All articles by Diane Pham

Diane is the founder and Editorial Director of 6sqft. After graduating from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Real Estate Finance & Development and a minor in Architecture, she enjoyed stints at SCI-Arc, the A+D Museum Los Angeles, Perkins Eastman Architects and Resolution 4: Architecture. She also previously served as Senior Editor of Inhabitat.com and spent several years as an analyst at CB Richard Ellis Investments in Milan, Italy.
Real Estate Wire: The Plaza Hotel is Still for Sale; How to Convert a Church Into a Rental
August 25, 2014

Real Estate Wire: The Plaza Hotel is Still for Sale; How to Convert a Church Into a Rental

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The sultan of Brunei’s interest in the Plaza was all fluff, but the landmark hotel is still up for sale. The hotel will likely fetch $2B, but any deal will be extremely complicated given the current ownership structure. [NYT] Post-gentrifiers are upset with the post-post-gentrifiers that have driven Williamsburg’s prices sky high. [NYT] The George Washington Bridge Terminal […]

August 22, 2014

Could JPods’ Solar-Power Commuter Pods Make Their Way to Manhattan?

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Every day the NYC subway carries more than 1.3 million riders to all corners of our fair city. A feat yes, but if you're a rush hour commuter, you know the hellish conditions that can arise when trying to pack several hundred (though it can feel like thousands) of people into a line of sardine cans. If you're one of the many who constantly curse the MTA, try not to get too green-eyed as you read on. As it turns out, our neighbors in grid-locked Secaucus, New Jersey are gearing up to test a out new form of solar-powered public transit called JPods. This innovative new system uses a combination of light rail and self-driving car suspended above roads, and unlike the NYC subway, you can leave your running shoes at home. This rail network is designed to get you as close to your final destination as possible.
More on the new venture here
Real Estate Wire: Karim Rashid’s Colorful Harlem Design Gets a Thumbs-Down; Islamic Cultural Center Near Ground Zero Seeks Permits
August 21, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Karim Rashid’s Colorful Harlem Design Gets a Thumbs-Down; Islamic Cultural Center Near Ground Zero Seeks Permits

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Neighbors of Karim Rashid’s colorful complex planned for Pleasant Avenue in Harlem are in an uproar over the building’s pink and blue color scheme. [NYDN] Soho Properties is seeking permits for the construction of their proposed Islamic cultural center designed by Jean Nouvel. The controversial project, which will host a “museum and sanctuary space”, is located 49-51 Park Place near Ground Zero. […]

Floor Plans of the Woolworth’s $110M ‘Pinnacle’ Penthouse Revealed
August 21, 2014

Floor Plans of the Woolworth’s $110M ‘Pinnacle’ Penthouse Revealed

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It looks like Alchemy Properties' plan to price the penthouse at the Woolworth building for $110 million has been approved by the New York Attorney General’s office, making it one of the most expensive listings to ever hit the downtown market at $11,700 per square foot. According to The Real Deal, who got a first look at the floor plans, the unit will be called the "Pinnacle" and host 9,400 square feet with about 500 square feet of outdoor space.
More plans and pricing this way
Watch Charles and Ray Eames Unveil Their Iconic Lounger on NBC’s ‘Home’ Show
August 20, 2014

Watch Charles and Ray Eames Unveil Their Iconic Lounger on NBC’s ‘Home’ Show

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Few chairs are as recognizable as those designed by Charles and Ray Eames. And though Modernist duo were pioneers in the creation of quality furniture, both easily produced and sold at affordable prices (though you wouldn't exactly guess that now), did you know that their lounger was their first foray into the high-end furniture market? Officially titled Eames Lounge (670) and Ottoman (671), the chair was originally designed for Herman Miller back in 1956, and when it was released, Charles and Ray were already household names counting nearly 1 million chairs in homes across the country. To that end, when the pair were ready to debut this latest luxury creation, NBC's Home show invited them to come on and talk about their design. Anyone who admires the Eames will without question love this video featuring the adorable twosome modestly taking compliments from host Arlene Francis while discussing everything from their plywood chair, to their precedent home in Los Angeles, to their lounger, which in the segment gets a comically dramatic unveiling complete with curtains, lights and music.
Watch the video here
Real Estate Wire: East NY Residents Weigh In On the City’s Revitalization Plans; A Father and Son’s Land-Use Legacy
August 19, 2014

Real Estate Wire: East NY Residents Weigh In On the City’s Revitalization Plans; A Father and Son’s Land-Use Legacy

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Residents of East New York react to the city’s revitalization plan for their neighborhood. [WSJ] A developer’s best friends: The father and son law team who have worked for decades to secure changes to properties’ permitted use or size. [WSJ] Renzo Piano’s design for the new Whitney Museum along the High Line is almost complete. [Curbed] A […]

Morpholio’s Innovative Mood Board App Lets You Design Your Entire Apartment on an iPad
August 18, 2014

Morpholio’s Innovative Mood Board App Lets You Design Your Entire Apartment on an iPad

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The brilliant minds over at The Morpholio Project are at again, and this time they've introduced a real doozy to their already impressive suite of design apps. Devised for interior design professionals and design enthusiasts alike, this ground-breaking new application is pretty much like Pinterest on steroids, but made for the tech savvy who never stop creating. Featuring an incredible cloud library of over 1,000 top-notch curated design products and a highly refined suite of editing tools, this powerful app allows you to pull images of everything from furniture to materials to complete backdrops, onto a digital board that can be manipulated and transformed into a one of a kind vision: your own. The app was launched today and is now available at the Apple store for free!
More on this game-changing design app here
Real Estate Wire: A Record Breaking Sale at the San Remo; NYC Gets Its First Enclosed Mall in Over 40 Years
August 14, 2014

Real Estate Wire: A Record Breaking Sale at the San Remo; NYC Gets Its First Enclosed Mall in Over 40 Years

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A combo 6,000 square-foot luxury pad at the San Remo just sold for a record-breaking $26.4 million. [NYO] A 33-story tower designed by Woods Bagot is coming to Downtown Brooklyn. The new building will include a hotel and 381 apartments. [Curbed] More buyers are heading to Harlem in search of seeking cheaper luxury apartments. [Crain’s] The Mall at […]

When Looking at Manhattan’s Condo Sales the Downtown Market Reigns Supreme
August 14, 2014

When Looking at Manhattan’s Condo Sales the Downtown Market Reigns Supreme

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Though everything seems to slow to a glacial pace during the summertime months, a sluggish market wasn't the case for condo sales the week of July 14th. Buyers steadily scooped up prime properties with the city so far recording 249 condo and co-op sales. Manhattan's biggest buys came via the usual suspects—Flatiron's One Madison, and uptown faves Carnegie Hill and the Arpthorp—with deals ranging from $10.1 million up to $14.5 million. According to CityRealty's Market Insight report, although the city's top exchanges registered above 23rd Street, when eyeing contracts closed over the last 90 days, it looks like Downtown Manhattan reigned supreme when it came to the highest number of units sold (337), and the top prices garnered per square foot ($2,077 and $2,047 in the West Village and Soho, respectively). Overall, the area recorded an impressive $1 billion in total sales over the last three months.
All the details in graph form here
Live in the Plywood Version of Philip Johnson’s Glass House for $1.6M
August 13, 2014

Live in the Plywood Version of Philip Johnson’s Glass House for $1.6M

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Philip Johnson is best known for his use of glass, and his iconic Glass House in New Canaan, Connecticut, is without question his most famous work. But did you know that Johnson also dabbled in plywood construction? In fact, the architect designed several wood homes in the forestlands of Connecticut, including the Wiley Speculative House. The home was the first (and ultimately, only) of Johnson's "speculative houses" planned for a large scale residential development headed by the Wiley Development Corporation in 1954. Though built without a hitch, and despite Wiley's willingness to replicate the home for anyone, anywhere in Connecticut's Fairfield County, Wiley's hope for a Johnson-designed development flopped as nobody wanted to pay $45,000 to live in one of the houses. As a result, the Wiley Speculative House saw a somewhat sad fate and remained under the ownership of Wiley's trust until it was sold off a year later. Since then, the home has changed hands at least nine times, and now nearly 60 years later it's for grabs again, this time for $1.575 million.
More on the lesser-known Johnson house here
Real Estate Wire: What Lies Behind the Pepsi Sign; NYC Construction Spending Jumps 50%
August 13, 2014

Real Estate Wire: What Lies Behind the Pepsi Sign; NYC Construction Spending Jumps 50%

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Tour the new Long Island City residential building that sits behind the Pepsi sign. [Curbed] Extell is bringing a 52-story, 710,907-square-foot residential building to 41st Street and 5th Avenue. The company spent $16.46M on the development and to acquire the air rights from nearby St. Raphael’s Church. [CO] Spending on NYC residential construction has jumped […]

Real Estate Wire: How Many Jeans Do You Need to Sell to Afford Williamsburg’s Retail Rents?
August 12, 2014

Real Estate Wire: How Many Jeans Do You Need to Sell to Afford Williamsburg’s Retail Rents?

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How many jeans will Diesel need to sell to make rent at 101 Bedford? Greenpoint’s Andy Smith does a quick and dirty calculation. [Tremr] New York has only the 6th highest rents in the country. Apparently we lag behind behind San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Washington DC and Boston. Surprised? [Brokelyn] The 10 biggest real estate projects filed in […]

This Charming Lincoln Center Studio is the Perfect Pied–à–Terre for an Expat
August 12, 2014

This Charming Lincoln Center Studio is the Perfect Pied–à–Terre for an Expat

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For those of you who adore the movie Amélie, you're certain to fall in love with this quirky Lincoln Center studio, which we think would make the perfect pied–à–terre for the fabuleux French dreamer if she were ever to moonlight in Manhattan. Situated in a pristine townhouse located at 136 West 70th Street, this little beauty has all the grandeur of its sprawling neighbors, but offers plenty more charm with its lofty living space and beautiful rust-colored tin ceiling.
More on this special studio here
Billionaire Peter Brant Buys an Incredible Converted Con-Ed Substation for $27M
August 12, 2014

Billionaire Peter Brant Buys an Incredible Converted Con-Ed Substation for $27M

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It's a common saying that money can't buy good taste, but Peter Brant proves that old adage doesn't apply to billionaires. According to city records, the American industrialist and businessman just closed on a former Con-Ed substation located at 421 East 6th Street for $27 million—$2 million above asking. Constructed in 1920 to serve the city's power needs, the building was altered in the 60s and again in the 80s to accommodate a live-work space for a famed sculptor Walter de Maria. Even with more than a century of history behind it, today the structure still keeps many of its original relics and the overall gritty aesthetic of its industrial past. As a lover of art himself, we're curious to know how Brant will go about redesigning the space—if he does. Brant, who also happens to be married to supermodel Stephanie Seymour, is the publisher of both Interview and Art in America magazines and has been previously been called a "Donald Trump with taste" by the New York Times.
learn more about the building here
Real Estate Wire: Puff Daddy Price Chops His Park Imperial Haven; More New Yorkers Installing Solar Panels
August 11, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Puff Daddy Price Chops His Park Imperial Haven; More New Yorkers Installing Solar Panels

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Puff Daddy, P. Diddy, Sean Combs—whatever you want to call him—has re-listed his 2,292-square-foot Park Imperial loft for $7.9M. The new listing sees a $500K price reduction. [Curbed] New York is lagging other major cities in its pace of residential construction. Permits for 17,995 new housing units were issued in 2013—a little more than half […]

Real Estate Wire: Hyatt Pays $390M for Full Stake in One57; Two Trees to Spend $10M to Preserve Domino Factory Relics
August 8, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Hyatt Pays $390M for Full Stake in One57; Two Trees to Spend $10M to Preserve Domino Factory Relics

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Two Trees Management is throwing down $10M to salvage industrial artifacts from the Domino Sugar Factory. [Curbed] A look inside Brooklyn’s John Street Condos. [Curbed] PRD Realty is trying once again to file a mixed-use rental plan for a site near the Barclays Center. The developer was rebuffed two years ago by neighbors who were against […]

Real Estate Wire: Dedicated Graffiti Space on the Condos Replacing 5Pointz; New Brooklyn Bridge Park Towers Get the Go Ahead
August 7, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Dedicated Graffiti Space on the Condos Replacing 5Pointz; New Brooklyn Bridge Park Towers Get the Go Ahead

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14 new proposals were unveiled for Pier 6 at Brooklyn Bridge Park yesterday, and despite local outrage over the development’s inclusion of affordable housing, the project will move ahead. [Curbed] 5Pointz site owners Jerry Wolkoff and his son David have released images of the space they’ve reserved for graffiti art. But will artists abide to […]

14 New Designs Proposed for Brooklyn Bridge Park Project – BIG, Asymptote and FXFOWLE on the Roster
August 6, 2014

14 New Designs Proposed for Brooklyn Bridge Park Project – BIG, Asymptote and FXFOWLE on the Roster

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The city has just received 14 new design proposals for the two remaining housing developments on the southern edge of Brooklyn Bridge Park, a site that has been the focus of a contentious affordable housing debate; namely whether such units should be added to the coveted waterfront site. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Brooklyn Bridge Park Corp., which runs the park, will discuss the new proposals in a meeting today.
See all 14 proposals here
Real Estate Wire: Ismael Leyva’s Design for a High Line Condo; Bed-Stuy Real Estate is Red Hot
August 5, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Ismael Leyva’s Design for a High Line Condo; Bed-Stuy Real Estate is Red Hot

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First look at the Ismael Leyva-designed, Related Companies-developed condominium planned for West 30th Street between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues, a site that overlooks the High Line Park. [Curbed] Jonathan Miller pinpoints two new records for NYC: The average sales price for NYC residential real estate (co-ops, condos and 1-3 family sales) reached a record $975,441 for 2Q 2014; […]

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