All articles by Alexandra Alexa

January 29, 2019

$2M Gowanus home has curb appeal and amazing historic details

A charming and full-of-potential home at 240 11th Street in Gowanus (near the Park Slope border) just hit the market for a cool $1,995,000. To match its historic rowhouse facade, the home offers loads of stunning original details, but it may benefit from some modern upgrades to really let those bones sing. It features four bedrooms and a flexible layout over three floors, with plenty of options for its future owner.
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Distinctive Homes

January 28, 2019

$1.9M Prospect-Lefferts Gardens home mixes elegance and playfulness among historic bones

By Alexandra Alexa

One block away from Prospect Park, a refined three-floor, two-family brick home at 365 Parkside Avenue has just hit the market for $1,875,000. Built in 1901, the Prospect-Lefferts Gardens property offers loads of historic details, including coffered ceilings, oak parquet floors, three ornate decorative fireplaces, a beautiful backyard and deck, and a convenient location with easy access to Manhattan and the neighborhood’s best restaurants.
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Overnight and weekend L train closures will last through March

Image via Flickr

January 28, 2019

Overnight and weekend L train closures will last through March

By Alexandra Alexa

Beginning on Monday, the MTA is planning a series of overnight and weekend interruptions of L train service that will give commuters a glimpse at what's to come when Governor Cuomo's new one-track plan to fix the Sandy-damaged Canarsie Tunnel kicks in at the end of April. From January 28 and through March 18, L trains will not run between Broadway Junction and 8 Avenue weeknights from 10:45 p.m. to 5 a.m. In addition to the weeknight closures, there will be no L-train service on seven weekends in February and March: Feb. 1-4, Feb. 8–11, Feb. 15–19, Feb. 22–25, March 1–4, March 8–11, and March 15–18.
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Transit

January 25, 2019

Beautifully restored Victorian townhouse with views of Morris Jumel Mansion asks $2.8M

By Alexandra Alexa

Overlooking Highbridge Park and the historic Morris Jumel Mansion (Manhattan's oldest home), this impeccable High-Victorian townhouse at 427 West 162nd Street in Washington Heights is brimming with eye-catching details and artistry. Currently a two-family home with the potential for rental income, this is a one-of-a-kind property in a neighborhood that's been drawing a surge of new residents lately. Over four years ago, a townhouse sold on the same street for $2.4 million—a record-breaking sale for the neighborhood at that time. Now, offering six bedrooms and a combined total of 4,500 square feet, this fully restored stunner with a huge garden and amazing views is a catch for the asking price of $2,795,000.
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Smooth sailing for G, L, and Q trains this weekend, others not so much

Image via Flickr

January 25, 2019

Smooth sailing for G, L, and Q trains this weekend, others not so much

By Alexandra Alexa

Most of the planned work for this weekend looks a lot like last week's slate: still no B train, no J or M between Brooklyn and Manhattan, no 7 between Queensboro Plaza and 34 Street-Hudson Yards, and longer than usual wait times on some lines. G, L, and Q riders can rejoice for now, you get to enjoy another weekend without planned subway service disruptions.
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Transit

Cuomo’s new L train plan will still bring headaches for commuters, as leaked memo shows

Image via Governor Cuomo’s Flickr

January 24, 2019

Cuomo’s new L train plan will still bring headaches for commuters, as leaked memo shows

By Alexandra Alexa

With Governor Cuomo's plan to avoid a total L train shutdown for 15 months in favor of a "nights and weekends" approach confirmed earlier this month, questions still remain about just what the alternate plan will entail and how riders will be affected. According to an exclusive MTA memo draft obtained by Streetsblog and the New York Post this week, it looks like the new Canarsie Tunnel repair plan will bring its own set of headaches for straphangers, including 20-minute waits between trains on weekends and an exit-only system at First and Third Avenues on weekends.
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January 24, 2019

Asking $15M, one of the last Gramercy Park townhouses comes with keys to the park

By Alexandra Alexa

Here’s a rare opportunity to own one of only five remaining single-family townhouses with a Gramercy Park address and one of the city’s most coveted accessories: keys to the famous neighboring park. A former 19th-century boarding house with rooms “decorated with ferns, foliage, and Autumn flowers,” according to an 1895 article in The Times, 40 Gramercy Park North is one of the last survivors from the initial period of development around the park, now sandwiched between two large apartment buildings. For $14,950,000 the six-story home carries plenty of historic charm but has been updated for modern living, complete with an elevator.
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January 23, 2019

Sweet Hamilton Heights living at this historic $3.85M brownstone on Convent Avenue

By Alexandra Alexa

Homes along the coveted tree-lined Convent Avenue in Hamilton Heights rarely become available, but here's a chance to own a piece of NYC history. The five-bedroom brownstone at 325 Convent Avenue just hit the market with an asking price of $3,850,000. The last time this property sold was back in 2001 when it was snagged for a mere $585,000! This 4,500-square-foot brownstone is a fantastic investment filled with original details, a beautiful garden, and a manicured front lawn.
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Distinctive Homes

See renderings of Morris Adjmi’s Front & York, Dumbo’s biggest new development

Renderings courtesy of Williams New York

January 22, 2019

See renderings of Morris Adjmi’s Front & York, Dumbo’s biggest new development

By Alexandra Alexa

The future of the empty, former parking lot at 85 Jay Street was revealed last week when developers released new details and renderings of the highly-anticipated project. Named Front & York after its bordering streets, the development will be a 21-story residential and retail complex bringing 728 new apartments (a mix of condos and rentals) to the neighborhood. According to reporting by The Bridge, the development will be the largest yet in Dumbo and will supply enough housing to increase the population of the upscale neighborhood by 25 percent.
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January 22, 2019

Legendary designer Halston’s former UES house and famed party spot is off the market after four years

By Alexandra Alexa

After being on the market for four years, the iconic Halston House at 101 East 63rd Street finally sold to an anonymous buyer for an undisclosed amount last week. The modernist property, one of only three residences in Manhattan designed by famed architect and former Yale School of Architecture dean Paul Rudolph, is best known as the home of designer Halston in the 1970s where he hosted lavish parties attended by the likes of Andy Warhol, Liza Minnelli, Truman Capote, and Jacqueline Onassis. It first hit the market in 2015 for $40 million when it was rumored that art dealer Jeffrey Deitch was interested in making a deal. One year later, the listing received a significant price chop to $28 million. According to a press release, the buyer was taken with the home's rich cultural history and is an admirer of Rudolph's architecture.
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Former Broadway design warehouse is now a soaring Chelsea home asking $18.5M

By Alexandra Alexa

A stunning converted warehouse in Chelsea hit the market this week for $18,500,000. A beautiful study of scale and proportion, the residence at 536 West 29th Street features a central atrium with 32-foot ceilings, a 700-square-foot private garden, and a Japanese white glass terrace. Exposed brick for days and custom woodwork throughout give the expansive, column-free space a distinctive character. And the original wood beams are from the building's early 20th-century days as a production and art studio for Broadway sets.
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Distinctive Homes

January 18, 2019

After more than two years, Hudson Heights’ cliffside ‘Pumpkin House’ sells for $2M

By Alexandra Alexa

Back in 2016, 6sqft reported that the iconic “Pumpkin House,” a 1920s townhouse cantilevered from a cliff in Hudson Heights, had hit the market for the first time since 2011 for $5.25 million. Still without a buyer the following summer, the 17-foot-wide, six-bedroom brick home at 16 Chittenden Avenue received a price chop to $4.25 million. The unusual home—standing 250 feet above the Henry Hudson Parkway—finally found its new owner this Thursday, when it sold for a deeply discounted $2 million, as reported by the New York Post.
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Here’s how the subways will be running this MLK Day weekend

Via Flickr

January 18, 2019

Here’s how the subways will be running this MLK Day weekend

By Alexandra Alexa

Riders of the G, L, Q, and R trains are in luck: no scheduled disturbances will get in the way of your long weekend plans. The B train, on the other hand, will not be running this weekend. And like last week, there is no J or M service between Manhattan and Brooklyn. Most lines are expecting significant delays, with 5 trains running only every 20 minutes. And on Monday, MTA services will operate on special schedules in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Subways will be running on a regular weekend schedule, Metro-North will be on an enhanced Saturday schedule, and the LIRR is offering off-peak fares throughout the day to celebrate the holiday.
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Transit

City pulls permits for Extell’s controversial Upper West Side tower

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios/Snøhetta

January 17, 2019

City pulls permits for Extell’s controversial Upper West Side tower

By Alexandra Alexa

Less than two months after rejecting a challenge against the tallest tower planned for the Upper West Side, the Department of Buildings has decided to pull permits for Extell Development’s 775-foot tower at 50 West 66th Street, as NY1 first reported. In December, opponents argued that the Snøhetta-designed structure was misusing structural voids—where a building’s mechanical equipment is stored—to add height without increasing square footage. They said the 160-foot mechanical spaces were designed not out of necessity, but presumably to boost the overall height of the apartments—and their price tags. Now, the DOB has made a surprise reversal, ruling that these spaces do not meet the current standards of the New York City Zoning Resolution.
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January 17, 2019

For $825K, this Hell’s Kitchen duplex is as efficient as it is charming

By Alexandra Alexa

On a tree-lined block in Hell’s Kitchen, this two-bedroom co-op just hit the market for a cool $825,000. The cozy 800-square-foot duplex at 455 West 43rd Street offers a loft vibe filled with beautiful details—dramatic high ceilings, wood floors, exposed brick, a spiral staircase, and a fireplace—along with all the modern amenities you need to live in true comfort.
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Distinctive Homes

In 2018, NYC drew a record 65 million tourists—and that number will keep rising

Via CC

January 16, 2019

In 2018, NYC drew a record 65 million tourists—and that number will keep rising

By Alexandra Alexa

NYC & Company, the city's tourism and marketing agency, announced on Wednesday that the number of visitors to the city rose to a record high of 65.2 million in 2018, as the New York Times first reported. This is a notable jump up from 2017's 61.4 million and the ninth straight annual increase. Most visitors still come from within the United States, but the number of tourists from China saw an uptick from 1.04 million in 2017 to 1.1 million. The agency was expecting an overall drop in tourism numbers, and particularly from China, due to President Donald Trump's trade battle with the country and "America First" rhetoric, but the industry continues to thrive in the president's hometown.
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January 16, 2019

Architectural styles combine in this historic Greenwich Village townhouse, now asking $13.5M

By Alexandra Alexa

This five bedroom townhouse at 37 West 11th Street is an impeccable property nestled within Greenwich Village’s “Gold Coast," the seven-block stretch of Fifth Avenue between 14th Street and Washington Square Park where you’ll find some of the most refined homes in the city. Originally built in 1848 in the Greek Revival style, it was given Italianate flourishes in the 1920s and now exemplifies both genres of New York City townhouse architecture. The home has only had five owners in its 170-year history, and it’s easy to see why nobody would want to let this gem go. Now on the market for $13.5 million, a chance to own this rare piece of New York architectural history in a prime location has opened up.
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Distinctive Homes

January 15, 2019

Williamsburg townhouse offers a unique live/work solution for $4.5M

By Alexandra Alexa

Located in a prime Williamsburg location one block away from the water, this townhouse at 64 East 4th Street is a catch with an asking price of $4,495,000. The four-floor home was gut renovated a few years ago and boasts a slew of modern amenities: a top-of-the-line kitchen, a home gym, and a beautiful garden. Best of all, the entire top floor is a ready-to-go office, making this an exciting opportunity for those seeking a live/work solution.
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Distinctive Homes

January 15, 2019

A 20-foot wall of windows stuns in this romantic Gramercy Park townhouse, asking $15M

By Alexandra Alexa

There are many blocks in New York that leave us drooling, but the original “block beautiful” is 19th Street between Irving Place and Third Avenue, one block away from Gramercy Park. Most of the brick and brownstone rowhouses on the block were built in the 1850s but were considered dour by the turn of the century. After moving to New York in 1906, British architect Frederick Sterner bought the home at 139 East 19th Street and renovated it with what would become his playful signature touch: a coat of tinted stucco, shutters, decorative ironwork, and a projecting tile roof. Many—if not most—of the other homes on the block received Sterner makeovers, giving the street a distinctive charm. Now you can own the house right across the street from Sterner’s own, at 140 East 19th Street, for $15,250,000.
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Distinctive Homes

January 14, 2019

Four-bedroom City Island home with huge backyard and private beach access asks just $680K

By Alexandra Alexa

Built in 1901, this adorable four-bedroom home at 11 Fordham Street on idyllic City Island could be a great option for those looking to live farther away from the typical hustle and bustle of NYC. Currently on the market for $679,000, the 1,779-square-foot home comes with a huge backyard, waterfront access, and a private beach. With hardwood floors throughout, it features amazing bones that could easily be modernized. The property has been featured in several commercials and was one of the main locations for the 2006 movie "The Groomsmen," and it’s ready to step into action again.
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Illuminated Garment District installation ‘Iceberg’ wants you to think about climate change

Photos courtesy of Alex Ayer/Diversity Pics

January 11, 2019

Illuminated Garment District installation ‘Iceberg’ wants you to think about climate change

By Alexandra Alexa

Earlier this week The Garment District Alliance unveiled "Iceberg," an immersive art installation on the Broadway pedestrian plazas along Broadway from West 37th to 38th Streets. Created by ATOMIC3 & Appareil Architecture, in collaboration with Jean-Sébastien Côté and Philippe Jean, the installation allows the public to generate a light and sound show as they pass through the metal arches of the installation, which react to the pace of each participant by turning different colors. But there’s more to it than pretty lights—the installation also carries an environmental message.
See the lights

Events & Things To Do

No J or M between Brooklyn and Manhattan and other weekend subway updates

Via Flickr

January 11, 2019

No J or M between Brooklyn and Manhattan and other weekend subway updates

By Alexandra Alexa

Let's start things off with some good news: The L and G trains will be running smoothly with no anticipated changes this weekend. The worse news is that many lines will experience station closures and delays. Riders of the 5 will be hit especially hard, with trains running only every 20 minutes. Traveling between boroughs won't be easy either. 7 service between Queensboro Plaza and 34 Street-Hudson Yards continues to be out and there will be no J or M service between Brooklyn and Manhattan. Those free shuttle buses are sure to be packed.
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Transit

January 10, 2019

Historic Harlem townhouse combo seeks record-breaking $27M

By Alexandra Alexa

A record-shattering listing just hit the market: twin adjacent townhomes in Harlem are seeking a whopping $27,000,000 for both properties. The homes are currently independent but could be combined into a rather impressive megamansion. The price is unparalleled in the area and five times the record selling price of a Harlem townhouse, which sold last February for $5.1 million. As Mansion Global reported, listing agent Siddiq Patterson of the Corcoran Group said he believed the price was justified by the property’s scale and storied past. "The bones and the history is something you just don’t get" with other homes in the area, he stated.
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January 9, 2019

This dreamy 1880 Victorian bed and breakfast in Harlem could be yours for just under $4M

By Alexandra Alexa

Entering the 1880 townhouse at 210 West 122nd Street in Harlem is like stepping back in time. The six-bedroom property—now on the market for $3,750,00—is currently a bed and breakfast where guests from all over the world enjoy the grandeur of this authentic Victorian home filled with original details: mahogany millwork, stained glass transoms, inlaid floors, and seven fireplaces. The old world charm is balanced by luxurious 21st-century amenities including a recently updated kitchen and waterfall jacuzzis. Prospective buyers will be able to continue operating the bed and breakfast or simply enjoy this architectural gem for themselves.
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SNL comic Michael Che plans benefit comedy show to raise funds for NYCHA residents

Photo via Pexels

January 8, 2019

SNL comic Michael Che plans benefit comedy show to raise funds for NYCHA residents

By Alexandra Alexa

Stand-up comic and SNL’s Weekend Update co-anchor Michael Che is organizing a benefit show for New York City public housing residents this week. There are still a few tickets left for "A Night for NYCHA" on January 11, as amNY reported earlier today. Che is the headliner, “Roastmaster General” Jeff Ross will be hosting, and Michelle Wolf will feature in a “top secret lineup” of comics. “It's gonna be a fun show and a GREAT cause," Che posted on his Instagram stories earlier this month. "A lot of residents don't have heat this winter. This money could really help. I grew up in a building like that, and it's really tough."
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