Architecture And Design

See NYC’s Flower District transformed with public courtyards, outdoor markets, and more

All renderings courtesy of SeeThree and ODA

June 21, 2021

See NYC’s Flower District transformed with public courtyards, outdoor markets, and more

When the coronavirus pandemic hit New York City last spring, the city launched a successful effort to give pedestrians safe outdoor space through its"Open Streets" program, which closed some streets to cars. Extremely popular with New Yorkers, the initiative, along with its Open Restaurants and Open Culture counterparts, was expanded and made permanent this year. A local architecture firm is looking to capitalize on this reclamation of public city space with a new proposal aimed at reviving the once blossoming Flower District.
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Get an inside look at Roosevelt Island’s first hotel

All photos courtesy of Steve Freihon Photography

June 18, 2021

Get an inside look at Roosevelt Island’s first hotel

By Devin Gannon

Roosevelt Island's first hotel recently opened as part of Cornell University's new tech campus. Graduate Roosevelt Island rises 18 stories, contains 224 rooms, and boasts incredible views of the Manhattan skyline, Queensboro Bridge, and beyond. The hotel aims to offer a "scholastic retreat" for the Cornell community and New York City visitors, with playful touches like a 12-foot statue of artist Hebru Brantley's Flyboy in the lobby and neon light fixtures inspired by a Cornell science project in the guest rooms. There's also a ground-level restaurant and an indoor-outdoor rooftop bar and lounge.
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Downtown Brooklyn’s tallest office tower officially opens

Photos by Joe Thomas

June 16, 2021

Downtown Brooklyn’s tallest office tower officially opens

By Devin Gannon

The tallest office tower in Downtown Brooklyn officially opened its doors this week. Developed by JEMB Realty and designed by FXCollaborative, One Willoughby Square rises 34 stories and contains 500,000 square feet of office space. Abbreviated as 1WSQ, the tower is also the first new Class-A office building built in the area since the rezoning of Downtown Brooklyn in 2004.
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Architecture And Design

$90M project to renovate deteriorating docks at 79th Street Boat Basin moves ahead

Photo by Jim Henderson on Wikimedia

June 15, 2021

$90M project to renovate deteriorating docks at 79th Street Boat Basin moves ahead

By Devin Gannon

The city is moving forward on restoring the Upper West Side's 79th Street Boat Basin as a waterfront resource for the community. In December 2019, the Parks Department unveiled a $90 million proposal to reconstruct docks damaged by previous storms, add additional boating berths to increase capacity, make the area more resilient to climate change, and expand ecological research and education. To make this possible, the entire marina will be dredged to enable vessels to navigate it at all tidal cycles. With support from the local Community Board and many residents, the plan is now moving ahead, with construction expected to commence in 2023.
Get details here

Kate Pierson of the B-52s lists her retro Catskills compound for $2.2M, kitschy furnishings included

Listing photos by David Coppola for Heather Croner Real Estate Sotheby’s International Realty

June 10, 2021

Kate Pierson of the B-52s lists her retro Catskills compound for $2.2M, kitschy furnishings included

By Dana Schulz

B-52s lead singer Kate Pierson and her wife, artist Monica Coleman, bought this 6.5-acre Catskills property in the early 2000s, turning it into a retro "love shack." With a total of 10 guest accommodations, the motel called Kate's Lazy Meadow is just outside Woodstock, New York. It was, coincidentally, built in 1952, and Pierson and Coleman outfitted the cabins with mid-century furnishings, bright colors, and loads of kitschy decor--all of which is included in the $2,200,000 sale.
See it all right here

First-ever flower festival will take over the Meatpacking District this weekend

Photo credit: Breakthrough Media for L.E.A.F and Meatpacking District

June 7, 2021

First-ever flower festival will take over the Meatpacking District this weekend

By Devin Gannon

Over a million flowers will blossom across Manhattan this weekend as part of the city's first-ever festival of flowers. Hosted by L.E.A.F in collaboration with the Meatpacking Business Improvement District and TF Cornerstone, the annual festival kicks off on Saturday, June 12, and features a European-style flower market and a series of design installations from 100 different florists that will be displayed across the neighborhood.
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After $200M overhaul, NYPL’s central circulating library opens in Midtown with public rooftop terrace

Photo © John Bartelstone courtesy of Mecanoo, Beyer Blinder Belle, New York Public Library

June 4, 2021

After $200M overhaul, NYPL’s central circulating library opens in Midtown with public rooftop terrace

By Devin Gannon

The New York Public Library this week opened a new central circulating library in Midtown following a major $200 million renovation project. Located at 455 Fifth Avenue, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL) was built within the shell and steel frame of the existing building formerly known as the Mid-Manhattan Library. Designed by Dutch architecture firm Mecanoo in collaboration with Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners, the new 180,000 square foot library boasts a dramatic light-filled atrium and an incredible rooftop terrace, which is now the only free and publicly accessible rooftop in Midtown.
Details here

Architecture And Design

Public art and cultural events planned for elevated terraces at revamped Grand Hyatt

Arts programming on 175 Park Avenue’s Graybar Terrace. Image credit: James Corner Field Operations. The artwork shown for illustrative purposes is “The Roses” by Will Ryman

June 2, 2021

Public art and cultural events planned for elevated terraces at revamped Grand Hyatt

By Devin Gannon

The developers behind the huge tower that will replace the existing Grand Hyatt New York announced last week plans to open up its elevated terraces to the public for events. The Public Art Fund and Lord Cultural Resources will develop a cultural program that will bring art installations, community events, and other programs to 175 Park Avenue, the 83-story mixed-use building proposed by TF Cornerstone and RXR Realty.
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For $4.75M, this Harlem penthouse has a rooftop jacuzzi and direct Central Park views

Rendering courtesy of Redundant Pixel

June 1, 2021

For $4.75M, this Harlem penthouse has a rooftop jacuzzi and direct Central Park views

By Devin Gannon

All of the units at this new condo building in Harlem face Central Park, but the available penthouse definitely boasts the best views. Located at 145 Central Park North, a full-service condo building developed by Grid Group Development with designs by GLUCK+, Penthouse B features four bedrooms, three baths, and a private rooftop terrace that overlooks the park and has a jacuzzi. The home is currently asking $4,750,000.
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100-year-old English Gothic mansion in Forest Hills asks $3.9M

Listing photos by Rich Caplan

June 1, 2021

100-year-old English Gothic mansion in Forest Hills asks $3.9M

By 6sqft

Designed by architect Robert Tappan in 1925, this mansion in Forest Hills once served as the rectory for St. Luke's Episcopal Church, a national landmark from the same designer. Located at 11 Cranford Street in the exclusive enclave of Forest Hills Gardens, the seven-bedroom English Gothic style home features vaulted ceilings, cast iron windows, and a triple-height chimney crown. It's now on the market for $3,888,000.
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For $1.7M, an Arts & Crafts colonial in the Queens enclave of Douglaston

By Devin Gannon

With a suburban-like feel coupled with waterfront parks and a treasure trove of historic homes, the Queens neighborhood of Douglaston is one of New York City's hidden gems. A lovely freestanding Arts & Crafts style colonial located within the Douglas Manor community is now on the market for $1,700,000. Constructed in 1911, the five-bedroom home at 315 Hollywood Avenue boasts oak details, wood-burning fireplaces, a screened-in porch, and an intimate backyard garden.
Full tour ahead

In Hudson Heights, this rare Castle Village cottage is asking $1.65M

Photo by Empire Optix

May 21, 2021

In Hudson Heights, this rare Castle Village cottage is asking $1.65M

By Dana Schulz

Castle Village is not exactly a castle anymore. It's so named because developer Charles V. Paterno built the five-building co-op complex in 1939 on the site of his former castle-like residence, on the highest bluff above the Hudson River. But there is one remnant of the original estate that remains--four townhouse-like cottages that were once the castle's outbuildings. It's very rare that one of these homes hits the market, but here we have number four asking $1,650,000. The charming home has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a finished basement, and a sunroom and patio that overlook the Hudson River and gardens below.
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In Carroll Gardens, this unique $6M home was originally Brooklyn’s first kindergarten

Photo credit: Andrew Kiracofe for Sotheby’s International Realty

May 20, 2021

In Carroll Gardens, this unique $6M home was originally Brooklyn’s first kindergarten

By Dana Schulz

Two-and-a-half years ago, the former schoolhouse at 236 President Street in Carroll Gardens was designated an official NYC landmark for its Beaux-Arts architecture, connection to local immigrant history, and the fact that it was Brooklyn's first kindergarten. The designation came after the then single-family home was slated for demolition to make way for a condo but neighbors and preservationists rallied to save it. Now, the five-bedroom, nearly 4,000-square-foot home (it's currently configured as a two-family residence) is on the market for $5,995,000.
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Hamilton Heights brownstone from ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ can be booked on Airbnb for $20/night

All photos courtesy of Regina Fleming Photography

May 19, 2021

Hamilton Heights brownstone from ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ can be booked on Airbnb for $20/night

By Devin Gannon

Last week, the Hamilton Heights house made famous in Wes Anderson's The Royal Tenenbaums hit the rental market for $20,000 per month. This week, Airbnb announced the iconic mansion will be available to book this Memorial Day Weekend for just $20 per night. Bookings will open on May 26 at noon for one, two-night stay at the 1899 brownstone beginning May 29.
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Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

May 19, 2021

$6M Beechhurst home is like a waterfront Mediterranean villa in Queens

By Dana Schulz

It's hard to believe this waterfront villa is in New York City, however, it is not in the Mediterranean but rather in Queens. Located in a gated community in Beechhurst, a waterfront neighborhood in the northeastern section of the borough, the seven-bedroom home has a Florida room, wine cellar, 20-foot mahogany foyer, and a 3-4 car garage. Out back, there's a huge covered outdoor kitchen, a large pool with a hot tub, a dock for a 60-foot boat, and amazing views of the Throgs Neck Bridge. It's on the market for $5,950,000.
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Historic Gothic-Revival mansion in Riverdale asks $7M

Listing photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

May 19, 2021

Historic Gothic-Revival mansion in Riverdale asks $7M

By Dana Schulz

Known as the Alderbrook Mansion, this Gothic-Revival home in the Bronx is one of the two oldest villas in the historic Park-Riverdale neighborhood, and it can now be yours for $6,995,000. It was built in 1858 as a summer residence for Percy R. Pyne, president of the National City Bank of New York, and its architecture was inspired by the designs and writings of Andrew Jackson Downing and Calvert Vaux. In the early 20th century, the mansion was home to famed sculptor Elie Nadelman. Designated a NYC landmark in 2010, the home today offers stunning landscaping and three floors of living space including eight bedrooms, six-and-a-half bathrooms, and a home gym.
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New renderings revealed for the 1,646-foot tower that may rise next to Grand Central

175 Park Avenue, looking northeast. Rendering by Ekoomedia, Inc. / Courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

May 18, 2021

New renderings revealed for the 1,646-foot tower that may rise next to Grand Central

By Dana Schulz

In February, we got our first look at the 1,646-foot tower proposed for the Grand Hyatt site next to Grand Central. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the sustainable mixed-use building would rise 83 stories and become the second-tallest tower in NYC behind One World Trade Center. Though 175 Park Avenue takes advantage of the Midtown East Rezoning, developers RXR Realty and TF Cornerstone are still seeking several special zoning permits, including those for hotel use and added height in exchange for transit and infrastructure improvements. To obtain these variances, the project has now entered the city's Uniform Land Use Review Process (ULURP), and with it, has revealed several new renderings.
All the details here

Funky $995K Midtown penthouse was made from a mechanical room and a shipping container

Listing photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 12, 2021

Funky $995K Midtown penthouse was made from a mechanical room and a shipping container

By Dana Schulz

The vision of award-winning design studio LOT-EK, this Midtown West penthouse is truly unique. The main living area was transformed from the building's former mechanical room, and it's topped off by a bedroom suite created from a 20-foot shipping container. The whole industrial-style interior features concrete walls and exposed steel pipes and beams, and it's all surrounded by a lush wrap-around terrace overlooking the Empire State Building. Located at 31 West 31st Street, it's on the market for the first time since it was built in 1996, and it's asking $995,000.
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A self-filtering floating pool is officially coming to the East River

+ POOL, designed by Family New York & PLAYLAB, INC. Rendering by Luxigon

May 11, 2021

A self-filtering floating pool is officially coming to the East River

By Devin Gannon

A plan to build a swimming pool on the East River is finally moving forward after being in the works for over a decade. In an Instagram post published on Saturday, the nonprofit +POOL announced the group had received confirmation from the city to proceed with due diligence on their project: a floating, self-filtering pool on the south side of Pier 35 on the Lower East Side.
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Macy’s unveils $235M plan for public space and subway accessibility with new Herald Square tower

Renderings by FXCollaborative

May 11, 2021

Macy’s unveils $235M plan for public space and subway accessibility with new Herald Square tower

By Dana Schulz

It's been two years since Macy's first floated the idea of building a 700-950 foot office tower atop its Herald Square flagship, and it looks like the plan is getting closer to reality thanks to a $235 million private investment in transit accessibility and public infrastructure. This includes upgraded subway access, improved transit connections, ADA-accessible elevators, and a modernized car-free Herald Square and Broadway Plaza.
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Architecture And Design

May 7, 2021

For just $865K, you can live in this beautiful converted church in Connecticut

By Dana Schulz

In Weston, Connecticut, about an hour-and-a-half drive from NYC, you can buy this amazingly converted church for $865,000, the price of a very tiny one-bedroom apartment in Manhattan. Built in 1890, the former Swedish church has been transformed into a quirky yet beautiful single-family home, complete with stained-glass windows, cathedral ceilings, and wooden ceilings beams. At 2,382 square feet, it has three bedrooms, plus a lovely rear patio.
See it all here

Brooklyn Public Library reveals Central Library redesign by Toshiko Mori

All photos by Gregg Richards

May 7, 2021

Brooklyn Public Library reveals Central Library redesign by Toshiko Mori

By Dana Schulz

This week, the Brooklyn Public Library revealed the first phase of a major remodel of its Central Library on Grand Army Plaza. Designed by renowned architect Toshiko Mori, the undertaking was the single largest renovation and restoration in the Central Library’s 80-year history. The modern, light-filled rooms now provide more accessible space for the public, which includes civic commons for community engagement (providing city and passport services), a "new and noteworthy" book gallery, and an enlarged and modernized business and career center.
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Architecture And Design

$348M restoration of Riverside Park is part of largest investment in 90 years

Photo of Riverside Park by Momos on Wikimedia

May 6, 2021

$348M restoration of Riverside Park is part of largest investment in 90 years

By Devin Gannon

The city announced this week plans to provide $348 million in funding for the rehabilitation of major infrastructure in Riverside Park, marking one of the largest investments at the waterfront park since the 1930s. The project restores the "overbuild," a series of bridge structures built over the Amtrak tunnels between West 72nd and West 123rd Streets. The deteriorated structure has damaged pathways and affected the park's usability, according to the city.
More here

Architecture And Design

18th-century Sag Harbor home with shiplap ceilings and custom ironwork asks $3.25M

Listing photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

May 6, 2021

18th-century Sag Harbor home with shiplap ceilings and custom ironwork asks $3.25M

By Dana Schulz

In Sag Harbor Village, this $3,250,000 house shares all the history of its neighborhood. It was built in 1792 but updated with a modern take on its 18th-century origins. Throughout you'll find handcrafted millwork and ironwork, wide-plank oak floors, and shiplap ceiling with exposed wood beams. And it's just steps to both Sag Harbor Cove and all the shops and restaurants along Main Street.
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See restoration plans for the historic Orchard Beach Pavilion in the Bronx

View of the Upper and Lower Promenades, Cafeteria, and South Loggia, Looking South (1936); Images courtesy of Marvel/ NYC Parks/ NYCEDC

May 5, 2021

See restoration plans for the historic Orchard Beach Pavilion in the Bronx

By Devin Gannon

The landmarked bathhouse and pavilion at Orchard Beach in the Bronx will be restored to its original 1930s design and become more accessible to the public. The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday voted to approve plans from architecture firm Marvel, the Parks Department, and the city's Economic Development Corporation to reconstruct the deteriorating architectural gem. The project includes reinstalling and restoring limestone cladding, repairing the upper-level loggias, adding an ADA accessible ramp, and building an enclosed restaurant or event space.
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Architecture And Design

See NYC’s Flower District transformed with public courtyards, outdoor markets, and more

Get an inside look at Roosevelt Island’s first hotel

Downtown Brooklyn’s tallest office tower officially opens

$90M project to renovate deteriorating docks at 79th Street Boat Basin moves ahead

Kate Pierson of the B-52s lists her retro Catskills compound for $2.2M, kitschy furnishings included

First-ever flower festival will take over the Meatpacking District this weekend

After $200M overhaul, NYPL’s central circulating library opens in Midtown with public rooftop terrace

Public art and cultural events planned for elevated terraces at revamped Grand Hyatt

For $4.75M, this Harlem penthouse has a rooftop jacuzzi and direct Central Park views

100-year-old English Gothic mansion in Forest Hills asks $3.9M

For $1.7M, an Arts & Crafts colonial in the Queens enclave of Douglaston

In Hudson Heights, this rare Castle Village cottage is asking $1.65M

In Carroll Gardens, this unique $6M home was originally Brooklyn’s first kindergarten

Hamilton Heights brownstone from ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’ can be booked on Airbnb for $20/night

$6M Beechhurst home is like a waterfront Mediterranean villa in Queens

This $4M Strivers' Row home is a link to Harlem history with five floors of townhouse living and a private garage

Historic Gothic-Revival mansion in Riverdale asks $7M

New renderings revealed for the 1,646-foot tower that may rise next to Grand Central

Funky $995K Midtown penthouse was made from a mechanical room and a shipping container

A self-filtering floating pool is officially coming to the East River

Macy’s unveils $235M plan for public space and subway accessibility with new Herald Square tower

For just $865K, you can live in this beautiful converted church in Connecticut

Brooklyn Public Library reveals Central Library redesign by Toshiko Mori

$348M restoration of Riverside Park is part of largest investment in 90 years

18th-century Sag Harbor home with shiplap ceilings and custom ironwork asks $3.25M

See restoration plans for the historic Orchard Beach Pavilion in the Bronx

482 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg

Architecture And Design

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