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 $2.5M, this compact Harlem carriage house has a backyard, garage, and room to expand

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

October 4, 2023

For $2.5M, this compact Harlem carriage house has a backyard, garage, and room to expand

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Located on the bustling west side of Harlem near Columbia University and just a few blocks from Central Park, this two-story brick carriage house at 158 West 118th Street represents an opportunity for Manhattan living with perks like a garage, a leafy backyard, and room to grow. With 2,905 interior square feet, the 18-foot-wide home may not be a mansion, but it's a two-family property with over 6,000 square feet of unused Floor Area Ratio (FAR), adding flexibility to its value at $2,495,000. Historic details, a detached garage, and lots of outdoor space make this unique dwelling more than a condo alternative.
Take the tour
This $8.75M mansion designed by Robert A.M. Stern is the most expensive listing in the Bronx

Photo credit: Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

September 29, 2023

This $8.75M mansion designed by Robert A.M. Stern is the most expensive listing in the Bronx

By
This 11,135-square-foot four-story home at 421 West 250th Street in the Riverdale section of the Bronx has the distinction of being the borough's record-holding big-ticket residential listing, according to Mansion Global. Designed by prolific New York City firm Robert A.M. Stern Architects in 2005, the gingerbread-esque mansion sits on just over a half-acre in the private Villanova Heights subdivision. A pitched roof with a trio of whimsical dormers and delphinium blue window shutters provide a rustic air to its architectural simplicity. Within, an elevator makes travel between living, sleeping, and recreation floors convenient to all residents. Previously, the borough's highest-price listing was a $7 million neo-Georgian brick home in Fieldston.
Riverdale townhouse tour, this way
$3.75M Prospect Heights townhouse has laid-back charm, three big apartments, and extra-long backyard

Photo credit: Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

September 28, 2023

$3.75M Prospect Heights townhouse has laid-back charm, three big apartments, and extra-long backyard

By
The feature that will undoubtedly impress visitors the most about this four-story brownstone at 307 Park Place in pretty Prospect Heights is its seemingly endless backyard. It's one of a fortunate handful of homes in the neighborhood to be blessed with a 131-foot lot. Within, the three-family 1910 townhouse may come up short on original architectural details, but there's still plenty of warmth and charm within its brick-accented walls. Asking $3,750,000, the property offers flexibility in the form of three large apartments that can be combined–or left as-is to maximize rental income.
tour every level
The Refinery at Domino unveils office space and grand glass atrium at historic Williamsburg sugar factory

Photos by Max Touhey

September 27, 2023

The Refinery at Domino unveils office space and grand glass atrium at historic Williamsburg sugar factory

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The Refinery at Domino, a 460,000-square-foot all-electric office building, is now open at the former Domino Sugar Factory plant on the Williamsburg, Brooklyn waterfront. As the latest addition by Domino Park developer Two Trees Management, the new adaptive reuse project saw the conversion of the former 19th-century factory site of what was once the largest sugar producer in the world into a net zero carbon office space. The Refinery is the newest building to open in the 11-acre, mixed-use development north of the Williamsburg Bridge.
Find out more
This $2.8M Upper West Side co-op was designed to be a timeless home

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

September 26, 2023

This $2.8M Upper West Side co-op was designed to be a timeless home

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On a classic Upper West Side block surrounded by historic townhouses and pre-war apartment buildings, this gracious eight-room co-op at 801 West End Avenue has plenty of living space and Riverside Park for a backyard. Asking $2,795,000, this family-sized home is configured for flexibility, with four bedrooms and room for more. Edwardian-era architectural details and renovated interiors add up to timeless style.
Home on the upper west side, this way
$2.6M Cobble Hill condo is on three flexible floors of a converted 19th-century church

Photo credit: DDREPs for The Corcoran Group

September 21, 2023

$2.6M Cobble Hill condo is on three flexible floors of a converted 19th-century church

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This unique Cobble Hill home will instantly get the attention of history buffs. Built within a converted Romanesque Revival church constructed in the 1880s, this three-bedroom home at The Landmark at 58 Strong Place was designed by top local architecture firm Baxt Ingui Architects. Asking $2,600,000, the 1,855-square-foot triplex takes full advantage of the building's unusual layout, creating loft-like spaces for privacy and ease of living.
interior blessings, this way
This $3.5M Village co-op has a designer pedigree and the biggest terrace in the building

Photo credit: Scott Wintrow of Gamut Photos

September 20, 2023

This $3.5M Village co-op has a designer pedigree and the biggest terrace in the building

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Located in The John Adams co-op at 101 West 12th Street, this two-bedroom (convertible to three) home happens to possess one of the largest wrap-around terraces in Greenwich Village. With interiors designed by the former owner, the late Tony-winning scenic designer Robin Wagner, this enviable downtown Manhattan space boasts a private terrace of 1,000 square feet with four-direction views.
more Outdoor living, village style
Famous Bay Ridge Gingerbread House is on the market again, asking $8.75M

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

September 19, 2023

Famous Bay Ridge Gingerbread House is on the market again, asking $8.75M

By
This one-of-a-kind dwelling at 8200 Narrows Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn is anything but cookie-cutter basic. Known as the Gingerbread House, this cute-enough-to-eat Hobbit-esque home is an American Arts and Crafts-style design by architect James Sarsfield Kennedy. Built for shipping mogul Howard Jones in 1918, the home was described as "the most magnificent residence in all of New York City." According to Brownstoner, the home was last listed in 2017 for $9 million. It's currently asking $8,750,000.
take a look inside
Designed by Shigeru Ban, this $12M Tribeca penthouse glows atop a historic neighborhood landmark

Photos courtesy of Rich Caplan

September 18, 2023

Designed by Shigeru Ban, this $12M Tribeca penthouse glows atop a historic neighborhood landmark

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Floating gem-like atop the landmarked 19th-century Cast Iron House at 67 Franklin Street, this pristine duplex penthouse was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban. The four-bedroom-plus-den condo, asking $12 million, complements the Tribeca neighborhood's finest 21st-century additions with details like sliding curtain window walls that appear to magically disappear, opening onto a 1,510-square-foot wraparound terrace.
Tour this lofty landmark
Archtober 2023: Your guide to this year’s architecture and design events

Pumpkitecture photo courtesy of Matthew Carasella Photography

September 15, 2023

Archtober 2023: Your guide to this year’s architecture and design events

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New York City's annual Archtober festival returns October 1 through October 31 for its 13th year. The monthlong celebration of architecture and design unfolds thanks to the collaboration of over 100 partners and sponsors across the city. This year's festival offers events, exhibitions, talks, and neighborhood tours across the five boroughs to raise awareness of the importance of the city's infinite tableau of architecture and design. The 2023 theme, "Bridging Divides," serves to better organize select programming with shared goals and conceptual connections.
Archtober events, this way
Townhouse living in Bay Ridge with a deck and a country-sized backyard for $1.2M

Photo credit: Allyson Lubow for The Corcoran Group

September 14, 2023

Townhouse living in Bay Ridge with a deck and a country-sized backyard for $1.2M

By
The barrel-fronted townhouse at 644 76th Street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, may not be a mansion, but with intact pre-war details, two-family potential, and a front and backyard, the $1,200,000 ask makes it a charming condo alternative. The 20-foot-wide, four-bedroom home boasts original inlaid hardwood floors, high coffered ceilings, bay windows, pocket doors, fretwork, moldings, and colorful stained glass.
take the townhouse tour
$16.75M Brooklyn Heights townhouse has historic layout and modern extras, like a basement movie theater

Photo credit: Scott Wintrow for Sotheby’s International Realty

September 13, 2023

$16.75M Brooklyn Heights townhouse has historic layout and modern extras, like a basement movie theater

By
The graceful brick townhouse at the aptly-named 25 Grace Court is a landmarked beauty in one of New York City's loveliest historic districts. Asking $16,750,000, the five-story urban mansion is a 5,975-square-foot single-family home, perfectly renovated from top to bottom, but with rarely-seen care taken to preserve its original grandeur. The home has received architectural preservation awards from the NY Landmarks Conservancy and the Brooklyn Heights Association–and we can see why.
Tour this historic home
You can buy the 2023 Real Simple designer showcase home in Brooklyn’s Quay Tower for $8M

Photo courtesy of Eytan Stern Weber via Evan Joseph Images

September 12, 2023

You can buy the 2023 Real Simple designer showcase home in Brooklyn’s Quay Tower for $8M

By
The Real Simple Home 2023 has officially been unveiled in Brooklyn. And it's available for purchase. Newly-minted Brooklyn Heights condo Quay Tower at 50 Bridge Park Drive has just listed a duplex penthouse asking $7,995,000. Crowned the magazine's sixth Real Simple Home, the 2,789-square-foot duplex has been transformed by top designers and influencers, who have put a one-of-a-kind, personalized touch on the sleek space–including Bobby Berk, host of Netflix's "Queer Eye," who designed the living room.
TOUR THE DESIGNER-ENHANCED PENTHOUSE
$3.5M Flatiron condo channels a dreamy Paris apartment, with landscaped terrace and upstairs atelier

Photo courtesy of Eytan Stern Weber of Evan Joseph

September 11, 2023

$3.5M Flatiron condo channels a dreamy Paris apartment, with landscaped terrace and upstairs atelier

By
If you've dreamed of waking up in a Parisian flat and stepping out to the terrace for morning coffee and al fresco dining, this Flatiron condo at 10 East 22nd Street might be exactement ce que vous recherchez. Asking $3,495,000, this Manhattan penthouse is currently configured as a one-bedroom home, but a flexible floor plan has room for two additional bedrooms. A skylit atelier and verdant landscaped terraces make this two-story space a chic refuge from the New York City grind.
take the tour
This unique Hudson, NY home has offbeat charm and plenty of potential for $970K

Photos courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

September 8, 2023

This unique Hudson, NY home has offbeat charm and plenty of potential for $970K

By
The buttercup-yellow house at 450 Union Street in quaint and fashionable Hudson may look unassuming, but it conceals a wealth of opportunity. Asking $970,000, the 2,376-square-foot, 13-room home is officially a two-family dwelling–and a fully licensed Airbnb. Within find lots of living space and six bedrooms, unified with a colorful and cozy palette of bohemian charm. In addition, a garage at the rear holds a partially-finished loft. However you choose to arrange it, the upstate property is ready to become an investment with space for extended family or a sprawling single-family home base.
take the tour
For $4M, this Gramercy condo gives you the living space of a duplex with a private backyard

Photo credit: Celeste Godoy Photography @cgph_nyc

September 7, 2023

For $4M, this Gramercy condo gives you the living space of a duplex with a private backyard

By
It's hard to find a Manhattan apartment that embodies city living and still has outdoor space for gardening. This three-bedroom-plus-guest-suite condo at 355 East 19th Street is the rare exception. Asking $4,000,000, this 2,663-square-foot Gramercy duplex offers three bedrooms, two full baths, and a fabulous bi-level 1,521-square-foot outdoor oasis.
Gramercy on two levels, this way
For $2M, this Cobble Hill brownstone duplex includes a perfect private garden

Photo credit: Melanie Greene

September 6, 2023

For $2M, this Cobble Hill brownstone duplex includes a perfect private garden

By
If you've always envied the magical back gardens of brownstone Brooklyn neighborhoods like Cobble Hill, here's a chance to enjoy your own–without having to buy a brownstone. This two-bedroom co-op at 193 Clinton Street, asking $2,000,000, spans the lower levels of a pretty townhouse. In addition to the outdoor oasis, there's bonus space on the lower level–and a laundry room.
home and garden, this way
$1.85M Dumbo loft condo has city and harbor views, plus plenty of room to live and work

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

September 5, 2023

$1.85M Dumbo loft condo has city and harbor views, plus plenty of room to live and work

By
If you've ever admired the views from the original loft-conversion condos in Brooklyn's Dumbo neighborhood, here's your chance to gaze out on the city and New York Harbor daily. This one-bedroom-plus-office home at 70 Washington Street, listed for $1,850,000, also has two full baths, expansive living and entertaining space, and plenty of closets. The building's amenities are just right, too.
Dumbo condo tour, this way
Cozy up by the fireplace in this $559K Upper West Side brownstone studio

Photos courtesy of DDREPS and Douglas Elliman

August 25, 2023

Cozy up by the fireplace in this $559K Upper West Side brownstone studio

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On a leafy and historic block at 134 West 88th Street in the heart of the Upper West Side, this maisonette-style studio co-op is the compact version of brownstone living. Elegant burnished wood paneling frames the tidy space, anchored by a wood-burning fireplace. Turn-of-the-century details also include ceilings well over 11 feet high. The ask for this compact co-op? $559,000.
more pretty pre-war details, this way
For $14M, this full-floor Upper East Side condo feels like a designer show house, wine room and gallery included

Photo credit: MW Studios for Sotheby’s International Realty

August 23, 2023

For $14M, this full-floor Upper East Side condo feels like a designer show house, wine room and gallery included

By
Situated a prime Park Avenue location, in the Parkside condominium building at 525 Park Avenue, this sprawling 4,000-square-foot home occupies an entire floor, with a layout that feels like a townhouse in the sky. Designed by noted decorator David Kleinberg, each room of the pre-war condo, asking $13,995,000, is a showcase of elegant texture, color and pattern. An extra-large gallery is perfect for a sizable art collection; a wet bar and a wine room await grand-scale entertaining. A high floor location means iconic unobstructed views in every direction.
Upper east side design, this way
Listed for $7M, this Bronx mansion could be the borough’s most expensive sale ever

Photo credit: Russ Ross for The Corcoran Group

August 21, 2023

Listed for $7M, this Bronx mansion could be the borough’s most expensive sale ever

By
Located in the historic Fieldston section of Riverdale in the Bronx, this 10,000-square-foot neo-Georgian home at 5020 Grosvenor Avenue was built to resemble the grand estates of the 1920s, with a formal driveway and an elegant motor court highlighted by a colonnaded portico. The home is one of 15 contemporary mansions in a private community known as Villanova Heights, with homes designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, the firm behind high-profile Manhattan residences like 15 Central Park West. If it sells for its current $7 million ask, the Bronx residence would be the borough's most expensive sale, as the New York Post reported. That record is currently held by the $6.25 million sale of a 17-room Fieldston mansion that was built in anticipation of a visit from Jesus, as 6sqft previously reported.
Mcmansion tour, this way
For $1.95M, this Morningside Heights co-op has pre-war elegance in a building with a presidential past

Photo credit: Michael Alley for The Corcoran Group

 

August 18, 2023

For $1.95M, this Morningside Heights co-op has pre-war elegance in a building with a presidential past

By
This pretty pre-war co-op at 622 West 114th Street in Morningside Heights has gracious proportions and the rare-for-Manhattan four-bedrooms. Filled with well-preserved architectural details and elegant wood built-ins, this uptown "classic seven," asking $1,950,000, doesn't need a celebrity angle to attract buyers–but a presidential pedigree never hurts: President Barack Obama lived in a fourth-floor walkup in the same building (that unit was listed for $1,450,000 back in 2020) after graduating from Columbia University in the 1980s.
take the tour
This $2.4M Manhattan Valley condo overlooks Morningside Park from a 1,000-square-foot terrace

Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

August 17, 2023

This $2.4M Manhattan Valley condo overlooks Morningside Park from a 1,000-square-foot terrace

By
Tucked between Central Park and Morningside Park, the Manhattan Valley neighborhood on Manhattan's Upper West Side is convenient to everything great about New York City, yet surrounded by green space. Asking $2,399,000, this two-bedroom condo at 352 Cathedral Parkway offers the best of city living while taking advantage of its parkside location. The star feature of this spacious, modern apartment: A 1,051-square-foot private terrace with unobstructed park views.
park views and outdoor living, this way
Avoid rodent run-ins–or rat out your landlord–with NYC’s newest interactive rat map

Map courtesy of New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

August 16, 2023

Avoid rodent run-ins–or rat out your landlord–with NYC’s newest interactive rat map

By
The mayor's notorious war on rats is heating up. Along with the recent appointment of Kathleen Corradi as the city's $155K/year rat czar, New Yorkers have some new tools in our digital rat-fighting arsenal in the form of an updated interactive map and a revamped rat information portal. Adding firepower to the battle are a handful of super-military-sounding RMZs (Rat Mitigation Zones), complete with training academies to help neighborhood combatants put up their best fight. And Harlem recently hosted an Anti-Rat Day of Action.
New rat map, this way
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