

Study Says: The 4 Train Is the Worst Performing, the L Train the Best

The L train may be painfully packed during rush hour, but at least it can tout the title of being the best performing of all of NYC's subway lines—which appear only to be getting worse. The Journal reports that an audit recently conducted by the state comptroller’s office revealed that, on average, the subway system's on-time performance (how frequently a train reaches its last stop within five minutes of the scheduled time) is on the decline, falling to 74 percent on weekdays and 81 percent on weekends in 2014, from 81 percent and 85 percent in 2013. But the worst performing train of all? The 4 train.
More on the best and worst trains here
August 12, 2015

Green, Grand, Great Eats: A History of Jackson Heights and Its Future as the Next Hot ‘Hood

As the transformation of Queens reaches a bit deeper into the borough, it’s really no surprise that Jackson Heights is quickly becoming a focal point for savvy buyers and renters. The area, roughly bounded by Northern Boulevard, Junction Boulevard, Roosevelt Avenue and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, is fully loaded with stunning pre-war co-ops practically everywhere and shiny new redevelopments for under $800,000. Combine this with its diverse cultural offerings and a myriad of subways that can always get you smack dab in the middle of Manhattan in less than 30 minutes (that’s better than a lot of the up-and-coming areas of Brooklyn, mind you), it has all the makings for the next hipster-setting housing boom.
Why Jackson Heights is one to consider
August 12, 2015

Venus and Serena Williams Sell Midtown West Apartment for $2M

Just in time for the U.S. Open, superstar tennis sisters Venus and Serena Williams have sold their Midtown West apartment for $2.1 million, according to city records released today. The 1,800-square-foot loft at 28 West 38th Street is currently configured as a one-bedroom, but the wide open layout lends itself to a two- or three-bedroom setup. The sisters bought the unit in 2005 for $1,335,000, but were quoted a couple years later saying they had yet to furnish the space. And judging by the seemingly staged listing photos, they may never have gotten around to it. The buyers are Ted Wells, the criminal attorney recently hired by the NFL to investigate the "deflategate" issue, and his wife Nina Mitchell Wells, former Secretary of State of New Jersey.
See the rest of the space
August 12, 2015

Map Lets Users Draw Where They Think Their Neighborhood Borders Are

Back in the day, there was no East Village; it was all the Lower East Side. The Upper West Side was one big neighborhood; there weren't subdivisions like Broadway Corridor or Riverside. Brokers didn't invent acronyms like NoMad and DoBro. As time goes on, areas in New York City seem to multiply, but this really all depends on who you're talking to. Since the city has no actual neighborhood boundaries (they divide the city by much larger community districts), everyone has their own idea of where one neighborhood ends and the other begins. And a new interactive map from DNAinfo allows New Yorkers to draw what they think their neighborhood borders are and see how their approximations compare to others.'
See how we did at our first attempt
August 12, 2015

Former Jehovah’s Witness-Owned Carriage House Asks $9.95 Million in Brooklyn Heights

The Jehovah's Witnesses have a long history in the neighborhoods of DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights, but over the past five years the religious group has slowly retreated from the neighborhoods for a hefty profit. For a little backstory, Jehovah's Witnesses set up a headquarters in Brooklyn Heights way back in 1909, and then went on to acquire significant real estate holdings in the area that included homes in Brooklyn and big hulking warehouses in DUMBO. They decided to start selling off real estate holdings in 2011, which brought in millions upon million of dollars. This carriage house, at 165 Columbia Heights, was sold by the Jehovah's Witnesses in 2012 for $4.1 million. And after a very significant renovation, it's now back on the market asking $9.95 million.
See the reno
August 12, 2015

Bay Ridge Home with ‘Architectural Drama’ Asks an Absurd $4.58M

The quiet old-school neighborhood of Bay Ridge, Brooklyn is filled with grand and storied homes, from the elegant to the eclectic and, more than occasionally, the awkward. Overlooking the Brooklyn shore of the New York Harbor's Upper Bay, Shore Road is an architectural mashup of eras and styles, with everything from Deco-esque apartment buildings both plain and fancy to more than its fair share of large and luxurious dwellings that trade for equally luxurious sums. A $4,580,000 ask breathes some rarified air even in this crazy market, but the house itself fits well within a certain mid- to late-Bay Ridge-style, perhaps best described as an early '90s interpretation of a Catskills resort contained within a suburban home. This wouldn't be the first of its kind on Shore Road to command upwards of $4 million; while it's not the All Marble Everything house, which sold for the tidy sum of $4.4M in April, the house at 7529 Shore Road has charms of its own. The listing promises, "all the architectural drama you can imagine, yet warm and intimate feeling." And there's a wall-length aquarium.
Architectural drama, this way
August 12, 2015

A Toast to Tribeca: More Images Revealed of KPF’s 111 Murray Street

Grounded in the foothills of the downtown skyline, where the quaint streets of Tribeca scale upwards into the shimmering temples of capitalism, lies the 35,000-square-foot construction site of an upcoming 62-story condominium known as 111 Murray (previously called 101 Murray). Architecture critic Carter Horsley exclaims, "111 will be the most elegant addition to the downtown skyline in decades." Truly, the  Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates-designed tower–reminiscent of a champagne flute with its curvaceous body, narrowing mid-section, and flared crown–will be a refreshing expression of form and fluidity that will counteract the blocky towers that have shrouded the once romantic skyline. We've uncovered some brand-new renderings of the tower, and they continue to impress.
Take a look right here
August 12, 2015

1940s Machine Built a House in 24 Hours; No One’s Using LOL Anymore

Greenpoint has the most cases of illegal trash dumping. [NYP] A 1940s house-building machine could supposedly crank out a two-bedroom home in 24 hours. Was this the original 3-D printer? [CityLab] This 17-year-old just opened a gelato shop on the Lower East Side. [Yahoo! Food] Thanks to “hehe,” “haha,” and emoji, no one is using LOL anymore. […]

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August 12, 2015

POLL: Do You Agree That the New LaGuardia Plan Is Non-Functional and Uninspiring?

On Monday, resident architecture critic Carter B. Horsley shared his thoughts on the the new $4 billion LaGuardia airport proposal, and let’s just say he is not impressed. He feels the design is “especially lackluster and uninspired when compared to many new 21st-century airports” with no “new urban mascot, logo or icon to offer and amuse.” He […]

August 12, 2015

$29M Historic Townhouse Looks to Take Back the Title of Most Expensive Sale on the UWS

On Monday, the New York Times reported about the listing of an Upper West Side house at 24 West 71st Street – "a historically significant granite-and-iron-spot-brick townhouse with fanciful terra-cotta embellishments and distinctive interior millwork." The stately residence sold for $4.3 million back in 1996, setting a record for the neighborhood. Now, 20 years later, it's back and is looking to reclaim its title of most expensive townhouse sale on the UWS. The home is asking $29 million, more than the current record holder 247 Central Park West, which sold for $25 million earlier this year. The 7,134-square-foot house was built in 1892 by architects Lamb and Rich, and it underwent a $1 million renovation in 1988 that turned it from a ten-unit apartment building back to a single-family mansion, surely helping seal the record-breaking sale in '96 to current owners Arrien and Robin Schiltkamp. According to the just-launched listing, "Immaculately maintained, the six-bedroom, six and a half-bath townhouse has retained the gorgeous original details that infuse every corner, while augmenting them with opulence by Jonathan Rosen Interiors." Some enviable features of the home include six bedrooms; an elevator; a private, south-facing back garden; top-floor terrace; almost all of the original woodwork; stained glass windows; a 400-pound original door; ten gas fireplaces; and a Japanese-inspired spa.
Find out all about the townhouse
August 11, 2015

My 350sqft: A Modern Bachelor Opens Up His Creative and Clever Brooklyn Heights Studio

Our ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of 6sqft’s friends, family and fellow New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to Brooklyn Heights. Want your home to be featured here? Get in touch! When we typically think of bachelor pads, we imagine dark rooms, garbage bags full of empty beer cans, and heaping piles of clothes that aren't discernibly clean or dirty. But today's generation of single man is out to dispel the frat-guy stereotype. Take for example investor relations associate Owen Boyle, whose colorful Brooklyn Heights studio is perfectly curated and ridiculously organized. Though the first-floor pad on Pineapple Street is only 350 square feet, the mix of creative decor and clever design make for a home that is sure to entice any interior design-loving lady. Owen worked with a good friend and designer to transform his first solo apartment into a funky mix of Jersey Shore nostalgia (where he grew up), Brooklyn hip (there's a record player), and laid-back professionalism (see his impressive tie collection). He recently let us in his home, where everything from his shoehorn to the American flag has personal meaning.
Tour this modern bachelor pad here
August 11, 2015

Cookbook Author and New York Times Food Columnist Mark Bittman Gets $1.8M for UWS Co-op

If you want to get in on the million dollar real estate game, get a food-related editorial job at the New York Times. First, we learned that op-ed columnist (and former chief restaurant critic) Frank A. Bruni bought a $1.65 million Upper West Side pad at 123 West 74th Street, quickly followed by the sale of his old apartment in the same building for $1.95. Now, just a few blocks away at 17 West 71st Street, the Times' famed food columnist Mark Bittman and his wife Kelly Doe, an art director at the paper, have sold their apartment for $1.82 million, according to city records released today. The couple bought the home in 2009 for $999,999, so they've almost doubled their money. Bittman is also the author of 14 cookbooks (the most well known of which might be "How to Cook Everything") and a regular judge on Food Network competition shows. This makes it curious that the kitchen of his Central Park West pad is rather small and dull.
Take a look around here
August 11, 2015

The Bronx Is Getting a New Mixed-Use High-Rise Near Yankee Stadium

Brooklyn and Queens have been flush with new condos and rental developments lately, now it's time for the Bronx to get in on the action. Local developer M. Melnick & Co. has begun construction of a mixed-income, 17-story residential and commercial high rise at 810 River Avenue that will be the area's first since it was rezoned in 2009. The company dates back to 1934 and has proven to be reliable builders of multi-family, senior, supportive and mixed-use housing developments around the city.
Find out more right here
August 11, 2015

First Look at 23-Story Condominium Replacing Greenwich Village’s Bowlmor Lanes

Here's our first peek at the 23-story condominium tower replacing the former home of Greenwich Village's iconic Bowlmor Lanes at 110 University Place. Documents filed with the Department of Buildings depict a modest 280-foot-high tower rising from a block-long, one-story retail podium. Situated on a charming stretch of University Place lined with an assorted mix of low and mid-rises, the existing four-story, 75,000-square-foot building housed a parking garage in addition to the famed bowling alley. In 2012, Billy Macklowe, founder and CEO of William Macklowe Company and son of 432 Park Avenue developer Harry Macklowe, purchased a long-term controlling position in the building, which effectively made Macklowe the building's landlord for the next 72 years.
More details right this way
August 11, 2015

Take a Walk Down ‘Do the Right Thing Way’; NY Real Estate Could See a Slowdown in Chinese Investment

A look at the new Goethals Bridge on Staten Island, now under construction. [SI Live] A street in Bed-Stuy has officially been named after Spike Lee’s “Do the Right Thing.” The name applies to Stuyvesant Avenue, a stretch between Lexington Avenue and Quincy Street. [Brooklyn Mag] The devaluation of the Chinese renminbi could lead to slowdown in New York investments. China has […]

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More than just current events, here you'll learn about the places, people, and ideas that are shaping your city.