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.

For $4M, an Upper East Side condo with a designer pedigree

Photo credit: Tim Waltman

February 1, 2022

For $4M, an Upper East Side condo with a designer pedigree

By Michelle Cohen

Situated a block from Central Park, this four-bedroom condo at the aptly-named Gatsby at 65 East 96th Street is a design vision at every turn. Asking $4 million, it's the epitome of classic pre-war style, offering not just four bedrooms and three and a half baths, but also a spacious separate living room, dining room, library, a home office, and formal entry foyer. According to Mansion Global, this sprawling combination of two adjacent units is currently owned by designers Gina and James de Givenchy. The latter is the nephew of Hubert de Givenchy, who founded the fashion house that bears his name.
More gorgeous Givenchy pad, this way

NYC offers free, same-day home delivery of antiviral Covid treatment pills

Photo credit: Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office on Flickr

January 31, 2022

NYC offers free, same-day home delivery of antiviral Covid treatment pills

By Michelle Cohen

Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday announced oral antiviral pills are now available for free same-day, at-home delivery for eligible New Yorkers. Oral antiviral pills–as well as monoclonal antibodies–have been shown to be effective in preventing hospitalization and death from Covid. The medication will be available for people who test positive for the virus, have mild or moderate symptoms, and have a doctor's prescription; due to a limited supply, the city is prioritizing those who are at elevated risk for severe illness from the virus.
Find out more

Policy

This $9.5M pre-Civil War Chelsea townhouse holds five floors of renovated modern home

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

January 31, 2022

This $9.5M pre-Civil War Chelsea townhouse holds five floors of renovated modern home

By Michelle Cohen

From its historic red-brick facade, we'd have no reason to doubt that this trim Chelsea townhouse at 258 West 24th Street, asking $9.5 million, dates from before the Civil War. Built in 1848, the 17-foot-wide single-family home spans 4,500 square feet over five floors, from cellar bonus room to private roof deck. Inside, however, the townhouse is totally turnkey, with newly-renovated interiors–and a two-tier backyard garden–that offer every 21st-century comfort and convenience.
More of this turnkey Chelsea home

Distinctive Homes

Soho’s only free-standing home is back on the market for $7.25M

All photos courtesy of Development Marketing Team

January 28, 2022

Soho’s only free-standing home is back on the market for $7.25M

By Michelle Cohen

Located on one of the district's most urban blocks, 514 Broome Street is the only free-standing townhouse in Soho. This fine example of New York City's flair for unexpected architecture is on the market for $7,250,000. 6sqft previously featured the three-story townhouse in 2015, when it changed hands for $6.9 million. Shortly after that sale, it appeared on the rental market for $22,500 a month.
Explore this unique Soho townhouse

Distinctive Homes

$1.36M gets you NYC waterfront living in this three-bedroom Roosevelt Island co-op

Images courtesy of Development Marketing Team

January 27, 2022

$1.36M gets you NYC waterfront living in this three-bedroom Roosevelt Island co-op

By Michelle Cohen

Roosevelt Island may or may not be the city's "best-kept secret," as the listing says when it comes to getting more space for less. But it's not often you find a three-bedroom, two-bath co-op on New York City's waterfront, minutes from the Upper East Side, for $1.36 million. In the 19-story Westview at 625 Main Street, this recently-renovated home offers river views and luxury finishes.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

Landmarks approves design for $77M renovation of Delacorte Theater in Central Park

Rendering courtesy of Ennead Architects.

January 26, 2022

Landmarks approves design for $77M renovation of Delacorte Theater in Central Park

By Michelle Cohen

The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved plans for the revitalization of Central Park's Delacorte Theater, the city's first major post-pandemic outdoor theater investment. The new design's main goals are to improve accessibility for people with disabilities, protect the building from the ravages of a changing climate, and improve efficiency and comfort.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

Photo credit: Coldwell Banker Warburg

January 26, 2022

$8.25M Lincoln Square condo has designer dazzle, celebrity cachet, and skyline views

By Michelle Cohen

Measuring over 3,000 square feet, this four-bedroom Lincoln Square condo at the Pelli Clarke Pelli-designed One West End Avenue is currently owned by eight-time Grammy winner Philip Lawrence and his wife, Urbana Lawrence, a celebrity designer/stylist. Now on the market for $8,250,000, the condo's dazzling interior was created by L.A.-based designers Patrick Dragonette and Charles Tucker, with views courtesy of New York City.
More designer dazzle, this way

$100M restoration of Midtown’s iconic Lever House skyscraper has begun

Rendering of the updated Lever House. Image credit: Brookfield Properties

January 25, 2022

$100M restoration of Midtown’s iconic Lever House skyscraper has begun

By Michelle Cohen

Park Avenue's iconic Lever House tower is being redeveloped under the architectural guidance of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the building's original architects, according to an announcement by the building's owners, WatermanClark and Brookfield Properties. The Midtown architectural landmark was completed in 1952 as soap company Lever Brothers' U.S. headquarters. SOM will be helming the restoration seven decades after they first designed the building at 390 Park Avenue.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

This $4.25M Tribeca duplex loft comes with possibilities and planted terraces

Photo credit: REPN/Rachel Kuzma for The Corcoran Group

January 25, 2022

This $4.25M Tribeca duplex loft comes with possibilities and planted terraces

By Michelle Cohen

Asking $4,250,000, this duplex condo at 55 Vestry Street is a classic Tribeca loft with outdoor space on two floors and a flexible floor plan–if you're willing to do a bit of work. Although it's currently configured as a one-bedroom, the 2,029-square-foot loft was originally a spacious three-bedroom apartment; it can be easily returned to that layout using the already-existing floor plans.
Tour the loft

Sliding glass walls meet outdoor spaces in this $10.8M penthouse atop Chelsea’s Jardim condo

Photo courtesy of Evan Joseph/Douglas Elliman

January 24, 2022

Sliding glass walls meet outdoor spaces in this $10.8M penthouse atop Chelsea’s Jardim condo

By Michelle Cohen

In addition to being Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld’s first New York commission, the pair of buildings known as Jardim, at 527 West 27th Street, make up an architecturally unique West Chelsea oasis. The development, which launched sales in 2016, features two 11-story buildings clad in cast-concrete interspersed with ribbons of glass. Its highlight–and name inspiration–is a verdant multi-level courtyard designed by Future Green Studio. Located in the building's loftiest reaches, this 3,663-square-foot duplex penthouse, asking $10,800,000, offers seamless indoor/outdoor living in addition to three bedrooms and interiors designed by the building's architect.
Penthouse views through sliding glass, this way

SNL’s Pete Davidson and Colin Jost rescue retired Staten Island Ferry boat for $280K

By Michelle Cohen

"Saturday Night Live" stars Pete Davidson and Colin Jost, along with comedy club owner Paul Italia, were the high bidders for the retired Staten Island Ferry boat John F. Kennedy, the NY Post reports. The boat, recently retired from the Staten Island Ferry fleet, was listed for $125,000 at a public auction that ended Wednesday. The auction price of the vintage vessel, retired after over five decades of service, had been slashed in half, but its new owners bid $280,000 in a last-minute bidding war, armed with plans to transform the ferry into a live entertainment venue.
More on the JFK, this way

Photo courtesy of Douglas Elliman

January 21, 2022

$699K Hudson Heights co-op updates 1930s Deco details for 21st-century life

By Michelle Cohen

This two-bedroom co-op at 420 Bennett Avenue in Hudson Heights, asking $699,000, has 1930s Deco details like a sunken living room and arched doorways. A complete renovation has updated that pre-war perfection for 21st-century living. The building's location at the edge of Fort Tryon Park, which sits at one of the highest points in Manhattan, feels a lot like some of the best stretches of the Upper West Side.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

Photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

January 20, 2022

It doesn’t get much grander than this $20M townhouse on the Upper East Side

By Michelle Cohen

Situated at 17 East 93rd Street surrounded by the stately townhouses of the Upper East Side, this 20-foot-wide, 7,500-square-foot home was designed in the Renaissance Revival style by William Graul in the late 1800s. It has since had a complete renovation that spanned over three years, resulting in a home that offers beauty, comfort, and luxury behind a restored classic brownstone facade. Asking $20,000,000, the single-family townhouse even has an elevator, putting each of its five floors within easy reach.
Tour five luxurious floors

Distinctive Homes

Photo by midweekpost via Wikimedia commons.

January 19, 2022

New plans announced for Park Avenue traffic median redesign

By Michelle Cohen

New York City Council Member Keith Powers announced this week the next steps in a plan to bring new life to Midtown's Park Avenue traffic medians. The newly-revealed plan will transform the avenue's current malls into "new, world-class, active open space," according to a press release. A landscape architect will be hired by the Department of Transportation to create a master plan according to a request for proposal, to be issued in the spring.
New life for Midtown streets, this way

Architecture And Design

$19.5M Dumbo penthouse is Brooklyn’s priciest listing

Image credit: March

January 18, 2022

$19.5M Dumbo penthouse is Brooklyn’s priciest listing

By Michelle Cohen

Asking $19.5 million, this just-listed penthouse at new condo tower Olympia Dumbo is currently Brooklyn's most expensive listing. If the five-bedroom condo at 30 Front Street fetches the asking price, it will be among the borough's most expensive sales ever. The record for Brooklyn's priciest property sale currently belongs to the Brooklyn Heights townhouse at 8 Montague Terrace which sold for $25.5 million last year, followed by a $20.3 million Quay Tower penthouse on the Brooklyn Heights waterfront. The new listing also brings the big-ticket crown to Dumbo.
Find out more

January 13, 2022

12 design-forward lounge chairs to update your reading nook

By Michelle Cohen

There has never been a better time to design a corner of your home that's dedicated to the pursuit of cozy. Whether it's a reading nook, a scrolling snug, or a daydreaming den, this chill zone should provide a break from the home office, the home gym, and whatever part of your home is Grand Central Station. That doesn't mean it can't be as easy on the eyes as it is on your mood. Below you'll find a selection of chic and cozy lounge chairs to elevate your off-duty oasis (and if you really still want a BarcaLounger, you'll find one here).
Cool and cozy lounge chairs, this way

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

January 13, 2022

$1.7M parkside co-op in ‘Brooklyn’s Flatiron Building’ has prewar grandeur and modern style

By Michelle Cohen

As one of the elegant pre-war co-ops at 47 Plaza Street West in the 1928 Rosario Candela-designed building sometimes referred to as “Brooklyn’s Flatiron” due to its pizza-slice form, this three-bedroom home has the gracious architecture you'd expect from a landmarked residence. The interiors, however, are a pleasant surprise of sophisticated modern design and contemporary comforts. The building's location at the border of Park Slope and Prospect Heights is just as lovely, with the entrance to Prospect Park across the street. The home is now asking $1,699,000.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Historic Palace Theater begins 30-foot rise over Times Square for $2.5B TSX Broadway hotel

Image courtesy of TSX Broadway

January 12, 2022

Historic Palace Theater begins 30-foot rise over Times Square for $2.5B TSX Broadway hotel

By Michelle Cohen

One of the most city's most iconic Broadway theaters, the Palace Theater, began its rise last week to a spot 30 feet over Times Square. The 105-year-old theater is being lifted three stories as part of a $2.5 billion mixed-use development project, TSX Broadway, set to rise at 1568 Broadway. It will take six to eight weeks for the theater to achieve its final height of 30 feet.
Find out more

Architecture And Design

Justin Timberlake sells Tribeca penthouse for $29M

443 Greenwich; Photo by Jim.henderson on Wikimedia

January 11, 2022

Justin Timberlake sells Tribeca penthouse for $29M

By Michelle Cohen

According to city records, Justin Timberlake has sold his 5,400-square-foot condo at 443 Greenwich Street for $29 million in an off-market sale at the end of December, the Wall Street Journal reports. Timberlake and wife Jessica Biel purchased the unit atop the celebrity-packed building in 2017 for $20.2 million.
Find out more

For $7.5M, history, architecture, and smart design fill a compact 1897 urban cottage in the Village

Photos provided by Sotheby’s International Realty

January 11, 2022

For $7.5M, history, architecture, and smart design fill a compact 1897 urban cottage in the Village

By Michelle Cohen

On the market for the first time in 22 years, the pair of townhouses at 183 and 185 West 4th Street in Greenwich Village has as much historic cachet as its many charming neighbors. Built in 1897, the property was home to industrialist and art collector Armand Hammer in the 1920s. Today it retains more of its original beauty than most. A painstaking renovation by the renowned architectural firm of Fairfax & Sammons has not only combined and updated the homes for modern living, but given well-deserved attention to every inch of the diminutive jewel-box townhouses–complete with magical patio and garden. The property is asking $7,500,000.
Tour this compact jewel of a townhouse

Distinctive Homes

Donald Trump’s niece Mary Trump buys $7M condo at 565 Broome in Soho

Photo by Adrian Gaut /Edge Reps

January 10, 2022

Donald Trump’s niece Mary Trump buys $7M condo at 565 Broome in Soho

By Michelle Cohen

Mary Trump, Donald Trump's niece and author of the memoir “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” recently bought a 2,250-square-foot three-bedroom unit at the Renzo Piano-designed condominium building at 565 Broome Street for $7 million, as the Wall Street Journal reports. The 2020 book, which delves into the Trump family's background, has sold more than a million copies.
Find out more

Photo credit: David Paler for The Corcoran Group

January 7, 2022

This $8.975M Soho penthouse is a private garden retreat with a hot tub and an outdoor kitchen

By Michelle Cohen

Surrounded by a 1,344-square-foot network of lushly landscaped terraces–including a rooftop with a hot tub, outdoor kitchen, shower, and pergola–this duplex penthouse at 15 Renwick Street in Hudson Square feels like a garden in the sky. Asking $8,975,000, the 2,859-square-foot duplex has floor-to-ceiling windows and a windowed kitchen to gaze at the greenery.
Tour this indoor-outdoor paradise

Colorful Ditmas Park Deco co-op has style, space, and amenities for $599K

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

January 6, 2022

Colorful Ditmas Park Deco co-op has style, space, and amenities for $599K

By Michelle Cohen

For $599,000, this bright one-bedroom-plus-office co-op at 1825 Foster Avenue in Flatbush/Ditmas Park has fresh, updated interiors, eastern and southern exposures, and treetop views. A pre-war 1931 building means the space is framed by hardwood floors and graceful moldings.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Photo via Flickr

January 6, 2022

Hochul’s sweeping New York recovery agenda addresses affordable housing crisis, homelessness

By Michelle Cohen

In her first State of the State address Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a sweeping agenda that would address housing affordability, equity, and stability by growing the state's affordable housing stock and expanding the housing supply. She also proposed a set of initiatives to address homelessness and housing instability. Hochul called the state's housing needs "a complex challenge that requires an all-levers approach."
See Hochul's housing proposals

$4.2M penthouse condo sets sale record in Hoboken

Photo courtesy of Douglas Elliman

January 5, 2022

$4.2M penthouse condo sets sale record in Hoboken

By Michelle Cohen

A penthouse at the Hudson Tea Building at 1500 Hudson Street has set a new record for Hoboken, New Jersey condo sales. The three-bedroom, three-bath home just sold for $4.2 million, the city's priciest condo sale ever. The newly-renovated loft–a two-unit combo–spans 2,820 square feet with direct New York City skyline views in three directions. A previous Hoboken record was held by Eli Manning's 2018 sale in the same building. The Giants quarterback sold his three-bedroom pad in the waterfront loft building for $3.55 million.
This is what $4.2M in Hoboken looks like

Real Estate Trends

All articles by Michelle Cohen

For $4M, an Upper East Side condo with a designer pedigree

NYC offers free, same-day home delivery of antiviral Covid treatment pills

This $9.5M pre-Civil War Chelsea townhouse holds five floors of renovated modern home

Soho’s only free-standing home is back on the market for $7.25M

$1.36M gets you NYC waterfront living in this three-bedroom Roosevelt Island co-op

Landmarks approves design for $77M renovation of Delacorte Theater in Central Park

$8.25M Lincoln Square condo has designer dazzle, celebrity cachet, and skyline views

$100M restoration of Midtown’s iconic Lever House skyscraper has begun

This $4.25M Tribeca duplex loft comes with possibilities and planted terraces

Sliding glass walls meet outdoor spaces in this $10.8M penthouse atop Chelsea’s Jardim condo

SNL’s Pete Davidson and Colin Jost rescue retired Staten Island Ferry boat for $280K

$699K Hudson Heights co-op updates 1930s Deco details for 21st-century life

It doesn’t get much grander than this $20M townhouse on the Upper East Side

New plans announced for Park Avenue traffic median redesign

$19.5M Dumbo penthouse is Brooklyn’s priciest listing

$1.25M two-family Williamsburg townhouse has lots of options for less than a condo

12 design-forward lounge chairs to update your reading nook

$1.7M parkside co-op in ‘Brooklyn’s Flatiron Building’ has prewar grandeur and modern style

Historic Palace Theater begins 30-foot rise over Times Square for $2.5B TSX Broadway hotel

Justin Timberlake sells Tribeca penthouse for $29M

For $7.5M, history, architecture, and smart design fill a compact 1897 urban cottage in the Village

Donald Trump’s niece Mary Trump buys $7M condo at 565 Broome in Soho

This $8.975M Soho penthouse is a private garden retreat with a hot tub and an outdoor kitchen

Colorful Ditmas Park Deco co-op has style, space, and amenities for $599K

Hochul’s sweeping New York recovery agenda addresses affordable housing crisis, homelessness

$4.2M penthouse condo sets sale record in Hoboken

144 Vanderbilt Avenue in Clinton Hill

All articles by Michelle Cohen

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