All articles by Stephanie Hoina

A lifelong resident of New York City and married to an architect, Stephanie has a true passion for the city's eclectic mix of neighborhoods and structures and is thrilled to be a part of 6sqft. Though her professional background focused primarily on client services and corporate marketing/communications, she was fortunate to embark on a freelance writing career when her son Zachary was born in 1999, working for a wide range of businesses and non profit organizations. Stephanie currently resides in the Morris Park section of the Bronx, where she will proudly tell you her son is the 4th generation of her husband's family to live on their block. Her first novel, Kissing Atticus Primble, was published in 2014.
A Garden So Private No One Has The Key? Now We’ve Heard It All
June 17, 2014

A Garden So Private No One Has The Key? Now We’ve Heard It All

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Forget the legendary and uber-privileged access to the oasis known as Gramercy Park. The newest wave of private gardens are apparently so exclusive even residents can’t enjoy a stroll through the lush greenery. Take the 2,400-square-foot courtyard currently being designed at The Sterling Mason, a new Tribeca loft building where an apartment can set you back up to $24 million. In a city where even the tiniest bit of green space is viewed as the ultimate amenity, turning what would have been a barren airshaft into a verdant outdoor sanctuary seems like a terrific idea. Tapping Deborah Nevins, one of the world’s most sought-after landscape designers to do it, an even better one. Keeping residents from enjoying more than a visual inspection of the rich white blossoms, lush green leaves, ivy walls and sculptural stream? Eh, we’re not so sure about that.
What's up with this off limits trend?
Unusual Bathroom Design May Have You Going Hmmm But the Rest of This $1.6M Soho Loft Will Have You Going Mmmm
June 16, 2014

Unusual Bathroom Design May Have You Going Hmmm But the Rest of This $1.6M Soho Loft Will Have You Going Mmmm

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Thirteen windows wrapping around three sides of this 1,100 square foot loft means bright and airy in a big way – even the bedroom closet and bathroom are filled with sunlight! Overlooking two of the building’s three charming courtyards this gorgeous unit at 140 Sullivan Street has a wonderfully open floor plan with extra high ceilings exposing all of the original wood and steel beams, wide plank cherry floors throughout, and built-ins galore. And while a NYC curator created this open concept to merge the aesthetics of uptown chic with the artistic and architectural details of downtown, this home presents its next owner with a virtual clean slate as there is plenty of space to carve out additional bedrooms, an office, even formalize the dining and living areas.
Right this way for hmmm and mmmm
$17.25M Greenwich Village Townhouse Not Just Another Multi-Million Dollar Listing
June 13, 2014

$17.25M Greenwich Village Townhouse Not Just Another Multi-Million Dollar Listing

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With its conversion completed only a few months ago, and dubbed “Vaux Mansion”, a nod to Calvert Vaux who designed the russet neo-Gothic structure that is part of the property, the eclectic mix of exteriors at 215 Sullivan Street make a stately presence in its Greenwich Village neighborhood. And in a city filled with multimillion dollars homes, this 39’ wide townhouse sits at the head of the class. We’ve taken a peek inside many a gorgeous residence, but this one is truly lovely. The interior of this six-bedroom, seven-bath home is everything you would expect – 6,861 square feet of soaring vaulted ceilings, rift-sawn wide plank white oak flooring, and exquisite finishes.
See why this home is not just another multimillion dollar listing
NYC Trying to Preserve Low Rents in Stuy Town, Asks CWCapital Asset Management to Hold Off on Sale

Photo via Wiki Commons

June 13, 2014

NYC Trying to Preserve Low Rents in Stuy Town, Asks CWCapital Asset Management to Hold Off on Sale

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Photo via Wiki Commons Here we go again. Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village on Manhattan’s east side have a long history of being an affordable option for middle-income workers. But these days its hold on that place in the city’s housing landscape appears tenuous at best. Though rent-stabilizations laws have been in effect for many units and about half are below-market rates, the remainder is comprised of luxury apartments, with one-bedroom units fetching as much as $2,900 a month, more than double the rate in 2006 when nearly ¾ of the units were below market. And with the property poised to sell for billions of dollars, the trend towards more luxury rentals seems likely.
More on the city's plan to keep rents low
Chelsea Modern’s Angular Exterior Contrasts Fine Lines of $9.85M Penthouse
June 12, 2014

Chelsea Modern’s Angular Exterior Contrasts Fine Lines of $9.85M Penthouse

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No two ways about it. The blue tinted exterior of the Chelsea Modern, sitting quite majestically at 447 West 18th Street, certainly gets your attention. All angles and edges, with windows that open outward parallel to the façade, it’s not quite like anything else in an area fast becoming known for its interesting and celebrated architecture. The same could be said for this ridiculously sumptuous penthouse duplex. The exterior of this home will grab your attention in a very different way – namely, three beautifully landscaped terraces seamlessly connecting you to sweeping river views to the south and breathtaking city views to the north. And with elegant touches such as a formal dining area, a luxurious daybed, intimate seating area and an outdoor kitchen, the terrace space is literally a home unto itself. But we think the interior of this spectacular residence has plenty to bring you inside every now and again (well, we know the New York winters will!).
See why this stunning penthouse will grab your attention
Infamous Greenwich Village Townhouse with an Explosive Past (and Funny Facade) to be Reconstructed by New Owner
June 9, 2014

Infamous Greenwich Village Townhouse with an Explosive Past (and Funny Facade) to be Reconstructed by New Owner

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At a glance, the quirky notched and jutting façade of the townhouse at 18 West 11th Street in Greenwich Village seems to be the only remarkable thing about the building. But dig a little deeper and the address’s rich history tells the tale of a city brimming with wealth and culture – and once even something a bit sinister. Justin Korsant of Long Light Capital recently purchased the home for $9.25 million and has plans to reconstruct it. But will the renovation of this building wipe out its incredible past?
Learn about this townhouse's unique history and new future
$11.5 Million Residence at The Rushmore is Presidential in Its Own Right
June 9, 2014

$11.5 Million Residence at The Rushmore is Presidential in Its Own Right

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Though perhaps a tad less striking than the famous monument sharing its name, the twin towers of The Rushmore rise elegantly above their counterparts along Riverside Boulevard. The Costas Kondylis and Partners designed building actually dwarfs the heads of the Mount Rushmore sculpture by nearly 400 feet, which translates into breathtaking river and city views for the lucky inhabitants.
Check out why this gorgeous home is presidential in its own right
Heritage Equity Partners Continues Its Gentrification of Brooklyn: Next Stop, Crown Heights
June 7, 2014

Heritage Equity Partners Continues Its Gentrification of Brooklyn: Next Stop, Crown Heights

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With its beautiful brownstones and tree-lined streets, Crown Heights was once among the city’s premier neighborhoods prior to WWII. And though much has changed in subsequent years, Heritage Equity Partners is betting on its posh roots, acquiring a controlling interest in a new development project at 564 St. John’s Place. The deal values the property at close […]

Williamsburg Loft Has Private Rooftop Deck, Panoramic Views, and Cool Industrial-Style Details
June 6, 2014

Williamsburg Loft Has Private Rooftop Deck, Panoramic Views, and Cool Industrial-Style Details

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When this steam factory was built in 1900 one might have been hard-pressed to convince anyone it would house elegant loft-style living over a century later -- with a monthly rent nearly 8x greater than what most New Yorkers made in a year! Preposterous! Yet, here we are in 2014, totally bowled over by this simply gorgeous Williamsburg penthouse at 500 Driggs Avenue in the heart of the North side.
See how early 20th century charm meets modern day living
Jamestown Properties Wants to Turn Sunset Park’s Industry City Into the Next Chelsea Market
June 5, 2014

Jamestown Properties Wants to Turn Sunset Park’s Industry City Into the Next Chelsea Market

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If you renovate, will they come? It’s been less than a year since Jamestown Properties, the developer behind the successful Chelsea Market, acquired a 50% stake in the mostly abandoned industrial warehouse complex in Brooklyn’s Sunset Park known as Industry City. Along with investment partners Belvedere Capital and Angelo, Gordon & Company, Jamestown plans to translate the success of Chelsea Market on a scale six times the size – 16 buildings encompassing over 6 million square feet formerly known as Bush Terminal. But while Brooklyn is currently the darling of the five boroughs, Sunset Park doesn’t quite have the cache of Chelsea – yet, and the viability of such an enormous undertaking is ten years in the making.
Watch a video interview with the developers this way
Rooms with a View: Sprawling West Village Penthouse Hits the Market for the First Time at $12.25M
June 5, 2014

Rooms with a View: Sprawling West Village Penthouse Hits the Market for the First Time at $12.25M

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Virtually every inch of this distinctively laid out 3,600-square-foot duplex at 140 Charles Street showcases some of New York’s most coveted views: the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Freedom Tower, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and Hudson River unfold before you in all their majestic splendor. It’s no wonder this home hasn’t been on the market since it was built as part of the The Memphis Downtown (designed by RKTB Architects) in 1985. Perched on the 21st and 22nd floors of the West Village’s tallest condominium, this dramatic residence was professionally designed by award-winning architect Henry Myerberg, founder of HMA2, and those exterior views are yours forever thanks to the visionary work of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.
See the rooms, see the views
Two Northside Piers: Every Side of This Williamsburg Duplex Penthouse Is Its Good One
June 3, 2014

Two Northside Piers: Every Side of This Williamsburg Duplex Penthouse Is Its Good One

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Once upon a time there was a scrappy little warehouse district in Brooklyn that birthed some of the largest industrial firms in the nation: Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Astral Oil (later Standard Oil), Brooklyn Flint Glass (later Corning Ware) and the Havemeyer and Elder sugar refinery (later Amstar and Domino), to name a few. And along the waterfront, among the docks, shipyards, mills and refineries, breweries such as Schaefer, Rheingold and Schlitz dotted the landscape. While many of the factories still stand, most have been converted to luxury residential buildings, with Northside Piers being the very first residential development at the waterfront of Williamsburg. Toll Brothers’s full-service condominium takes full advantage of its location, offering residents a 400-foot-long recreation pier and stunning views of the New York City skyline. And this rare-to-the-market Two Northside Piers 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom duplex penthouse at 47 North 4th Street, with two large balconies, is just as dazzling.
Right this way to see the many sides of this exquisite penthouse….
“Grand” 27 Wooster Street Penthouse Finally on the Market – Asks for $28.5M
June 2, 2014

“Grand” 27 Wooster Street Penthouse Finally on the Market – Asks for $28.5M

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An empty corner lot in one of the most sought after neighborhoods in the city? Now that doesn’t come along every day. When presented with this rare blank slate in 2012, the architects at Kohn Pederson Fox went to work creating an elegant, contemporary building that blends seamlessly with its SoHo-Cast Iron Historic District environs. The result: a luxurious, window-filled residential condominium at 27 Wooster Street in Soho, complete with Thomas Juul-Hansen-designed interiors, a host of upscale amenities, and — wait for it — parking.
Get a first glimpse inside this gorgeous penthouse
Lower East Side Rental Oozes Rustic Charm
May 31, 2014

Lower East Side Rental Oozes Rustic Charm

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One look at this delightful apartment at 141 Attorney Street and you will be hooked. The bright sunshine flowing in from the north, south and west exposures perfectly showcases distinctive details like the exposed brick walls, gorgeous hardwood floors, custom built-ins, a wide-plank wooden wall, and even a fun over-sized “barn door” (yes, it’s red!).
See more charm!
This Upper East Side Duplex is So Big You Might Need a GPS
May 30, 2014

This Upper East Side Duplex is So Big You Might Need a GPS

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Bigger is better so the saying goes, and you’ll get no argument from this nearly 8,000-square-foot duplex at 28 East 70th Street. Luckily, you have us to navigate the way through the 20+ rooms that make this home a truly remarkable residence. The most difficult part of our journey? Where to start! So grab your key (for the elevator) and step right into this stunning condo’s marble-floored reception foyer and spacious entry gallery, ensuring complete privacy for the rest of the home’s wings. Yes, wing is a totally appropriate description to use with a residence of this size.
Enter your destination and away we go
Ensoleillé! Soleado! Soleggiato! Yes, This Chelsea Condo at 520 West 19th Street is Sunny
May 29, 2014

Ensoleillé! Soleado! Soleggiato! Yes, This Chelsea Condo at 520 West 19th Street is Sunny

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No matter how you say it there’s no denying the bright and airy appeal of this sun-filled home at 520 West 19th Street courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows in just about every room and its very own 48-foot long landscaped terrace. But if you’re looking to soak up your Vitamin D another way, you’re in luck because this Annabelle Selldorf-designed building is perfectly situated between the High Line and the 550 acre Hudson River Park. So whether you’re in the mood to stretch your legs, picnic, sail, kayak, or paddle-board, you’re covered.
See how sunny living here can be!
Thorndale: Turn of the 20th Century Carriage House Becomes Perfect 21st Century Home
May 28, 2014

Thorndale: Turn of the 20th Century Carriage House Becomes Perfect 21st Century Home

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At the turn of the 20th century, the first Model T Ford was still almost a decade from leaving the assembly line at the Ford Motor Company’s Piquette Plant in Detroit, Michigan and horse-drawn carriages were the primary mode of transportation. Carriage houses, like the one at 406 West 45th Street, built in 1905 for Oakleigh Thorne, owner of Thorndale Farms in Dutchess County, were necessary to properly store the carriages and associated equipment, such as saddles, stirrups, bridles, halters, reins, bits, harnesses, etc. By 1927, over 15 million Model T-Fords had been produced and the horse and buggy was on its way to being a novelty from a simpler time, and carriage houses were eventually given second lives as garages, offices, workshops, restaurants and, as in the case of the aptly named Thorndale, beautiful residences.
Take a look at the gorgeous conversion
The Hidden City in Manhattan’s “Other” Skyline
May 28, 2014

The Hidden City in Manhattan’s “Other” Skyline

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As any fan of Spiderman knows, the “corridors” created by Manhattan’s tall buildings are a perfect way to beat traffic through a little web-swinging. But look more closely and Spiderman’s transportation of choice reveals a secret city like none other. One of the most famous and ubiquitous skylines in the world has seen its share of changes — most recently the rise of the Freedom Tower in place of the twin towers of the original World Trade Center — but has remained one of the most recognizable. Yet hidden among New York's tallest buildings is another skyline as unique as the city itself created by the negative air space formed between the granite and steel structures reaching for the sky on each side of the street.
READ MORE
One-of-a-Kind TriBeCa Loft at 474 Greenwich Street Is Waiting for One-of-a-Kind Owner
May 27, 2014

One-of-a-Kind TriBeCa Loft at 474 Greenwich Street Is Waiting for One-of-a-Kind Owner

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Situated in an 1880s factory building, this intriguing 1-bedroom, 2-bath home at 474 Greenwich Street offers surprises at every turn. From its adorable checkered kitchen floor to the exposed beam ceilings, every room is a conversation starter. We aren’t sure what the exposed brick walls would say if they could talk (that’s over 100 years of secrets hidden away!) but we certainly have a lot to tell.
See what there is to talk about!
Seaport City: Neighborhood Built on Landfill May Be Coming to the East River
May 23, 2014

Seaport City: Neighborhood Built on Landfill May Be Coming to the East River

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Though bearing little resemblance to its quaint East River neighbor, “Seaport City” could become a reality based on a new study released yesterday by the New York City Economic Development Corporation. But don’t bank on a new set of sought after residential and commercial river views just yet. Seaport City is only one of a number of options presented to the city as part of former mayor Michael Bloomberg's 257-point, post-Hurricane Sandy resiliency plan – and it’s the most challenging on the list.
Find out more about the plan to protect the lower east side
American Thread Building Triplex Has Luxury Living and an Original Keith Haring Mural
May 23, 2014

American Thread Building Triplex Has Luxury Living and an Original Keith Haring Mural

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Standing inside the palatial (trust us, this is not an understatement) 45' x 45' entertaining space in this magnificent triplex at 260 West Broadway, with its soaring arched windows, 26+ foot ceilings and beautifully detailed cast iron columns, you can’t help but feel a cool ocean breeze (Miami anyone?) gently soothe your soul. One could hardly blame you if you decided to stay right there and soak in the sun all weekend long. But that’s like choosing a 4-day getaway when you’ve won an around-the-world adventure because every room in this 8,000 square foot Tribeca residence offers an extraordinary experience for those lucky enough to call it home. It’s hard to know where to begin on the itinerary.
Come on an adventure with us
Gorgeous Soho Loft Survived Plans for Lower Manhattan Expressway
May 22, 2014

Gorgeous Soho Loft Survived Plans for Lower Manhattan Expressway

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It’s hard to imagine that in the mid-20th century the quaint little street known as Broome was the proposed site for the ten-lane Lower Manhattan Expressway, replacing all of the buildings on its north side — including this beautiful charmer at #456. Thankfully those plans never came to fruition and this stunning home with towering 14-foot ceilings, wide plank floors, and intentionally distressed exposed brick walls survived to welcome a new generation of New Yorkers into its midst.
See what survived those expressway plans
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