Brooklyn

If you're a regular reader of the New York Times, Forbes or the Observer, you've probably found yourself lingering over one of Sasha Maslov's photographs. Over the last few years, the Ukranian-born photographer has focused his lens on everyone from Mary Lousie Parker, Elvis Costello, and Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen to notable economist Joseph Stiglitz and real estate mogul Douglas Durst. While Sasha's world appears to be all about capturing striking images of famous and fascinating people, his creativity extends well beyond the 2D format. On the border of the Brooklyn Navy Yard is a 1,400-square-foot loft that's been custom-outfitted from corner to corner by Sasha himself. A self-taught craftsman, his hallway closet hides a compact woodshop that's allowed him to turn his once stark and wall-less apartment into a multi-room home filled with hidden storage and imaginative furniture. Sasha recently invited 6sqft to take a tour of his space, and let's just say if he ever decides to quit photography, he's definitely got a future in industrial design.
Inside Sasha's Navy Yard Home

August 23, 2016

Housing lotto kicks off today for 27 Bed-Stuy/Ocean Hill apartments, from $834/month

As a subsection of Bed-Stuy—and with a location adjacent to rapidly gentrifying Bushwick—Ocean Hill has seen renewed interest from developers in the last few years. The approved rezoning of East New York in February has also given the neighborhood a big boost and brokers have started calling the area Brooklyn's "last frontier." As such, although the area median income remains very low ($35,000), home prices are quickly moving skyward and flipping is already in full effect. But not all is lost for those with lesser means. Starting today, qualifying NYC residents can apply for 27 newly constructed apartments at 1676 Broadway and 8 Rockaway Avenue. Apartments ranging from one- to three-bedrooms have been priced between $834 and $1,163 a month and are being offered to households earning between $30,000 and $63,000.
See more on if you qualify here

Affordable Housing

August 23, 2016

Rent this historic-meets-modern Cobble Hill carriage house for $8,500/month

There's nothing quite like a converted carriage house, from the plethora of historic details to the petite frames hiding often lofty interiors. This beauty at 413 Degraw Street in Cobble Hill, currently renting for $8,500 a month, is no exception. Built around the turn of the century, its brick facade is punctuated by the signature double-wide doors with a cast iron transom, along with arched dental moldings and a handsome cornice. Inside, it's indeed spacious, and though the modern updates are welcome, some of the design choices seem to clash with the historic nature of the home.
See the whole place

Distinctive Homes

August 19, 2016

Cute and cozy studio asks under $400K in Prospect Heights

We know that in a lot of places around the country--even just upstate--$395,000 can buy you a pretty nice house. But here in NYC, we get excited when a studio in a nice neighborhood is asking that price. A charming but modest co-op at 361 Sterling Place in Prospect Heights has hit the market for that very number and will likely be snatched up soon.
Take a look at the very cute space

Distinctive Homes

August 19, 2016

Video: Take a gritty summertime subway ride to Coney Island–in 1987

From the archives of '80s NYC nightlife videographer Nelson Sullivan comes this summertime classic video. Young Village Voice writer Michael Musto, artist Albert Crudo, and photographer Liz Lizard with her two kids in tow join Sullivan on the trip to Coney Island from Manhattan on a very different subway than we're used to today (h/t acapuck via Reddit). Their destination, too, won't look the least bit familiar to anyone who's visited the aforementioned beach destination in recent years, though there are many among us who fondly remember the beautiful decay of the boardwalk environs and the thrill of its garish attractions in the pre-MCU, pre Keyspan days. We never tire of checking out the graffiti-covered cars and fellow riders who probably only look more menacing. And at some moments if you don't look too hard, everything appears pretty much the same: The noise, the heat, the underground grit–and the fact that when it comes to fashion, everything a few decades old looks cool and new again.
Take a day trip to the '80s

History

August 18, 2016

Robert A.M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South now two-thirds erected

Robert A.M. Stern's latest Billionaires' Row blockbuster continues its rapid ascent into the sky. As CityRealty.com reports, 220 Central Park South (220 CPS) is now two-thirds of the way up, construction having knocked out about 600 feet of the tower's eventual 950-foot height. Application of the limestone cladding started in April and has thus far been installed across over one-third of the building. When finished in 2017, the two-winged skyscraper with its rare and direct Central Park South frontage will host 118 luxurious homes across 66 stories—and it will be one of the city's most expensive residences. Jump ahead to see more photos of all the work that's been completed.
More photos of the tower under construction here

August 18, 2016

LEESER Architecture dreams up an 80-story supertall for Downtown Brooklyn Macy’s site

In April, initial details were released about Downtown Brooklyn's Macy's $100 million interior makeover, which included new columns, fluted ceilings, metal and glass entrance canopies, and video screens surrounding the escalators. This came after Tishman Speyer inked a $170 million deal with the department store in January, in which they'll remodel the 11-story Art Deco building's top five floors into offices. As part of the deal, Tishman also took control of the connecting Hoyt Street parking garage, a site that was speculated may give way to a supertall, mixed-use tower. Today, CityRealty.com posted a set of renderings from architecture firm LEESER showing a glassy tower rising from the existing department store. Although it is not the design being considered by Tishman Speyer, it does give us a taste of the type of modern development that could climb from the coveted DoBro address.
See more renderings

August 18, 2016

For $887K in Prospect Heights, Chilled Out ‘Fuzzy Nap Zones’ for Non-Celebrities

6sqft covered celeb mom/lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow's infamous $14 million Tribeca loft with its luxurious lounge vibe and what she calls "fuzzy nap zones." Here in–arguably just as desirable–Prospect Heights, this surprisingly flexible two-plus-bedroom co-op at 130 Prospect Place is sun-filled and laid back, with plush chill-out zones of its own for a much less one percent-y price of $887,000. With 1,165 square feet of space, a brand new roof deck, and Prospect Park a few blocks away, this laid-back lair looks to be quite a catch.
Hang out, stay awhile

Distinctive Homes

August 16, 2016

Where I Work: Tour Brooklyn wallpaper company Flavor Paper’s fun and futuristic ‘lair’

6sqft’s series “Where I Work” takes us into the studios, offices, and off-beat workspaces of New Yorkers across the city. In this installment, we take a tour of the Cobble Hill studio of colorful wallpaper company Flavor Paper. Want to see your business featured here? Get in touch! Nestled among the charming streets and quaint rowhouses of Cobble Hill is the headquarters of a wallpaper company that's taken the art to a completely new level. Flavor Paper was founded in 2003 in New Orleans before moving to Brooklyn nine years ago. What started out as an attempt to salvage old equipment from a hand-screened wallpaper company on the Oregon coast has morphed into an internationally recognized brand--known for its bright colors, bold patterns, and plain-old fun aesthetic--with over 156 designs and collaborations with the likes of Lenny Kravitz and the Andy Warhol Foundation. 6sqft recently toured what the company calls their "Flavor Lair" (it houses their production facilities, offices and showroom) and chatted with founder Jon Sherman about what sets Flavor Paper apart from other wallpaper manufacturers, why he calls Brooklyn home, and the backstory on some of the most popular designs. We also got a sneak peak into Jon's personal home, a sexy abode located above the Skylab Architecture-designed Lair.
Take the tour this way

August 15, 2016

The Evolution of Greenpoint: From Oil and Sewage to Gentrification

Since Greenpoint started to attract displaced Manhattanites in the early 1990s, the cost of renting in the neighborhood and nearby Williamsburg has shot up a staggering 78.7 percent. According to a 2015 study published by NYU’s Furman Center, Greenpoint/Williamsburg is the most rapidly gentrifying neighborhood in New York City. What many newcomers don’t realize is that […]

History

August 11, 2016

The Success Story of Industry City as Told by Its Innovative Manufacturing Tenants

Industry City is a six million-square-foot, 30-acre industrial complex on the Sunset Park waterfront. Its 16 buildings made up the former Bush Terminal, a manufacturing, warehousing and distribution center that opened in 1895. After falling into disrepair over the past few decades, in 2013, a new ownership team led by Belvedere Capital and Jamestown began their $1 billion undertaking to update the complex while cultivating a diverse tenant mix that fuses today’s burgeoning innovation economy with traditional manufacturing and artisanal craft. Today, there are more than 4,500 people and 400 companies working in Industry City, and 6sqft recently paid a visit to four of them (a handbag designer, lighting designer, candle company, and chocolatier) to learn why the complex makes sense for their business and what unique opportunities it's afforded them. We also spoke with Industry City CEO Andrew Kimball about the unprecedented success of the complex and his visions for the future, as well as took a tour of the buildings and their wildly popular public amenity spaces such as the food hall, outdoor courtyards, and tenant lounge.
All this and more ahead

August 11, 2016

135 Units of Affordable Housing Planned for the Coney Island Boardwalk

In 2009, former Mayor Bloomberg rezoned the Coney Island waterfront to accommodate new residential and commercial development. While the city has moved ahead to build more amusement park rides at this popular summer destination, there hasn't been an explosion of new residential development since the rezoning. But plans are moving ahead for a nine-story building designed to hold 135 affordable and supportive housing apartments right along the boardwalk. In April, developers Georgica Green Ventures and Concern for Independent Living filed plans for the new building at 2002 Surf Avenue, reports CityRealty.com. Called Surf Vets Plaza, the building will totally transform the corner of West 21st Street and Surf Avenue, which is now a 170,000-square-foot vacant lot.
Read more about the development plans

August 10, 2016

Norman Foster’s First Brooklyn Project Dubbed Red Hoek Point, Gets New Rendering

In June, 6sqft revealed renderings of Norman Foster's first commission in Brooklyn, the waterfront complex from Thor Equities planned for the former Revere Sugar Factory site in Red Hook. The sole rendering showed "his signature mix of contemporary panache (glassy construction with a cantilevering portion) and contextual thoughtfulness (low-scale, boxy structures in keeping with the industrial area)." Now, a second rendering comes to us via Curbed, which shows off the structure's "undulating penthouses and combined 3.6 acres of green roof." They've also noted that the project has an official website, leasing is underway, and it's been dubbed Red Hoek Point, a play on the area's Dutch name Roode Hoek from the 1600s.
Find out more

August 9, 2016

Tons of Sun at This Corner Duplex, Asking $1.2M in Williamsburg

One of the big perks of many duplex apartments is that the layout allows for double-height ceilings. It's a striking apartment detail, especially here at the hip Williamsburg condo 134 Powers Street. This apartment, asking $1,225 million, boasts double-height ceilings in the living room and since it's a corner unit, gets light on all sides.
Take the grand tour

Distinctive Homes

August 9, 2016

Two Chances to Live in a Bushwick Two-Bedroom For $1,030/Month

Bushwick may no longer be the affordable counterpart to Williamsburg, but here are two chances to nab a brand new two-bedroom apartment in the 'hood for just $1,030 a month. The latest offering through the city's housing lotteries, the units are located at 303 Stanhope Street, less than a block from the DeKalb Avenue L train station and, come the shutdown, just a seven-minute walk to the Knickerbocker Avenue M train station.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

My 700sqft: Tour Two Photographers’ Bed-Stuy Brownstone Home, Complete With Shower in Kitchen

Our ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of 6sqft’s friends, family and fellow New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to two photographers’ Bedford-Stuyvesant brownstone apartment. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

August 8, 2016

My 700sqft: Tour Two Photographers’ Bed-Stuy Brownstone Home, Complete With Shower in Kitchen

As photographers, Michael DePasquale and Martina Maffini have traveled the world, shooting everything from India’s middle class to the last remaining Jewish cowboys in Argentina to the polished interiors of artists and designers across Europe. While this pair's subjects are wide-ranging, their personal style is far more restrained. In their Bed-Stuy brownstone they let the building's historic details define their space, complementing these features with the artwork of friends and personal relics. Have a look inside their home ahead, and be sure to pay special attention to one defining attribute: the shower in the kitchen.
Go inside their apartment here

August 8, 2016

Rent This Charming Cobble Hill Cottage With Private Garden and Backyard Studio for $7,250/Month

Constructed in the 1870s on a short, private block of Cobble Hill, the 34 modest Gothic cottages of Warren Place Mews were built by wealthy merchant, philanthropist and housing advocate Alfred Tredway White as homes for workingmen and their families. 21st century prices for these unique "private estates" that share an English courtyard have reached the millions; renting doesn’t come cheaply either, with the asking rent on the three-story, eleven-foot wide two-bedroom home at 1 Warren Place at $7,250/month. That may seem a bit more reasonable when you see the home’s gorgeous renovation helmed by Elizabeth Roberts Architecture & Design and landscaped yard with your own private “writers’ compound or tiny playroom” at the back.
Take a peek at this small, beautiful living space

August 6, 2016

Brooklyn’s Tallest Tower Finishes Construction and Commences Leasing

By Ondel Hylton

Back in 2007, a run-of-the-mill row of three- to four-story walk-up buildings bounded by Willoughby, Bridge and Duffield Streets was ordered to vacate to make way for a soaring mixed-use skyscraper developed by AvalonBay Communities. Without warning, shopkeepers were given between 30 and 120 days to clear out or face court eviction, evidence of the impact of gentrification on Downtown Brooklyn. The district's 2004 rezoning sparked the development of thousands of new apartments (6,400 in the pipeline according to our latest count) and is finally getting a dusting of office space too. Now, after an arduous, decade-long journey of assembling an 11-parcel site, clearing and excavating it, and throwing up nearly one million square feet into the air, Avalon has finally finished construction and has kicked off leasing of the building's upper collection of homes called Avalon Willoughby Square.
Get the scoop on Avalon's deals

Friday 5: Find Free Rent in Lovely Brooklyn Heights and Bed-Stuy

Every Friday 6sqft is rounding up five of the best rental deals showcased on CityRealty.com’s newly launched no-fee rentals page, a space where house hunters can find the best concessions being offered by landlords across the city.

August 5, 2016

Friday 5: Find Free Rent in Lovely Brooklyn Heights and Bed-Stuy

By 6sqft

If you're an urban dweller that appreciates the opportunity to disconnect from the craze of the city, Bed-Stuy or Brooklyn Heights are two of the best places to find respite. While these neighborhoods don't boast the same trendsetter vibes as other borough favorites like Williamsburg or DUMBO, they do offer an unparalleled beauty highlighted by leafy streets and rows and rows of historic brownstones and brick townhouses. Below we've rounded up five buildings in these two lovely locales offering free rent and more.
check them out here

Uncategorized

August 5, 2016

Perfume Heiress Pauline Rochas Lists Trés Chic Williambsburg Loft for $2.6M

Perfume and fashion heiress Pauline Rochas and partner Carole Beaupré, the impossibly chic and creative photographer couple who currently own this 2,082-square-foot, one-bedroom-plus-office in Williamsburg’s Mill Building at 85 North Third Street, have listed the fashionably renovated loft for $2.585 million. Ms. Rochas is the granddaughter of the late Hélène Rochas, stylish socialite, perfumer and wife of couturier Marcel Rochas; she and Ms. Beaupré run a photography studio, Coolife, that specializes in shooting still-life beauty images for brands like Chanel and Ralph Lauren, and collaborated on a line of perfumes (h/t LLNYC). The pair purchased the home for $940,000 in 2007 and have since elevated it to a level of polished north Brooklyn cool befitting their lifestyle as well as their neighborhood.
Tour this chic Williamsburg loft

Distinctive Homes

August 4, 2016

A Shipping Container Tower Transformed this Brooklyn Carriage House

File this under kooky design schemes that actually work. Inhabitat NYC profiled a Clinton Hill carriage house completely transformed by a shipping container tower built inside. The homeowners, artist Markus Linnenbrink and art dealer Cindy Rucker, were on the hunt for an architect who could renovate with as many sustainable elements as possible. They picked the design firm LOT-EK due to their specialty in shipping container buildings. The result? A container tower that serves as the core of this retrofitted carriage house, and many more repurposed details throughout.
Check it out

August 4, 2016

Oscar-Winning Actress Lupita Nyong’o Checking Out Apartments in Pacific Park Brooklyn

By Annie Doge

Things are heating up over at Pacific Park Brooklyn, the 22-acre Prospect Heights site anchored by the Barclays Center and containing eight million square feet of mixed-use development. Last month, an affordable housing lottery kicked off for 300 units at the COOKFOX-designed 535 Carlton Avenue, and now the architects' other residential building at 550 Vanderbilt Avenue is making celebrity headlines. The Post reports that Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o was looking at apartments in the 17-story luxury condo, specifically a $2.89 million three-bedroom, corner unit.
Get the scoop on her potential purchase

Celebrities

August 2, 2016

City Will Study Residential Rezoning of Gowanus, But Locals Want More Affordable Housing

When the area surrounding the Gowanus Canal was designated a Superfund site by the EPA in 2010, it seemed all but impossible that the contaminated, warehouse-laden neighborhood could get on par with the rest of Brooklyn. But recent years have brought major cleanup efforts along the 1.8-mile Canal, leading to new additions like a Whole Foods (quite possibly the first sign of gentrification) and subsequent interest from developers in creating higher end housing. This fall, reports DNAinfo, the Department of City Planning will launch a study to explore a rezoning of Gowanus that would allow for more residential developments in what is currently an industrial section. Locals, however, have similar concerns to those who opposed the recent, controversial East New York rezoning--that it will only incentive developers, causing displacement of longtime residents, and that any affordable housing put forth in the plan would still be out of reach for the lowest income residents. They've therefore created their own redevelopment plan called Bridging Gowanus, which, as the Times notes, calls for "greater density and more affordable apartments in return for improvements and guarantees that preserve the precarious soul of the district."
More details ahead

August 2, 2016

$1M Williamsburg Condo Delivers on Location, Space, Price–and a Huge Backyard

This 1,077 square-foot two-bedroom garden apartment at 206 Montrose Avenue on a convenient and colorful block in "hot, hot, hot East Williamsburg" has two spacious and quiet bedrooms with covetable closet space, plus two baths; there's an amazing amount of outdoor space in the form of a big patio and backyard. And it comes in at (just a hair) under $1 million at $999,000.
Check all the boxes...

Distinctive Homes

August 1, 2016

Two-Bedroom Williamsburg Condo With Pool Views Gets a Price Chop to $1.5M

The Williamsburg development 135 North 11th Street probably starts looking good to buyers every summer considering it boasts its own private pool, complete with lounge chairs and cabanas. This particular apartment, a two-bedroom unit, looks down upon the pool from a private balcony. The funky space has just gotten a price chop, reducing from its ask of $1.62 million to $1.495 million last week. It last sold in 2011 for $728,048.
Take a look around

August 1, 2016

$3M Prospect Park South Mansion on Michelle Williams’ Street Sold in Only Two Hours