Brooklyn

The Greenpoint, a 40-story waterfront rental and condo tower and the neighborhood's tallest building, topped out in February, launched sales in July and now, is a few months away from getting a public 275-foot long promenade at its waterfront site. After nearly a decade of delays, the Brooklyn walkway, the first of its kind to be privately built in Greenpoint, will open in the spring. According to the Wall Street Journal, the park will total 29,500 square feet, including a 4,000-square-foot playground with lots of trees and colorful oval panels above.
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The Urban Lens: The surprising beauty of Sunset Park’s Sims Municipal Recycling Facility

All photographs © James and Karla Murray for 6sqft

December 11, 2017

The Urban Lens: The surprising beauty of Sunset Park’s Sims Municipal Recycling Facility

By Hannah Frishberg

6sqft’s series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. In this installment, we take a look at the inner workings of Sunset Park's Sims Municipal Recycling Facility, from trash heaps to machinery to a learning center. Are you a photographer who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. The beauty of trash is not often lauded, but out on the Brooklyn waterfront, at Sunset Park's Sims Municipal Recycling Facility, the process is oddly mesmerizing. En masse, the glass and plastic shards processed in the building's bowels become a disposable rainbow, the sharp shapes of residential recyclables a testament to the mesmerizing aesthetic of large-scale sustainability. Sims is located on the 11-acre 30th Street Pier, which also contains the city's first commercial-scale wind turbine. On Sims' second story is a recycling education center; surrounding its exterior are a number of nature-harboring reefs, moorings, and native plants; and on the roof is an observation deck. The plant sorts 800 tons of recyclables on 2.5 miles worth of conveyor belts and machines daily, the majority of NYC's "commingled curbside material," its site proudly purports. In total, the plant processes 200,000 tons of plastic, glass, and metal a year. Ahead, take a look at the Sims world, where trash is heaped so high it really does look like treasure if you squint.
Take a tour

December 7, 2017

This $3.7M Cobble Hill townhouse is period-perfect with rooms to spare and harbor views

On a quintessential tree-lined Cobble Hill block just to the east of the Columbia Street Waterfront, the equally quintessential historic townhouse at 388 Henry Street is seeking a new owner for only the third time in 100 years. Asking $3.7 million, the four-story, two-family home is filled with period details, with plenty of room for new ones.
Tour all four floors

Distinctive Homes

New renderings revealed for Extell’s Central Park Tower as it hits halfway mark

Rendering courtesy of Extell

December 7, 2017

New renderings revealed for Extell’s Central Park Tower as it hits halfway mark

The 1,550-foot Central Park Tower, the soon-to-be tallest residential tower in New York City, has gotten some new renderings that reveal how it'll appear lit up at night, as well as how its interiors may look (h/t YIMBY). Extell Development's current plans for the Billionaires' Row tower call for 179 condominiums, spanning on average 5,000 square feet, with open layouts and oversized windows overlooking Central Park. With the construction of the supertall at 217 West 57th Street now hitting its halfway mark and rising to roughly 700 feet, Central Park Tower is expected to be completed in 2019.
See inside the supertall

In the 19th century, Brooklynites played baseball on ice

Baseball on Ice (1884) via Fine Art America

December 5, 2017

In the 19th century, Brooklynites played baseball on ice

For baseball fans, winter becomes an unbearably long season. In addition to the cold weather and early darkness, there are no games to watch. As a solution to this ball game drought, Brooklynites of the mid-and-late-1800’s began playing ice baseball. Getting its start in Rochester, N.Y. and later moving downstate to Brooklyn in 1861, the sport of ice baseball forced players to strap on skates and attempt to follow the rules of regular baseball on a frozen pond. Although ice skating remains a very popular winter activity in New York City to this day, baseball on ice eventually lost its charm before the turn of the 20th century, as players, and fans, complained about the freezing cold and slippery conditions.
More here

History

New renderings and more funding for South Williamsburg’s Dime Savings Bank site

The Dime, rendering courtesy Fogarty Finger Architecture and Interiors.

December 1, 2017

New renderings and more funding for South Williamsburg’s Dime Savings Bank site

6sqft reported in May that a 23-story mixed-use tower was headed for one of Williamsburg‘s most closely-watched developments, the site anchored by the Neoclassical-style Dime Savings Bank of Williamsburgh building at 209 Havemeyer Street at the foot of the Williamsburg Bridge. Now, New York Yimby reveals new renderings courtesy of the project's architects, Fogarty Finger Architecture and Interiors. In addition, the site's developers, Charney Construction & Development and Tavros Capital Partners, have received a $150 million loan to restore the historic bank and build the new tower. According to The Real Deal, the loan coincides with the closing of the purchase of the bank building itself–the site's final parcel–for $12 million.
More renderings this way

November 28, 2017

In Bay Ridge, you can own Tony Manero’s house from ‘Saturday Night Fever’ for $2.5M

This 1920s home on a tranquil Bay Ridge street looks innocuous enough from the outside, but its claim to fame is something it has in common with the neighborhood itself, and about which residents have an uneasy pride: The house had a star turn as main character Tony Manero's family home in the decade-defining "Saturday Night Fever." But the house at 221 79th Street was renovated in 2005, and there's not a disco ball to be found (though there is a Jacuzzi). And the family-sized home with a deck and a driveway is asking a very un-disco-era $2.498 million.
More movie history and creature comforts, this way

November 27, 2017

$975K Park Slope railroad apartment still manages to charm with pre-war details

The railroad apartment--a classic layout across New York City--isn't everybody's cup of tea. Not everyone wants to bypass a hallway to walk through a series of directly connected rooms, but in the case of this Park Slope co-op, each room is especially charming. The floor-through railroad occupies the third floor of 719 Carroll Street, a brick townhouse that's been converted into a small eight-unit cooperative. At 80 feet long, the apartment is lined with prewar details that include a bay window, decorative fireplace, and some exposed brick. It last sold in 2009 for $625,000 before hitting the market at $975,000.
Do the walk-through

Distinctive Homes

November 20, 2017

Stunning church details were woven into this $3,925/month Bushwick rental

This 1890s brick church and school, located at 626 Bushwick Avenue right in Bushwick, has gotten a second life as a new development rental known as the Saint Marks. The church details aren't all extinct, with brickwork and vaulting in some of the apartments. This two-bedroom unit is one of the most stunning in the building--and it's now asking $3,925 a month. The top-floor location means that the elaborate arched ceilings decked out with mosaic tilework and carved wood tower above this lofty pad.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

Crown Building’s $100M penthouse will have two indoor pools and a piano lounge

Penthouse rendering courtesy of Aman Resorts

November 16, 2017

Crown Building’s $100M penthouse will have two indoor pools and a piano lounge

Floor plans of the Crown Building's crown jewel, its five-story penthouse, have revealed what $100 million will buy you at one of the city's most desirable locations for the super-rich. As the Real Deal learned, the penthouse features two swimming pools, a piano lounge and a full-floor master suite. The 14,000-square-foot pad sits in the actual crown of the building, spanning floors 22-26. The rest of the Billionaires' Row building at 730 Fifth Avenue isn't too shabby either; the building includes an 83-key luxury Aman Resorts hotel with a three-story spa, a jazz and cigar club, a few restaurants and 20 luxury condos.
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Foreclosures and flopped flips pile up at One57, sending grim message to big ticket investors

Image © Wade Zimmerman courtesy of Agence Christian de Portzamparc (ACDP)

November 16, 2017

Foreclosures and flopped flips pile up at One57, sending grim message to big ticket investors

A full-floor, 6,240-square-foot penthouse at Midtown billionaires' bunker One57 recently sold to an unidentified high bidder–one of five contenders–at a foreclosure auction for $36 million. That number is 29 percent lower than the original $50.9 million price shelled out by Nigerian businessman Kolawole Akanni Aluko for the newly-minted condo in 2014. The fire sale was the fourth resale in the 1,004-foot-tall Billionaire's Row flagship trophy tower to trade at a loss, according to data from appraiser Miller Samuel Inc., reports Bloomberg. The latest example is the largest discount to date on one of the pricey properties, all of which sends a message to buyers with plans to cash in on the ultra-luxury units in short order. And there are currently 16 apartments at the building listed for sale, most of them by the developer.
Read on

Real Estate Trends

15 apartments up for grabs near the Williamsburg waterfront, from $867/month

Rendering of 94 North 3rd Street courtesy of Hudson Companies Inc.

November 15, 2017

15 apartments up for grabs near the Williamsburg waterfront, from $867/month

Applications are now being accepted for 15 newly constructed, affordable apartments in a mixed-use development in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. With 75 total units and more than 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, the building at 94 North 3rd Street sits just a few blocks from the waterfront and bustling Metropolitan Avenue. Qualifying New Yorkers earning 60 percent of the area median income can apply for studios for $867 per month, one-bedrooms for $931 per month and two-bedrooms listed for $1123 monthly.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

Luxury condos may be off the table at Crown Heights armory after City Council hearing

Rendering of the Bedford Courts development planned for the Bedford-Union Armory; image: BFC Partners/Bedford Courts

November 15, 2017

Luxury condos may be off the table at Crown Heights armory after City Council hearing

Amid growing opposition, the proposed Crown Heights Bedford-Union Armory redevelopment project began its evaluation by the City Council at a hearing Tuesday on land use applications filed by the Economic Development Corporation (EDC), amNewYork reports. The massive armory, once housing for the National Guard, became city property in 2013. The EDC plans to sell the property to developer BFC Partners for the creation of 56 condos, of which 20 percent would be income restricted. The remaining market rate condos would help pay for the rest of the project, which would be leased by BFC Partners and would include 330 rentals (165 affordable), office space and a recreation center. Critics say the city is setting a dangerous precedent by leasing public land for private use, especially when market-rate condos are included. The de Blasio administration has championed the recreation center and housing, but the plan has has come under fire by neighborhood advocacy groups and has had an uphill battle in achieving the City Council approval it needs.
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November 15, 2017

$3M Fort Greene townhouse may need some TLC but lovely bones and a heavenly garden remain

Located on a gorgeous block steps from Fort Greene Park, this compact townhouse at 232 Carlton Avenue, asking $3 million, could use some updating. The listing says, "Bring your architect and/or designer," but there's a lot to love about this home even in its present imperfect state. Currently configured as a two-family dwelling with an owner’s triplex and a one-bedroom duplex rental, the layout may look a little complicated but there's plenty of potential here, including a gracious deck and classic leafy Brooklyn backyard.
Take a closer look

Distinctive Homes

November 14, 2017

Park Slope duplex is a perfect townhouse tryout at $4,800/month

In the heart of lovely, leafy north Park Slope, a block from Prospect Park and surrounded by some of Brooklyn's priciest historic architecture, this 1,500-square-foot duplex condominium at 502 1st Street is available for rent, asking $4,800 a month. If you're looking for a townhouse tryout–without all the stress that comes with purchasing an actual townhouse–the two-floor, three-bedroom space is big enough for the whole family. They'll fit right in here–and two private outdoor spaces provide a closer-to-home alternative to the park.
Have a closer look

November 13, 2017

$6,000/month Greenpoint rental boasts a drool-worthy deck that’s outfitted for winter

Every winter, New Yorkers mourn the outdoor space they can't enjoy due to cold weather. This Greenpoint apartment has solved that problem, by installing a fire pit within a charming private patio. This jealousy-inducing outdoor space is tacked onto a two-bedroom duplex unit from 114 India Street, a condo built in 2008. It's being offered as a short-term rental--completely furnished, with utilities and weekly housekeeping included--for $6,000 a month.
Now see the interior

Distinctive Homes

November 13, 2017

For $2.3M, an Amzi Hill-designed Bed-stuy townhouse with historic details and an artist’s legacy

On one of the prettiest blocks in the landmarked Stuyvesant Heights section of Bed-Stuy, this 3,240-square-foot 1890s brownstone is brimming with historic architectural details. Designed by prolific Brooklyn architect Amzi Hill, 740 Macon Street has been lovingly restored by the home's longtime owners, one of whom happens to be a celebrated local artist whose sense of history and beauty is reflected at every turn. Highlights include arched windows, six tiled fireplaces, parquet floors, wooden shutters, pressed tin ceilings, pocket doors, a pier mirror, egg-and-dart molding and intricate fretwork, plus a landscaped garden and terrace. The two-family townhouse–there's a one-bedroom garden unit for rental income–is asking $2.3 million.
Tour this beautiful four-story house

Distinctive Homes

November 7, 2017

BFDO Architects renovated this Fort Greene brownstone to house a close-knit family

BFDO Architects is no stranger to the innovative Brooklyn townhouse renovation. The firm brought their magic to this landmarked Fort Greene brownstone, purchased by a Hong Kong-based businessman who wanted a home that he, his wife and three adult children could comfortably stay in during his extended visits. BFDO modernized the interior, added new staircases, and utilized every inch of the house to personalize it for each member of the family.
So go check out the work

November 6, 2017

A prewar studio located on the “fruit streets” of Brooklyn Heights asks just $469K

There are many things to love about Brooklyn Heights, one of those being the neighborhood's "fruit streets." Pineapple, Cranberry and Orange streets are all known in the area not just for the whimsical names, but for their historic architecture and prime location near the waterfront promenade. The cooperative at 55 Pineapple Street, also known as the Hamilton House, is one of those stately historic buildings that make the fruit streets so unique. This studio, now on the market for $469,000, retains the building's prewar charm while also boasting some upgrades to maximize the space.
Tour the cozy pad

Distinctive Homes

Nearly 100 middle-income units sit vacant at Brooklyn’s Pacific Park development

Photo of 535 Carlton Avenue, courtesy of Max Touhey for Greenland Forest City Partners

November 6, 2017

Nearly 100 middle-income units sit vacant at Brooklyn’s Pacific Park development

In July 2016, the lottery opened for 298 mixed-income rentals at 535 Carlton Avenue, part of the sprawling Pacific Park complex, in Brooklyn. But now, more than a year later, about 95 units remain vacant at the Prospect Heights site, as City Limits reported. Despite over 93,000 New Yorkers applying for the nearly 300 units within just eight weeks, the applicants were rejected because they did not make enough money to qualify for those specific units. The 95 vacancies, the most expensive apartments at Pacific Park, are reserved for households that earn between 135 and 165 percent of the area median income, which translates to $74,606 and $173,415 annually. Unable to secure tenants for this income bracket, developer Greenland Forest City Partners (GFCP) placed advertisements for the units on market-rate real estate websites.
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Affordable Housing

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Images (L to R): HOUSE39, THE CRESCENDO, THE LANE and 180 WATER STREET

November 4, 2017

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

By Ondel Hylton

Images (L to R): HOUSE39, THE CRESCENDO, THE LANE and 180 WATER STREET Live & Play at THE CRESCENDO: Unprecedented Rental in South Bronx Leasing from $2,100/Month [link] One-of-a-Kind Rentals Debut on West Houston Street in Storied Greenwich Village Building [link] Live at The Monterey: Leasing Special at Upper East Side Rental with Health Club […]

Real Estate Trends

November 3, 2017

Rent a renovated Bed-Stuy triplex with a deck, yard and nanny suite for $6K/month

On one of the neighborhood's most beautiful historic brownstone streets where Clinton Hill and Bed-Stuy meet, the upper triplex of a turn-key renovated townhouse at 22 Brevoort Place is for rent for $6,000 a month, complete with nanny suite/kitchenette, roof access, and a sweet Brooklyn backyard.
Take the three-floor tour

Distinctive Homes

November 1, 2017

Cute Williamsburg condo asks $775K after a clever renovation

This 624-square-foot, one-bedroom condo at 134 North 10th Street in Williamsburg offers the best of both worlds in a small amount of space. A recent reno restored details of the historic townhouse building, like six-inch-wide plank pine flooring, built-in closets, and decorative fireplaces. But the renovation also created an efficient, flexible layout with custom build outs that include shelving, desks, sliding doors, and lofts. After last selling in 2010 for $441,090, this blend of old-meets-new is on the market asking $775,000.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

October 31, 2017

$10K/month townhouse triplex in Fort Greene mixes historic details with boho accents

This classic Fort Greene brownstone at 23 South Elliott Place holds an attractive triplex apartment inside. The rental, which covers the parlor floor, second floor and third floor (and includes access to the backyard), is on the market for a cool $10,000 a month. On display across every floor are those exquisite original brownstone details, while a renovation managed to open up the floorplan and bring more light inside.
There's also a hammock out back

Distinctive Homes

New Domino Sugar Factory renderings show barrel-vaulted glass topper and taller towers

292-314 Kent. Rendering by Practice for Architecture and Urbanism via Landmarks Preservation Commission.

October 30, 2017

New Domino Sugar Factory renderings show barrel-vaulted glass topper and taller towers