All articles by Dana Schulz

Photo Credit: Al Siedman of VHT, courtesy The Corcoran Group

March 12, 2020

In a former church, $2.75M Brooklyn Heights co-op has cathedral ceilings and stained glass windows

Original stained glass windows, 23-foot vaulted ceilings, and cathedral-like arches--this incredible Brooklyn Heights c0-op has all the heavenly features you'd hope for in a church conversion. Located at 99 Clinton Street, the 1850 church was turned into residences in 1980, and this $2,750,000 unit is perhaps its most spectacular.
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Distinctive Homes

New York City introduces text line for coronavirus updates

Photo by Alejandro Sotillet on Unsplash

March 9, 2020

New York City introduces text line for coronavirus updates

By Dana Schulz

At a press conference this afternoon, Mayor de Blasio informed New Yorkers that they can text COVID to 692 692 to receive updates on the coronavirus from the city. He also said that, as of now, the city's St. Patrick's Day Parade is scheduled to go on as planned on Tuesday, March 17th, as is the New York City Half Marathon this Sunday.
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Policy

March 9, 2020

Midtown hardware store gets fined for price gouging cleaning products

By Dana Schulz

$20 for Clorox and Lysol sprays and $40 for a three-pack of disinfectant wipes--that's how much a Midtown hardware store was selling its products for before getting caught and fined by the city. The store, Scheman and Grant on West 39th Street, may also have been trying to sell a bottle of hand sanitizer for $80. According to NBC, they created a list of prices for these hard-to-find products and told customers to check those prices before purchasing because returns would not be accepted.
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Policy

New York State is producing its own hand sanitizer, starting at 100,000 gallons per week

Photo via Governor Cuomo/Flickr

March 9, 2020

New York State is producing its own hand sanitizer, starting at 100,000 gallons per week

By Dana Schulz

At a press conference this morning, Governor Cuomo announced that New York State is beginning to produce 100,000 gallons of its own hand sanitizer every week, with that amount expected to increase. Called New York Clean, the sanitizer was introduced to deal with the incredible price gouging on the product taking place on Amazon and Ebay. It has a higher alcohol content than Purell--75 percent versus 70 (the CDC recommends 60).
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Policy

With coronavirus cases expected to surge in NYC, de Blasio urges staggered commute times

Photo via WNYC/Flickr cc

March 9, 2020

With coronavirus cases expected to surge in NYC, de Blasio urges staggered commute times

By Dana Schulz

Photo via WNYC/Flickr cc The city thus far has said that public transportation will continue to operate normally (with increased cleaning measures, of course), but this weekend, after Governor Cuomo declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak, Mayor de Blasio urged NYC residents to stagger their commute times to avoid rush hour. He also promoted biking or walking to work (despite the fact that the latter is not a feasible option for most), telecommuting, and avoiding crowded subway cars.
See what else the Mayor has to say

New York implements ‘cancel for any reason’ travel policies amid coronavirus outbreak

Photo by Philip Morris via Flickr cc

March 7, 2020

New York implements ‘cancel for any reason’ travel policies amid coronavirus outbreak

By Dana Schulz

The night before declaring a State of Emergency in New York State, Governor Cuomo announced that travel agents and travel insurers will offer "cancel for any reason" travel policies, joined by six global and national insurance companies. According to a press release, the Department of Financial Services (DFS) put in place this action "to provide reassurance to New York businesses and residents who are seeking to make plans that may involve travel to locations that are not currently under travel advisories due to COVID-19."
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Policy

Well-known author sells Upper East Side carriage house with an artist’s studio for $11M

Photos by Devin Groody/Rise Media courtesy of Compass

March 6, 2020

Well-known author sells Upper East Side carriage house with an artist’s studio for $11M

By Dana Schulz

Fans of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" series will love getting a look inside author Ann Brashares's gorgeous Upper East Side carriage house, which she just sold for $11 million, reports the Post. Brashare and her husband, painter Jacob Collins, bought the 7,200-square-foot home at 167 East 69th Street in 2001 for $3.65 million from the Sculpture Center. They first listed it in 2018 for $18.95 million, with a price chop to $15 million this past July. Not only does the home have beautiful interior architecture, but it boasts a huge artist's studio and a garage with a curb cut.
Have a look around

Real Estate Trends

After four months, Norah Jones sells historic Cobble Hill townhouse

Photo by Christian Harder for Nest Seekers International

March 5, 2020

After four months, Norah Jones sells historic Cobble Hill townhouse

By Dana Schulz

In early November, Grammy Award-winner Norah Jones listed her Greek Revival Cobble Hill townhouse for $8 million. She had purchased it for $4.9 million in 2009. Located at 166 Amity Street, the four-story, five-bedroom brick home boasts beautiful interiors with preserved 1800s details like wooden ceiling beams, marble mantles, and classical moldings, as well as a disappearing heated pool and hot tub in the lovely backyard. The sale, which was first reported by the Post, has not hit public records yet, so the exact sales price is unknown.
Take the tour

REVEALED: Hudson Yards’ 1,100-foot-high sky deck Edge

All photos © Dana Schulz for 6sqft

March 4, 2020

REVEALED: Hudson Yards’ 1,100-foot-high sky deck Edge

By Dana Schulz

Thanks to Rolling Stone's awesome Women Shaping the Future event today, 6sqft got a first look at Edge, Hudson Yards' observation platform that extends 80 feet from the 100th floor of 30 Hudson Yards. As though being 1,100 feet above ground wasn't dizzying enough, the Western Hemisphere’s highest outdoor sky deck also has a glass floor. Ahead, get a first look at this truly one-of-a-kind experience and its incredible 360-degree views before it opens to the public on March 11th.
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New Developments

Prospect Park Picnic House will get a food and beverage concession

The second-floor entrance to the Picnic House, photo by Prospect Park Alliance via Flickr cc

March 3, 2020

Prospect Park Picnic House will get a food and beverage concession

By Dana Schulz

The 10 million visitors who walk through Prospect Park each year will have a new place to stop for food and drink very soon. The Prospect Park Alliance has issued an RFP for "the sale of food and beverage items from the ground floor Picnic House concession space." Currently, the Picnic House's second floor is a popular event and wedding venue, but the first floor is mainly unused.
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Food & Dining

For just $839K, this 1730 stone house sits on 4 acres upstate and has two guest suites

By Dana Schulz

Two hours north of New York City, right near hip New Paltz and the Mohonk Preserve, $839,000 will get you a meticulously preserved and restored farmhouse built in 1730 (h/t CIRCA). Not only that, but it sits on 3.9 acres and comes complete with a lower-level guest suite (which has been serving the current owners with Airbnb rental income) and a detached guest cottage.
Have a look around

Before + After: How an Upper West Side couple renovated their 440sqft studio after a building fire

Photos by Pixy Interiors for Sweeten

February 27, 2020

Before + After: How an Upper West Side couple renovated their 440sqft studio after a building fire

By Dana Schulz

When a blaze broke out on the rooftop of Dianna and Todd's Upper West Side co-op building they luckily sustained no major damage, but their walls and floors did suffer some impairment. Since moving into the high-floor duplex three years prior, the couple had been planning to renovate their home, and after the incident, they took the plunge. Because the 444-square-foot studio duplex had an efficient layout, their contractors advised them to keep the current setup and focus the budget on modernizing the kitchen and bathroom, brightening up all the rooms with paint and stain jobs, and incorporating colorful decor and functional furnishings.
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On the Jersey Shore, you can spend the night inside a 90-ton elephant

Photo by Acroterion via Wikimedia Commons

February 27, 2020

On the Jersey Shore, you can spend the night inside a 90-ton elephant

By Dana Schulz

In the late 19th century, Atlantic City began its heydey as a booming resort town thanks to a new railroad connection. To attract prospective real estate investors and tourists, inventor James V. Lafferty received a patent to build a giant elephant statue in nearby Margate. Completed in 1881, Lucy the Elephant stood 65 feet tall (six stories) and weighed 90 tons. After a preservation battle in 1969, Lucy was restored in the '70s and has continued to be a spectacle for locals and vacationers alike. The 138-year-old attraction has even caught the attention of Airbnb, who announced that they'll be offering three overnight stays inside Lucy. The lucky Lucy fans will pay $138 (the same number as her age) for a stay on either March 17, 18, or 19.
Get a look inside

Getting Away

Thurgood Marshall’s former Hamilton Heights co-op hits the market for $550K

Photo credit: Rise Media, Courtesy of Compass

February 27, 2020

Thurgood Marshall’s former Hamilton Heights co-op hits the market for $550K

By Dana Schulz

Thurgood Marshall, the Supreme Court's first African-American justice, lived in Harlem as a young adult, even serving as a vestryman at St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church at 134th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. His home was a bit farther north in Hamilton Heights, at 409 Edgecombe Avenue near 154th Street. Notably, the building was also home to prominent African American figures such as W. E. B. Du Bois, painter Aaron Douglas, civil rights activist Roy Wilkins, and artist Elizabeth Catlett. Justice Marshall's former co-op, a spacious two-bedroom, is now owned by actress Erica Ash, known for her work on MadTV and The Big Gay Sketch Show. She's just put it on the market for $550,000.
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‘Versailles’ on the Upper East Side hits the market as a $55M townhouse with rental income

Photo credit: OLR and RARE Photography for Silvette Julian, Compass

February 25, 2020

‘Versailles’ on the Upper East Side hits the market as a $55M townhouse with rental income

By Dana Schulz

We bet your home doesn't have 24-carat gilded gold moldings... but if you feel like upgrading to such a regal residence, this $55 million Upper East Side townhouse is just the ticket. Located at 10 East 62nd Street, just off Central Park, the landmarked Beaux-Arts building is currently configured as a triplex, two duplexes, and a common penthouse, all of which are currently being rented out. The triplex has been on and off the rental market for years, going for as much as $60,000 a month. In addition to the gold details, it's dripping with marble, hand-painted murals, and wrought-iron staircases.
See it to believe it

Distinctive Homes

February 24, 2020

Affordable housing waitlist reopens for Hamilton Heights’ PS 186, starting at $526/month

By Dana Schulz

Back in 2016, Dattner Architects completed the restoration of a former early 20th-century school building in Hamilton Heights to a mixed-income affordable rental building that also serves as a new home for the Boys and Girls Club of Harlem. The Residences at PS 186 launched their first affordable housing lottery back then, and they've now opened up spots on a re-rental waiting list. New Yorkers earning 40, 60, 130, or 165 percent of the area median income are eligible to apply for units ranging from $526/month studios to $3,142/month two-bedrooms.
See if you qualify

Affordable Housing

$20K/month Nolita loft is colorful, modern, and above a library

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

February 24, 2020

$20K/month Nolita loft is colorful, modern, and above a library

By Dana Schulz

285 Lafayette Street was built in 1886 as the Hawley & Hoops chocolate factory. In 1999, a rooftop addition was added and the building was converted to condos. Today, the open-floor lofts in a prime Nolita location are a celebrity magnet; David Bowie bought the penthouse in 1999 (his widow Iman still lives there), and Courtney Love and Ian Schrager are also former residents. But you don't have to be a star to appreciate the colorful, modern design of this three-bedroom unit, currently renting furnished for $20,000 a month. Another added bonus is that the Soho branch of the New York Public Library is in the base of the building.
Have a looksie

Distinctive Homes

In Brooklyn Heights’ Eagle Warehouse, live behind a 19th-century industrial clock for $2.35M

Listing photos by Donna Dotan, Courtesy of Compass

February 21, 2020

In Brooklyn Heights’ Eagle Warehouse, live behind a 19th-century industrial clock for $2.35M

By Dana Schulz

The lucky new resident of this Brooklyn Heights loft will never have an excuse to be late again. As the listing correctly describes it, this is a "once-in-a-generation opportunity" to live behind the historic clock on the top floor of the Eagle Warehouse & Storage Company building at 28 Old Futon Street. The co-op is made even more incredible by its 17-foot ceilings, two huge skylights, exposed brick and millwork, and views of the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline.
Lots more to see

Distinctive Homes

You can rent the only Plaza apartment with a private elevator for $46,000 a month

Listing photos courtesy of Elegran

February 21, 2020

You can rent the only Plaza apartment with a private elevator for $46,000 a month

By Dana Schulz

As if living in the Plaza wasn't posh enough, this mansion apartment is the only residence in the building to have a private elevator and a personal grand staircase with a private landing. Of course, it'll cost you--$46,000 a month. But that gets you 4,665 square feet of space, four bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, and Central Park views from every window. And the home comes fully furnished.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

For $7.5M, George S. Kaufman’s one-time ‘European’ townhouse on the Upper East Side

Photos by Guillaume Gaudet, courtesy The Corcoran Group

February 21, 2020

For $7.5M, George S. Kaufman’s one-time ‘European’ townhouse on the Upper East Side

By Dana Schulz

Celebrated playwright George S. Kaufman lived at 158 East 63rd Street in the 1920s, when he was part of the Algonquin Round Table circle of New York artists. As such, a young Moss Hart visited him at his Upper East Side home and later described seeing the home for the first time as an "illuminating and expensive moment" in his autobiography "Act One." The townhouse is now on the market again for $7.5 million, and its show-stopping features--a deep garden, European-style architecture, and a handsome library--are all still intact.
Get a look around

Distinctive Homes

Levain is bringing its giant cookies to Noho

Cropped from a photo by City Foodsters via Flickr cc

February 20, 2020

Levain is bringing its giant cookies to Noho

By Dana Schulz

No need to travel uptown anymore when you have a craving for a gooey, half-pound cookie. Time Out NY tells us that Levain is opening a Noho outpost, their first downtown location, on February 26th. In addition to offering their four signature cookies--chocolate chip walnut, dark chocolate peanut butter chip, dark chocolate chocolate chip, and oatmeal raisin--the new shop will have a yet-to-be-revealed new menu.
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Food & Dining

Image by jacqueline macou from Pixabay

February 20, 2020

21 places to celebrate Mardi Gras and eat King Cake in NYC

By Dana Schulz

You don't have to travel to New Orleans to get in on the Mardi Gras festivities; New York City has some fun Fat Tuesday events of its own (though they may be a tad tamer than what you'll find in Louisiana!). From brass bands and jazz performances to crawfish boils and King Cake, we've rounded up 20+ great ways to celebrate Mardis Gras this year.
Start making plans

February 20, 2020

$1.4M Seaport loft is full of character and historic details

By Dana Schulz

The listing says this loft at 265 Water Street in the South Street Seaport is in "first generation" condition, which is definitely apparent from the weathered wooden beams and columns and original maple floors. The historic details and wide-open layout are the perfect backdrops for eclectic furnishings and funky art, making this $1,395,000 co-op a rare find.
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Distinctive Homes

Listing photos courtesy of Compass

February 19, 2020

Former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann puts his Gramercy penthouse on the market for $37.5M

By Dana Schulz

After the fallout from a failed IPO and subsequent stepping down from the company, WeWork founder and former CEO Adam Neumann has been slowing unloading his real estate empire. The latest listing is for his three-floor Gramercy penthouse at 78 Irving Place. He and wife Rebekah Paltrow Neumann bought three units in the pre-war condo (that's half of the total units in the building) in 2017 for a total of $35 million and then embarked on a major combination and remodel.
See more of the penthouse

February 19, 2020

Petite penthouse in Gramercy has a massive skylight and Empire State Building views for $698K

By Dana Schulz

Penthouses don't often come with six-figure price tags, but this Gramercy gem at 310 East 23rd Street is asking just shy of $700,000. The top-floor condop has a slightly narrow layout, but it still feels super spacious thanks to a double-height great room with nearly 14-foot ceilings and large north-facing windows that even have views of the Empire State Building. A vaulted skylight above the bedroom loft lets in even more light.
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Distinctive Homes

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