Brooklyn

The location of this lovely Brooklyn townhouse at 357 Hoyt Street is a dream combination of breezy, funky Gowanus and quaint, historic and classic Carroll Gardens. Everything surrounding it is either pretty or cool (or both), and on top of being subway adjacent, the borough's flagship Whole Foods market is within just a few blocks. This enviable home is about as perfect as you can get if you’re a brownstone buff and you're not looking for four stories or a big yard. At three stories and 2,360 square feet, it's not huge, but space is used efficiently and it's still more spacious than many apartments at its asking price of $2.9 million. Renovated to perfection, the home’s interiors - designed by mother-daughter design team McGrath II - have been featured in both the New York Times home and garden section (according to the listing) and recently on 6sqft.
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Distinctive Homes

May 9, 2016

Williamsburg Unsurprisingly Tops List of NYC’s 15 Fastest Gentrifying Neighborhoods

Williamsburg has become the poster child for the hipsterfication of Brooklyn and NYC gentrification in general, but behind the beards and beet smoothies are actual facts to back it up. NYU's Furman Center released a report that identifies the city's 15 gentrifying neighborhoods, out of 55 total, and finds that Williamsburg/Greenpoint comes in at number one (h/t DNAinfo). Of course, it's difficult to define gentrification, but the study looks at areas that were relatively low-income in 1990 (among the bottom 40% in the city), but experienced higher rent growth over the past 20 years than other neighborhoods, a trend that the Furman Center feels is of "greatest concern in lower-income neighborhoods." Williamsburg and Greenpoint had a startling 78.7 percent jump in rent over this time period, followed by Central Harlem at 53.2 percent and Chinatown/Lower East Side at 50.3 percent.
See the full list here

May 9, 2016

Two Cabanas Combine Into One Glorious Roof Deck at This $675K Clinton Hill Pad

With the weather warming up, nothing looks better than the roof deck that comes with this Clinton Hill apartment at 27 Quincy Street. There's an entire 625 square feet of private outdoor space, nearly as large as the 775-square-foot, one-bedroom pad. Two cabanas were combined into one and decked out with everything from a built built-in bar to planters to furniture. The inside of the apartment isn't too shabby, either.
See photos of the deck

Distinctive Homes

May 9, 2016

Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Brownstone Purchase LLC Tells of Escaped Slaves’ Brave Journey

Atlantic Writer, National Book Award winner and MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant recipient Ta-Nehisi Coates recently made an appearance in real estate news; Coates, who is among today's most prominent writers on African-American issues, and his wife recently purchased a landmarked five-bedroom townhouse in Prospect-Lefferts Garden for $2.1 million. Not one to miss an opportunity to explore a facet of cultural history, the couple worked an interesting story into the LLC they used to purchase the property, DNAinfo tells us. Buyers commonly register Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs) to purchase property in order to conceal their identities (celebrities, for example, or when making a big-ticket buy), and LLC names are often mundane, using the name of the property itself. But the Coateses LLC, "Ellen and William Craft Excursions LLC” has an inspiring tale behind it: The Crafts were an escaped slave couple from Georgia in the 19th century. Disguised as a white male slave owner and his slave, they escaped to Philadelphia in 1868.
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May 6, 2016

Former Bushwick Factory Gets a Stunning Designer Upgrade, Asks $3.5M

Bushwick has gained an international reputation for its creative and innovative culture; artists have lived and worked here for decades (long before Vogue magazine ponounced it hip), and the neighborhood's low-rise industrial infrastructure lent itself to the creation of open workspaces. Though we'd be more likely to see an impeccably designed carriage house on the market for $3.5 million in a neighborhood like Cobble Hill, rising property values and creative residents have always been inseparable. This converted two-story Swiss Army knife of a building at 326-328 Menahan Street justifies its ask by offering the "ultimate live/work home." The home's renovation was undertaken by its current owners, Norwegian artist Haavard Homstvedt and Stine Christiansen Homstvedt, an interior designer. Its 6,000 square feet are definitely configured unconventionally; the meticulous remodel that created this unique property is as modern and as creative as the pair behind it.
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Distinctive Homes

May 5, 2016

$250M Penthouse at 220 Central Park South Will Officially Be NYC’s Most Expensive Apartment

For over a year, it's been a guessing game with just how expensive 220 Central Park South's penthouse will actually be. Initial murmurings put the price at $175 million, but later reports that claimed hedge fund tycoon Ken Griffin was the buyer upped it to $200 million. The guessing is over, though, as The Real Deal has obtained an amended offering plan filed with the New York Attorney General, which shows that the 23,000-square-foot, four-floor "billionaire's bunker" will cost a mind-boggling $250 million (or $11,000 per square foot), making it by far the city's most expensive apartment.
Check out the insane floorplans

Uncategorized

489 New Units of Affordable/Elderly Housing to Rise on Land in Brooklyn and the Bronx

Photo via Wiki Commons

May 5, 2016

489 New Units of Affordable/Elderly Housing to Rise on Land in Brooklyn and the Bronx

The de Blasio administration is expected to announce plans to lease New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) land to build nearly 500 apartments for low-income and elderly tenants in three buildings of up to 16 stories within existing housing projects in Brooklyn and the Bronx, according to the New York Times. The sites, on parking lots and grasslands within the projects, were included in the housing authority's initiative to improve deteriorating public housing, as well as increase the number of new affordable units. More controversial plans are also in the works to add market-rate housing within public housing projects in prime real estate locations.
Find out more

Affordable Housing

May 4, 2016

East River Skyway Proposal Gains Steam, Would Only Cost Riders $25/Month

With public meetings about the impending L train shutdown beginning this week, much of the conversation is centered around alternate ways to shuttle people between downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn. One solution is the East River Skyway, an aerial gondola system that would run along the Brooklyn waterfront and into Manhattan, bringing commuters over the river in just 3.5 minutes. The proposal from Dan Levy, president and CEO of CityRealty*, first surfaced in 2014, then referencing the Brooklyn development boom that will bring tens of thousands of new residential units to the borough in the coming years. But now with a possible years-long shutdown of the L, along with skyrocketing subway ridership, the Skyway is drumming up support from investors, DNA Info reports. Levy told 6sqft, "We've completed some preliminary engineering and design work around the cars and the stations and how they could meld with their respective locations — and more broadly the city skyline. Given their high visibility we want to be context sensitive." He also revealed that, although the project would cost up to $134 million (per estimate from engineers), an unlimited monthly pass would cost only $25.
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May 3, 2016

Alison Jennison’s Greenpoint Townhouse Reflects the Neighborhood’s Eclectic Vibe

By Rebecca Paul

From its residents to living spaces, Greenpoint has become a diverse neighborhood across the board, and this cozy townhouse from designer Alison Jennison reflects these same vibes. The interior combines a modern color palette with an eclectic and well-curated mix of furniture and art, creating a balanced and comfortable place to call home.
See the full space here

May 2, 2016

Two Buildings and a Central Courtyard Make Up This $2.6M Williamsburg Property

It's a two-for-one deal at a Williamsburg townhouse property at 164 Ainslie Street. The lot holds both front and back buildings separated by a large, south-facing garden courtyard. They've been broken up into apartments with a total of 20 rooms, 11 bedrooms and six full bathrooms. And there are still some great historic details preserved inside, like fireplaces and carved wood mantlepieces.
Take a tour

Distinctive Homes

May 2, 2016

First Look at StudiosC’s McGuinness Duo Near the Foot of Revamped Pulaski Bridge

By Julian Friedman

Since the Pulaski Bridge's two-way protected bikeway officially opened on Friday, real estate values in Greenpoint are likely to see an increase. And at the foot of the bridge's Brooklyn side, a pair of well-positioned buildings are underway, ready to take advantage of the new and improved connection to Long Island City and its G-train free access to Manhattan. The duo uniquely spans three narrow lots along the western side of McGuinness Boulevard between Green and Eagle Streets, near where the bridge begins its rise above street level.
More renderings and details

April 29, 2016

Charming $1.15M Greenpoint Garden Duplex Arrives Just in Time for Spring

If you find yourself drawn to the idea of living in Greenpoint, you're definitely not alone. An afternoon in the neighborhood that was until recently a sleepy north Brooklyn Polish enclave on the waterfront with artists' lofts and good schools would convince almost anyone that it's a perfect place to call home. There's a building boom happening along the river, new ferry service has arrived and the G train is becoming the popular underdog. All of that makes this two-bedroom condominium at 182 Huron Street a hot prospect, though the 1,250-foot duplex with a landscaped garden makes a good case all on its own.
More Greenpoint living this way

Distinctive Homes

April 29, 2016

Lovely Williamsburg Loft in a Former Guitar Factory Seeks $1.55M

This apartment at The Gretsch condo building, at 60 Broadway in Williamsburg, is a loft lover's dream. For $1.55 million you get 1,150 square feet of space with 13-foot ceilings, big windows looking out from the sixth floor of the former warehouse, and a totally open living, dining and kitchen area spanning nearly 24 feet.
See more of the loft

Distinctive Homes

April 28, 2016

Live in a Lofty Triplex Apartment at a Former 1880s Firehouse for $4,500/Month

Before 735 Dean Street was anybody's home, it was the post of Engine Company 219, who moved in when the firehouse was built in 1880. The historic structure in Prospect Heights has since been converted to apartments, one of which is this 1,400-square-foot triplex being offered for rent. From the inside, though, you wouldn't guess this was in an old fire station; it looks like your typical Brooklyn loft.
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April 28, 2016

New Williamsburg Condos Tout Parisian Style and Industrial Craftsmanship

By Ondel Hylton

Near the corner of Union Avenue and Conselyea Street in East Williamsburg, a modestly sized six-floor condominium is underway. Addressed 476 Union Avenue, the project is designed and developed by the Meshberg Group, who purchased a four-story, walk-up building formerly at the lot for $2.4 million. Rising from the structural bones of the prior building, the 8,650-square-foot development will offer nine condos that the team proclaims are where "Parisian style meets industrial craftsmanship."
More details ahead

Lottery Launches for 181 Affordable Units in Pacific Park’s Modular Tower

Photo of the construction progress at 461 Dean Street in January, via Field Condition

April 27, 2016

Lottery Launches for 181 Affordable Units in Pacific Park’s Modular Tower

After suffering delays, lawsuits, leaks and alignment issues, Pacific Park's 461 Dean Street (aka the B2 Tower) is finally wrapping up construction and has just launched its affordable housing lottery. The 32-story structure from SHoP Architects will be the world's tallest prefab tower, and of its 363 units, 181 will be available to low- and middle-income households. This will range from $559/month studios to $3,012 two-bedrooms and from individuals earning $20,675 annually to families of four earning $144,960.
Get a look at the apartments and find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

April 27, 2016

Cheery Two-Bedroom in Boerum Hill Asks Less Than a Million

Though not by much -- this pretty second-floor, two-bedroom co-op on a prime Boerum Hill street comes in at $925,000, to be exact. Friendly and quaint yet urban and diverse, this neighborhood was pricey and sought-after long before Brooklyn nabes were vying for “coolest in the world” status. The apartment for sale at 368 State Street has plenty going for it in the looks department. Pre-war details like decorative moldings, high ceilings and hardwood floors complement interiors that have been updated for modern comfort. It’s only one flight upstairs, and a common roof deck even puts outdoor space into the equation.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

April 27, 2016

Greenpoint’s 533 Leonard Condos Hit the Market Asking Above Neighborhood Average

By Ondel Hylton

Along the southern border of Greenpoint, near Williamsburg's McCarren Park, a once charming 19th-century school building at 533 Leonard Street is completing its adaptive reuse into 13 condominiums. Three two-bedroom units were just listed on the market this week asking an average price per square foot of $1,411, a bit above Greenpoint's current average condo asking price of $1,152 per square foot. The 21,000-square-foot development is a synthesis of the Italianate-style Horace Greeley School married with a modern addition and gut-renovated interiors handled by local architects MDIM.
Check out the available units

April 26, 2016

Another Stubby Shotgun House Hits the Market in Brooklyn, This One Asking $999K

This shotgun house in East Bed Stuy (asking $775K last December) needs to move over: there's another stubby property in town. And by town, we mean the neighborhood of Greenwood Heights, Brooklyn, located just south of Park Slope. The two-story home comes with two bedrooms, one-and-a-half bathroom and the opportunity to expand. The question is, would you pay just under $1 million for it?
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

April 26, 2016

$5K/Month Carroll Gardens Duplex in a Former Wine Cellar Has Plenty of Personality

In a rented apartment, visitors and friends won't necessarily hold you responsible for any infrastructure eccentricity–that's part of the ease of signing a lease. The problem is, it's often difficult to find a rental with any personailty. There's no floor plan available for this quirky Carroll Gardens garden duplex at 78 Douglass Street, but it certainly looks like there's a fair amount of space, and even if not, you've got two floors to call home. As is often the case with pre-war row house apartments, there do seem to be "plenty of unique features," as the listing says.
Check out the party-ready yard and the former wine cellar basement

Distinctive Homes

April 25, 2016

A Photographer’s Eye Makes This $3.25M Carroll Gardens Townhouse Pretty as a Picture

By Ondel Hylton and Julian Friedman

When a photographer who's worked for Martha Stewart Living puts her creative skills to work crafting a home in a classic Carroll Gardens townhouse, the results tend to photograph well. That's certainly the case with this gorgeous three-story brick house at 189 Huntington Street. Lifestyle, food, fashion and interiors photographer Dana Gallagher has clearly trained her editorial and design eye on every detail. Comprised of an upstairs owners' duplex and a beautifully outfitted one-bedroom garden apartment below–each with an outdoor oasis–this 20-foot-wide two-family property could also be transformed easily into a single-family dream house.
Get a closer look

Distinctive Homes

April 25, 2016

First Look StudiosC’s Bed Stuy Rental Underway at 1875 Atlantic Avenue

Over the next decade, Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue will likely continue its transformation from high-speed deathtrap to high-density residential boulevard. With more than a dozen projects already taking shape near its western extents, such as the 16-tower Pacific Park project, Cobble Hill's LICH redevelopment, and a pair of towers at Brooklyn Bridge Park, it's not difficult to imagine infill developments progressing eastward, rising from the acres of underutilized land along the ten-mile artery. And in East New York, the City Council just approved a rezoning of the neighborhood that allows for 10- to 14-story apartment blocks to rise along Atlantic Avenue. In Bedford-Stuyvesant, in between the two much-discussed areas, StudiosC Architects has crafted an eight-story apartment block at 1875 Atlantic Avenue, which will contain 118 rental units.
Get all the details on the building

April 25, 2016

Award-Winning Contemporary Townhouse on the Columbia Street Waterfront Asks $3M

The Columbia Street Waterfront is a quiet and historic waterfront enclave, just west of Cobble Hill, that's filled with small businesses and lined with cobblestone streets. Despite it's old-time Brooklyn vibe, it's home to at least one very contemporary townhouse at 48 Tiffany Place. The single-family, three-story home underwent a reno in 2013 and recently won the Remodelista Considered Design Award for its unique and dramatic interior.
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Distinctive Homes

April 22, 2016

Artist Hopes to Raise $25K to Build a Pedestrian Bridge from Red Hook to Governors Island

By Ondel Hylton and Julian Friedman

From her back window on Columbia Street in Brooklyn, artist Nancy Nowacek could see Governors Island and Buttermilk Channel (the strait connecting Brooklyn to the island), and it seemed incredibly close. In fact, it's the equivalent of only about four city blocks away. So since 2012, Nowacek has been working on her vision of building Citizen Bridge over New York Harbor, a floating modular pedestrian bridge over the 1,400-foot span from Red Hook to Governor's Island. In what is currently planned as a one-day-only event, she sees Citizen Bridge as a completely new way to experience New York City harbor, rather than seeing it from the shore, from a bridge above, or from a boat. As noted by Mental Floss, Nowacek has turned to Kickstarter to raise money for a pilot phase. The project's goal of $25,000 would fund a proof-of-concept, which is the final phase before launching for real. So far, they've prototyped seven bridge designs in full-scale sections.
Find out more about this plan to walk on water

Architecture And Design

April 22, 2016

First Look at StudiosC’s Boutique Condominium Underway at 187 Bridge Street

Within Downtown Brooklyn's detached island of urbanity between the Manhattan Bridge on-ramp and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, local architecture firm StudiosC has designed a modestly scaled, ground-up condominium at the corner of Bridge and Nassau Streets. Re-approved plans filed by the architect of record Karl Fischer detail an eight-story building with 12,000 square feet of gross floor area.
More details ahead

April 21, 2016

Ansonia Loft With Exposed Wood Beams and Big Brick-Framed Windows Asks $1.9M