All articles by Dana Schulz

5Pointz Artists Petition Against Developer Using Iconic Name for New Residential Towers

5Pointz before being demolished via Garrett Ziegler/Flickr

January 13, 2015

5Pointz Artists Petition Against Developer Using Iconic Name for New Residential Towers

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Back in November we first got wind of G&M Realty's plan to trademark the 5Pointz name and use it for their new residential towers at the site; now artists connected to the Long Island City graffiti mecca are fighting back. Father-son developers Jerry and David Wolkoff had their trademark application denied twice, most recently on January 6th, for being too similar to a California real estate company. Before their third go, artist Jonathan Cohen (aka MeresOne), who ran 5Pointz for ten years, has started an online campaign advocating to protect the storied name. So far the petition has 2,050 signatures, with a goal of 3,000.
More details on the 5Pointz feud
Chetrit Group Plans $1.8B Sellout for 96 Condos in the Sony Tower
January 13, 2015

Chetrit Group Plans $1.8B Sellout for 96 Condos in the Sony Tower

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Back in June, we learned that the Chetrit Group was planning to partially convert the Philip Johnson-designed Sony Tower at 550 Madison Avenue to high-end condos. And it has now been revealed that the 96 condo units will amount to a jaw-dropping $1.8 billion sellout, according to plans the developer filed with the Attorney General's office. By comparison, the initial total sellout at One57 was $2 billion, and at 432 Park Avenue it was $2.4 billion.
More on the luxury conversion

Via aurélien. via photopin cc

January 12, 2015

Street Fight: Why Are There Three Broadways in Manhattan?

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Broadway is arguably the most famous street in New York City. It's synonymous with the Theater District; it runs from the southern tip of Manhattan all the way up to Westchester County; and it's the oldest north-south thoroughfare in NYC. While we might not all know these fun facts about the street, we undoubtedly know a thing or two about Broadway and its nonconformity to the street grid. But did you know there's also a West Broadway in Tribeca/Soho and an East Broadway on the Lower East Side/Chinatown? They're not extensions of Broadway proper, so how did they receive their monikers?
Find out about the Broadway conundrum here
Get Free Access to 33 Museums with the New NYC Municipal ID
January 12, 2015

Get Free Access to 33 Museums with the New NYC Municipal ID

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Are you one of those New Yorkers who goes to the Met more than any other museum because it's "pay what you wish"? Do you wait in lines wrapped around the block to get into museums' free admission nights? Well, good news. You can now enjoy your favorite cultural institutions across all five boroughs without having to jump through hoops, thanks to the Mayor's municipal ID initiative. In addition to serving as a city identification card, IDNYC will offer a free one-year membership to 33 of the city’s most prominent museums and cultural centers; it will also serve as a cross-borough library card. New Yorkers can begin applying today, and enrollment will remain open until December 31, 2015.
Interested? Find out more here
EVENT: Is the Vanderbilt Corridor the Future of East Midtown?
January 12, 2015

EVENT: Is the Vanderbilt Corridor the Future of East Midtown?

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The proposed East Midtown Rezoning has been a hotly debated issue over the past few years. First introduced by Mayor Bloomberg, and backed by Mayor de Blasio, the rezoning would allow developers to build larger and taller than the current Grand Central Terminal district zoning allows in exchange for financial contributions to the area's infrastructure needs. The Department of City Planning feels the rezoning would ensure that the area maintains its spot as a global business center, but others think it would forever ruin the historic nature of the neighborhood. One of the most major components of the project is One Vanderbilt, a 68-story, 1,514-foot zigzag tower that will stand adjacent to Grand Central. Along with the building comes a reconfiguration of the Vanderbilt Corridor, the streetscape around the Terminal. A panel discussion at the Museum of the City of New York on January 20th will examine both the tower and the corridor and what they mean for Midtown East.
More about the event here
New Public Art Piece Will Have All of Times Square Yawning at Once
January 12, 2015

New Public Art Piece Will Have All of Times Square Yawning at Once

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And not out of boredom. Sebastian Errazuriz has created a new public art piece for Times Square that is the antithesis of the high-energy, fast-paced neighborhood. It's a close-up, black-and-white, three-minute video of the artist looking around and yawning that plays on 50 digital billboards throughout Times Square, which triggers a domino effect of sleepy, open mouthed gaping, since we all know yawns are contagious. Errazuriz's idea was to instill "a pause in the city that never goes to sleep," which informs the title of the work. The yawn-athon takes place every night through January 17th at 11:47pm from 42nd to 47th Streets between Broadway and 7th Avenue.
More (yawn) details ahead
Daily Link Fix: Decorating Lessons from ‘Friends;’ Gowanus Bridge Getting a Light Show
January 12, 2015

Daily Link Fix: Decorating Lessons from ‘Friends;’ Gowanus Bridge Getting a Light Show

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The perfect winter coat for every New York neighborhood. [Refinery29] Calling all historic architecture buffs! Sign up now for preservation trivia. [HDC] 10 decorating lessons from Friends. Number one? DO NOT gamble away your rent-controlled apartment. [Apartment Therapy] It’s a big day for Friends…this artist created a miniature, paper replica of Monica and Rachel’s apartment. […]

January 10, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft staff

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New Study Reveals It’s More Important to Have a MetroCard Than a College Degree in NYC 158-Year-Old Legally-Embattled Building on Leonard Street Finally Sells for $11.2 Million Will Streetcars Make a Comeback in the Bronx? Construction Update: High Line-Embracing Condo 505 West 19th Street Gets Its Skin Once Vibrant but Long Vacant Graffitied Boyce Thompson […]

Daily Link Fix: Williamsburg Bar Will Open in a Water Tower; The Best 100-Year-Old Restaurants in NYC
January 9, 2015

Daily Link Fix: Williamsburg Bar Will Open in a Water Tower; The Best 100-Year-Old Restaurants in NYC

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Photo series explores the faith and modesty of Orthodox Jewish women from Brooklyn to Paris. [Elle] A new Williamsburg hotel will open a bar/lounge in a rooftop water tower. [Bedford + Bowery] Here are the 11 best 100-year-old restaurants in NYC. [Thrillist] Sad about the closing of Streit’s Matzo? Take a look at these historic photos of the factory’s […]

Community Board Likes Pier55 Floating Park Overall, but Wants More Transparency
January 9, 2015

Community Board Likes Pier55 Floating Park Overall, but Wants More Transparency

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It's been relatively quiet over the past six weeks or so as far as news about the proposed offshore park and performance space in the Hudson River known as Pier55. But this week, Community Board 2's Parks and Waterfront Committee reviewed the project, and though they liked Thomas Heatherwick's design overall, they cited their main concern as transparency. The board's issue stems from the fact that billionaire media mogul Barry Diller, who committed $130 million to the 2.7-acre park, and the Hudson River Park Trust had been working secretively for two years on the plans. According to Curbed, committee member Arthur Schwartz said, "Probably the main public critique of this project has been the way that so much of the design was developed in infinite detail before it even became a matter of public knowledge."
More on the outcome of the public meeting
The Lena Dunham Real Estate Effect: Looking at the Homes of the Stars of ‘Girls’
January 8, 2015

The Lena Dunham Real Estate Effect: Looking at the Homes of the Stars of ‘Girls’

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One of the reasons Girls became such an instant hit is because it was lauded as the anti-Sex & the City. Its characters live in Greenpoint, not the Upper West Side; they wear Converse instead of Manolos; they struggle to pay the rent rather than living in completely unrealistic apartments. But when it comes to their real lives in New York City, the cast of the HBO show is definitely not struggling to make ends meet, as is evidenced by their impressive collection of real estate. So, in anticipation for this Sunday's season four premier, let's take a look at how Lena Dunham and her posse actually live in the city, as compared with their characters' fictional digs.
See where the stars of 'Girls' live on and off the screen
Daily Link Fix: Why NYC Is Awesome in Winter; the 3,200 Doorways Photographed in One Year
January 8, 2015

Daily Link Fix: Why NYC Is Awesome in Winter; the 3,200 Doorways Photographed in One Year

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Be an optimist today while your hair is growing icicles. Here’s 50 reasons why NYC during winter is awesome. [TONY] Want a free-standing house with a front porch, but don’t fancy moving to NJ or Westchester? Better check out Ditmas Park. [NYT] The Brooklyn District Attorney’s office is investigating the Gowanus rabbit colony. [DNAinfo] Photographer Ray […]

Fox News Host Kimberly Guilfoyle Buys $3.4M Central Park West Apartment Full of Taxidermied Animals
January 8, 2015

Fox News Host Kimberly Guilfoyle Buys $3.4M Central Park West Apartment Full of Taxidermied Animals

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Generally speaking, the ultra-conservative crowd isn't spending their free time volunteering with PETA. So it's quite fitting that Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle just picked up the infamous taxidermy-filled apartment in the Beresford. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your thoughts on decorative dead animals, the long-time owner, journalist Gregory Speck, is sending his massive collection of stuffed friends to the Virginia Museum of Natural History, according to the Post. And Guilfoyle has already hired architect Campion Platt to renovate the two-bedroom, "classic six" home. Lucky for us, though, it's not too late to see the bizarre (or some may say terrifying) Central Park West home.
Take a look inside
The City Began Rebuilding 1,002 Sandy-Damaged Homes in 2014
January 7, 2015

The City Began Rebuilding 1,002 Sandy-Damaged Homes in 2014

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Mayor de Blasio’s 2014 goal for Hurricane Sandy reconstruction was to start the rebuilding of 1,000 homes and distribute 1,500 reimbursement checks to homeowners who paid for repairs out of their own pockets. And not only have those goals been met, but they’ve been exceeded. According to the Daily News, the city has begun construction on 1,002 […]

January 7, 2015

POLL: Will 2015 Manhattan Sale Prices Surpass Record-Breaking Average of 2014?

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Yesterday we learned that the average Manhattan sale price reached an all-time high in 2014, climbing to $1,718,531 and surpassing the pre-recession record of 2008. We weren’t totally surprised, considering the past year’s slew of new, high-end developments. We predict that this trend will continue into 2015, with even more luxury listings hitting the market. But what […]

Palatial Tribeca Triplex with Coveted Keith Haring Mural Finds a New Owner
January 7, 2015

Palatial Tribeca Triplex with Coveted Keith Haring Mural Finds a New Owner

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An 8,000-square-foot Tribeca triplex with a 45-square-foot entertaining space, an original Keith Haring mural, cast iron columns, soaring arched windows and 26+ foot coffered ceilings is not such a hard sell. So we were not surprised to see that this palatial pad sold for the asking price of $10 million according to city records. Located in the historic American Thread Building at 260 West Broadway, this regal home combines the privacy of townhouse living with the security and services of a fully staffed building. When it hit the market back in May we were seriously swooning over its museum-like feel and impressive art collection. But that's not all...
Take a look around the rest of the home here
Average Manhattan Sale Price Reaches All-Time High in 2014
January 6, 2015

Average Manhattan Sale Price Reaches All-Time High in 2014

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According to Douglas Elliman’s fourth-quarter sales report, 2014's average sale price climbed to a new record high of $1,718,531, surpassing the pre-recession record of 2008. Plus, the fourth quarter had the second-highest sales volume in 25 years with 2,718 closed sales (the highest was in 2013, with 3,297 closed sales). What's to thank (or blame, depending on your feelings)? Jonathan Miller, author of the report and president of real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel, told Curbed "Prices are up for two key reasons. New development contracts from the past few years are beginning to close, and new development is skewed towards high end. Plus, inventory is up 20 percent from last year's 15-year record low but most of that increase is from new development."
More findings from the report here
January 5, 2015

1949 Film Shows Iconic NYC Sights in Amazing Technicolor

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Seventy years from now, new generations of New Yorkers will be able to watch old episodes of Law & Order or Girls to get a glimpse into a past life in the city. Our generation isn't so often afforded that luxury, unless we're looking at a grainy black-and-white video. But a clip from the 1949 film Mighty Manhattan – New York’s Wonder City showcases some of the NYC's most iconic sights in amazing Technicolor.
See New York in 1949 here
The Rumbles Are 3D-Printed Pendant Lights by Studio MeraldiRubini
January 5, 2015

The Rumbles Are 3D-Printed Pendant Lights by Studio MeraldiRubini

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We're no strangers to the 3D printing movement (we even know someone who's printing an entire estate), but we still get excited when we find a product that not only incorporates the technology, but is also a beautiful, striking design. The Rumbles made just that impression on us. Using 3D printers, industrial design firm Studio MeraldiRubini created this collection of three pendant lights characterized by soft and sinuous shapes that artistically filter light.
More details on the Rumbles ahead
NYC Sees an Increase in Solar Energy
January 5, 2015

NYC Sees an Increase in Solar Energy

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We've been talking so much about real estate trends and all the swanky new condo developments that we can expect to see in 2015, but there's another, more subtle trend that's already taking shape. And it's environmentally friendly. As CNBC reports, "New York City is experiencing a solar renaissance." The city has seen a recent flurry of initiatives that advocate for green building, including Governor Cuomo's $1 billion commitment to solar projects and his law that doubles tax breaks for those who install solar panels on their properties. Plus, in November, the City Council passed a bill that says New York City must cut greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
Learn how NYC buildings are incorporating solar energy
Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff
January 3, 2015

Weekly Highlights: Top Picks from the 6sqft Staff

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Michelle Williams Sells Boerum Hill Townhouse for $8.8M Jessica Helgerson-Designed Brooklyn Brownstone Features Colorful Modern Design REVEALED: 141 Willoughby, 30-Story Mixed-Use Tower to Replace Site Once Slated for Eminent Domain Takeover West Village Townhouse by 1100 Architect Maximizes Natural Light in a Historic Structure Sandy-Ravaged Chelsea Building to Sprout New Apartments Daphne Oz, Co-Host of […]

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