All articles by Michelle Cohen

Michelle is a New York-based writer and content strategist who has worked extensively with lifestyle brands like Seventeen, Country Living, Harper’s Bazaar and iVillage. In addition to being a copywriter for a digital media agency she writes about culture, New York City neighborhoods, real estate, style, design and technology among other topics. She has lived in a number of major US cities on both coasts and in between and loves all things relating to urbanism and culture.

This luxury-filled $15M Brooklyn Heights townhouse has passive house tech behind its historic grandeur

Photo credit: Evan Joseph for The Corcoran Group

November 30, 2021

This luxury-filled $15M Brooklyn Heights townhouse has passive house tech behind its historic grandeur

By Michelle Cohen

This 7,040 square foot townhouse at 37 Sidney Place in the postcard-pretty Brooklyn Heights Historic District spans six stories of living space–all accessed by a bronze-mirrored elevator. From the gym and sauna in the basement to the top-floor treehouse room, there are six bedrooms, nine baths, a landscaped garden, and two terraces. Asking $14,950,000, the Greek Revival-style home was built in 1846. A complete renovation by Baxt Ingui Architects has added every modern luxury and a sustainable future: The house is under review for passive house certification.
Hop on the elevator for a six-floor tour

Distinctive Homes

NYC plans to replace Coney Island boardwalk with sustainable plastic decking

Photo via Shinya Suzuki’s Flickr

November 29, 2021

NYC plans to replace Coney Island boardwalk with sustainable plastic decking

By Michelle Cohen

The New York City Parks Department announced this month $114.5 million in funding will be used to kick off the reconstruction of Coney Island's landmarked Riegelmann Boardwalk in the first such overhaul since the wooden walkway was built in the 1920s. But not everyone is on board with the reconstruction, which involves replacing the length of the hardwood boardwalk with recycled plastic decking as part of a sustainability plan. Some residents feel the synthetic material is a poor choice for the waterfront icon.
Find out more about the proposed new boardwalk

Uncategorized

This $3.5M Weehawken home has front-row seats to the NYC skyline

Photo credit: Jump Visual

November 23, 2021

This $3.5M Weehawken home has front-row seats to the NYC skyline

By Michelle Cohen

This classic brick home at 807 Boulevard East in Weehawken, N.J. looks like a stately suburban home on the outside, but when you're inside this $3,499,000 residence, Manhattan skyline and water views from nearly every room offer a rare treat for the eyes. A home theater, a gym, a three-car garage and four bedrooms add even more modern value to the historic package.
Check out those views

Distinctive Homes

This $3M West Village co-op has old-world charm at a 21st-century price

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

November 22, 2021

This $3M West Village co-op has old-world charm at a 21st-century price

By Michelle Cohen

This two-bedroom, two-bath co-op at 67 Perry Street is tucked into a landmarked 19th-century row house on one of the loveliest blocks in the coveted West Village. The familiar collection of sweet details–exposed brick, a working fireplace, bay windows, and high ceilings–is enhanced by a considered custom renovation that adds colorful design and modern comfort. The compact floor-through walk-up has been cleverly carved out of a railroad layout, and though it's the embodiment of a romantic Village flat, the $2,995,000 asking price may seem more alarming than charming.
See more of this charming Village flat

Distinctive Homes

This bright, cozy $6.5M Upper East Side townhouse was home to Broadway royalty

Photo credit: Eitan Gamlieli for Sotheby’s International Realty

November 19, 2021

This bright, cozy $6.5M Upper East Side townhouse was home to Broadway royalty

By Michelle Cohen

On the outside, the tidy black-shuttered single-family townhouse at 248 East 68th Street in Lenox Hill is one in a cheerful historic row, built in 1881 by a developer who sought charm instead of monotony. The home is being sold for $6.5 million by the estate of the late Broadway producer Isobel Robins Konecky and her husband, entertainment attorney Ronald Konecky. The couple lived in the house since the 1970s, renovated it in 2006, and created a home with every modern comfort. In doing so they added even more charm to the four-story, four-bedroom home, where they hosted family, friends, and clients, including Walter Cronkite, Roone Arledge, Barbara Walters, and Frank Gifford.
Take the townhouse tour

This unique $7M Dakota penthouse has an octagonal cupola and floating glass staircase

Photo credit: Andrew Frasz for Sotheby’s International Realty

November 18, 2021

This unique $7M Dakota penthouse has an octagonal cupola and floating glass staircase

By Michelle Cohen

This duplex penthouse in the historic Dakota at 1 West 72nd Street on the Upper West Side is architecturally unique and visually stunning. From the octagonal cupola on the main floor that conceals a media room to the glass staircase, window-walled upper-level sunroom, and 500-square-foot terrace, the $6,950,000 co-op is well beyond the ordinary. There's even a private basement studio included, complete with a photo studio and darkroom.
Tour this unusual Dakota aerie

Distinctive Homes

The 15 best NYC holiday markets of 2021

Photo: FAD Holiday Market

November 18, 2021

The 15 best NYC holiday markets of 2021

By Michelle Cohen

Even a pandemic can't keep a New York City shopper down. The city's retail landscape may look different now, but that hasn't dimmed the sparkle of beautiful baubles, clever crafts, and the company of fellow shoppers. While most of the city's holiday markets went virtual last year, many of our favorites have returned in their fabulous original form. The big Manhattan markets at Union Square, Bryant Park, and Columbus Circle are still impressive, but smaller, more intimate neighborhood gems shine brightly on their own. They're all great places to find seasonal delights like ice skating, live music, drinks, food, and family fun designed to keep shoppers' spirits bright.
Find out where the goods are

Events & Things To Do

New report shows NYC’s wealthiest neighborhoods saw the highest pandemic exodus

Photo by Jason Krieger on Unsplash

November 17, 2021

New report shows NYC’s wealthiest neighborhoods saw the highest pandemic exodus

By Michelle Cohen

New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer's office released a report this week revealing the impact the Covid-19 pandemic had on the city's population. The numbers show that net residential migration out of NYC tripled during 2020–and residents of the city's wealthiest neighborhoods were the ones most likely to move out. But those numbers appear to be reversing to a pre-pandemic level: Since July 2021, the city has gained an estimated 6,332 residents, and outward-bound migration has actually been lower than it was in 2019.
Who left, and where did they go?

For $1.25M this Flatbush pre-war co-op has a livable loft layout with custom storage and treetop views

Photo courtesy of Alex Staniloff at Greenehouse NYC

November 16, 2021

For $1.25M this Flatbush pre-war co-op has a livable loft layout with custom storage and treetop views

By Michelle Cohen

Located in the pre-war co-op complex known as Berkeley Square at 1701 Albemarle Road in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighborhood near Prospect Park, this pristinely renovated three-bedroom, two-bath apartment offers more than just living space for $1,250,000. With a loft-like layout, this three-bedroom home is also a corner unit with three exposures and treetop views, in an Art Deco building with gracious amenities like full-time door staff and access to dedicated parking.
Details this way

Distinctive Homes

This $9.9M UWS duplex in the landmarked Apthorp is a house-sized condo with a perfect layout

All photos courtesy of SERHANT.

November 15, 2021

This $9.9M UWS duplex in the landmarked Apthorp is a house-sized condo with a perfect layout

By Michelle Cohen

Asking $9,888,000, this mint-condition 4,200-square foot-duplex in the Apthorp at 390 West End Avenue is a classic luxury Upper West Side condominium with the size and layout of a house. With four upstairs bedrooms and three and a half baths, the layout is perfect for families, guests, and entertaining. The landmarked 1908 building is a Manhattan icon, with Riverside Park a block away.
Take the grand tour

Distinctive Homes

Popular Articles

Once home to NYC’s 93rd mayor, this stately $3.5M Princeton, NJ home is both historic and welcoming

Image courtesy of C

November 15, 2021

Once home to NYC’s 93rd mayor, this stately $3.5M Princeton, NJ home is both historic and welcoming

By Michelle Cohen

allaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty The understated estate on beautifully landscaped grounds at 12 Battle Road overlooking Princeton University’s Graduate College anchors one of the town's finest residential streets. It's an address befitting the home's original owner, George B. McClellan, Jr., former congressman and the 93rd mayor of New York City. The three-story house (plus a one-bedroom apartment atop the home's three-car garage), on the market for $3.5 million, strikes a balance between magnificent historic details–like the same marble tiles used in Grand Central Station in the entry hall–and livable 21st-century luxury.
Tour the house and grounds

Peloton CEO’s East Hampton home is on the market for $4.5M, with a screening room, pool and gym

Image courtesy of Douglas Elliman

November 12, 2021

Peloton CEO’s East Hampton home is on the market for $4.5M, with a screening room, pool and gym

By Michelle Cohen

The East Hampton home at 12 Koala Lane owned by Peloton founder and CEO John Foley is now on the market for $4,450,000. In a secluded spot on 2.17 wooded acres, the contemporary three-level farmhouse offers six bedrooms, six baths, a double infinity edge gunite pool, a ball court, a home theater, a wine cellar, and, of course, a gym.
Guess what's in the gym

Distinctive Homes

Gowanus rezoning deal reached, with affordable housing and sewer upgrades on board

Photo by Danny Navarro / Flickr cc

November 11, 2021

Gowanus rezoning deal reached, with affordable housing and sewer upgrades on board

By Michelle Cohen

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s ambitious plan for the rezoning of Brooklyn's formerly industrial Gowanus neighborhood was finally approved by the city's Land Use Committee on Wednesday, after a decade of debate and drama. As Gothamist reports, the rezoning plan, the current administration's largest, was given the green light after Council Members Brad Lander and Stephen Levin, the borough's Community Board 6, and members of the Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice reached a deal with City Hall that includes more investment in public housing and sewer infrastructure.
Find out more about what's ahead for Gowanus

24 perfect gifts to say ‘thank you’ to your host

Photo by Jill Heyer from Pixabay

November 11, 2021

24 perfect gifts to say ‘thank you’ to your host

By Michelle Cohen

Whether you're dropping in for dinner or visiting from out of town, a little something for the host lets them know you appreciate their hospitality–and secures your spot on future guest lists. Check out our round-up of treats and treasures for the table and beyond.
Great gifts and goodies for the host, this way

New employer survey shows 54 percent of Manhattan workers remain fully remote

Via Creative Commons

November 10, 2021

New employer survey shows 54 percent of Manhattan workers remain fully remote

By Michelle Cohen

In March, 6sqft reported that only 10 percent of Manhattan's office employees had returned to the workplace full-time. Since then, a recent survey shows, only 28 percent are back in the office on an average weekday. According to a survey of major employers between October 19 and October 29 by The Partnership for New York City, only 8 percent of employees are in the office five days a week and 54 percent are only working remotely. A third of employers surveyed said their need for office space will go down over the next five years, and 13 percent expect a reduction of jobs physically located in NYC, especially in the financial services industry.
-More on who's not heading back to the office->

Policy

Lottery opens for 102 mixed-income units in Harlem’s tallest building, from $755/month

Image courtesy of NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development

November 9, 2021

Lottery opens for 102 mixed-income units in Harlem’s tallest building, from $755/month

By Michelle Cohen

At 27 stories and 340 feet high, the new Victoria Towers redevelopment at 230 West 126th Street in central Harlem–the site of the former Victoria Theater–has the distinction of being the neighborhood's tallest building. Leasing opened in July, and now 102 of its units are available for those earning 50, 60 or 130 percent of the area median income and range from studios at $755 /month to $3043/month two-bedrooms (market-rate studios start at $2,238/month). Designed by Aufgang Architects, the mixed-use building complex is also home to a Renaissance Marriott hotel and a cultural arts center.
Find out how to apply

Affordable Housing

Infrastructure bill will bring billions in funding for NYC transit projects and more

Photo courtesy of former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office

November 8, 2021

Infrastructure bill will bring billions in funding for NYC transit projects and more

By Michelle Cohen

The long-awaited bipartisan infrastructure bill passed in the wee hours of last week's end will mean billions of dollars in much-needed investment in New York City's own infrastructure. The bill, which President Joe Biden has said he will sign this week, adds $550 billion to be spent on transportation, bringing the total to $1.2 trillion, as Gothamist reports. The New York City region will see that investment in the form of projects like the addition of subway station elevators, upgrades to Amtrak–and a revival of the long-stalled Gateway Project's Hudson River tunnels. Carlo Scissura, president and chief executive officer of the New York Building Congress, said, “It really does transform the physical part of our region in a way that we haven't had a federal investment like this in decades honestly.”
Find out more about the $$$$ headed for NYC

Townhouse living coupled with co-op convenience at this unique $4.7M Upper West Side residence

Photo credit: Nina Poon and Ryan Lahiff

November 5, 2021

Townhouse living coupled with co-op convenience at this unique $4.7M Upper West Side residence

By Michelle Cohen

If you're looking for classic Upper West Side living, steps from Central Park, this 3,200-square-foot, four-bedroom co-op is as good as it gets. For $4,750,000, the three-floor home in a unique co-op at 31 West 93rd Street offers townhouse living–including lots of private outdoor space–as well as common space, staff, and elevator access to the top floors of this charming New York City residence. Legend has it that both Jackie Robinson and Betty Friedan lived in the building.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

New food hall The Hugh opens in Midtown’s Citigroup Center, with 17 restaurants under one roof

Photo courtesy of The Hugh

November 4, 2021

New food hall The Hugh opens in Midtown’s Citigroup Center, with 17 restaurants under one roof

By Michelle Cohen

The Hugh, Midtown's new food hall at 157 East 53rd Street in the Citigroup Center opened its doors last month, adding a host of delicious new dining options to the neighborhood. Developed by Boston Properties and Local Culture Management, the food hall offers diverse dining options and was inspired by New York City neighborhoods, from Greenpoint to Harlem. The Hugh also has a full calendar of cultural events and live music curated by Seth Abramson of Jazz Standard.
Meet the new Midtown food hall

Food & Dining

Enjoy Hudson River views from a cantilevered terrace above the tree line in this $6.3M upstate home

Photo courtesy of Houlihan Lawrence.

November 4, 2021

Enjoy Hudson River views from a cantilevered terrace above the tree line in this $6.3M upstate home

By Michelle Cohen

Perched a thousand feet above sea level with seemingly endless views of the Hudson River and the surrounding Hudson Highlands, the extraordinary contemporary home at 20 Windy Ridge was designed to complement the area's natural beauty. Asking $6.25 million, this 6,607-square-foot four-bedroom home is wrapped by retractable walls of glass that open onto terraces on three levels and a deep-water gunite pool set into a bluestone patio.
Check out the views in every direction

Distinctive Homes

Smash your past-it pumpkins for fun and compost at these NYC parks

Credit: Max Guliani for Hudson River Park

November 3, 2021

Smash your past-it pumpkins for fun and compost at these NYC parks

By Michelle Cohen

Pent-up aggression, post-Halloween boredom, or just a desire to do something useful with your jack-o-lanterns that have seen better days–they're all good reasons to join in the fun at a pumpkin smash. Post-holiday pumpkins make fabulous compost material, and several (free!) events around the city are offering a chance to "squash" your way to a greener community while teaching kids about composting. To quote Noreen Doyle, president and CEO of Hudson River Park: “By encouraging our community to smash, bash and crash their leftover pumpkins into compost, we can all play an active role in working towards a greener future.”
Pumpkin smashing and more ways to recycle unwanted goodies

Events & Things To Do

For $899K, this Connecticut country house has a heated barn, a pool, and a winery

Photo credit: Home Tour Vision

November 2, 2021

For $899K, this Connecticut country house has a heated barn, a pool, and a winery

By Michelle Cohen

In a verdant spot that's seriously away from it all in Redding, CT, this 3,484-square-foot contemporary home–and 3,000-square-foot heated barn–on two acres is asking just $899,000. A veritable country estate for less than $1M, the property also features an Olympic-sized pool, a solarium, and a winery. The main house has been renovated with new flooring throughout.
Tour the house and barn

Distinctive Homes

Irish Arts Center’s new $60M arts hub opens in Hell’s Kitchen next month

Photo by Mac Smith.

November 1, 2021

Irish Arts Center’s new $60M arts hub opens in Hell’s Kitchen next month

By Michelle Cohen

The non-profit organization Irish Arts Center (IAC) will open the doors of a 21,700-square-foot space at 726 11th Avenue in early December. The long-awaited arts hub will occupy a century-old tire shop and garage after a decade-long transformation of the $60 million building led by New York-based architects Davis Brody Bond, the firm behind the National September 11 Museum and The Ronald O. Perelman Performing Arts Center, along with Ireland's Office of Public Works. Inaugural programming for the new center will include theatrical performance, dance, music, visual arts, literature, and education, beginning with Camille O’Sullivan’s "Where Are We Now?"
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

Grammy winner Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds’ former Midtown townhouse asks $5.7M

Image credit: Evan Joseph Photography.

November 1, 2021

Grammy winner Kenny ‘Babyface’ Edmonds’ former Midtown townhouse asks $5.7M

By Michelle Cohen

The four-story townhouse at 241 East 52nd Street on a classic Midtown Manhattan block is the former residence of 12-time Grammy winner Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds. Inside, the 2,728-square-foot home is a study in baby blue. Asking $5,695,000, the slender 1899 townhouse has been renovated with every modern luxury.
Take the tour

This $2M Bed-Stuy loft in a 1930s box factory has a huge terrace and sweeping views

Photos courtesy of NestSeekers International

October 29, 2021

This $2M Bed-Stuy loft in a 1930s box factory has a huge terrace and sweeping views

By Michelle Cohen

This three-bedroom duplex at 105 Lexington Avenue on the western side of Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood is a genuine loft in a 1930s box factory, complete with details like maple factory floors, century-old exposed brick, and an original freight elevator. Asking $1,995,000, the 1,818-square-foot condominium has thoroughly modern finishes, a private terrace, and amenities.
Get the details

Distinctive Homes

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