Real Estate Trends

May 14, 2014

Plans to Convert the Jehovah Witness Watchtower Complex Into a High Tech Incubator Revealed!

Leeser Architects, designer of the Museum of the Moving Image expansion in Astoria, seems to be single-handedly upping the architecture ante in the outer-boroughs. Fresh off the heels of demolition commencing on the site of their multi-faceted 30-story Marriott Autograph Collection tower in the BAM Cultural District, Leeser may also be busy in the conversion of DUMBO's five-building Jehovah Witness Watchtower complex into a high tech incubator and residential tower.
See the renderings we've uncovered after the jump

May 14, 2014

Carnegie Hill Residents Sell Their Gorgeous Penthouse Apartment for $7.25 Million

By Aisha Carter

Why anyone would want to leave this gorgeous Carnegie Hill penthouse at 1150 5th Avenue will remain a mystery for the ages. For some reason, the penthouse's former owners, Karim Rashid and Tracy Buescher, have decided to sell their beautiful 5th Avenue pad. However, someone just hit the jackpot when they scooped up the 3BR/3.5BA beauty, built in 1924 by J.E.R. Carpenter - the unsung hero of 5th Avenue. The co-op was designed by architect Charles Platt, the award winning designer responsible for Washington D.C’s Freer Gallery of Art.
Take a look inside this gorgeous penthouse here

May 13, 2014

Decorative Brooklyn Heights Brownstone Closes for $7 Million

By Dana Schulz

A beautiful, Italianate brownstone at 37 Remsen Street in the Brooklyn Heights Historic District sold for $7 million through a listing held by Brown Harris Stevens. It was originally listed for $6.2 million when it went on the market in January. The buyer is Jeremiah T. Healey, former Jersey City Mayor from 2004-2013, and his wife Megan McKee Healey, a tax law professor at NYU. Built in 1899, the 25-foot-wide, 7,000-square-foot home retains a wealth of historic details including fanlight windows, cast iron vent covers, etched pocket doors, and wood-paneled chair rails. The decorative elements such as ceiling medallions, painted borders, and fancy ceiling moldings were likely to the taste of the previous owner, but they certainly add a bit of whimsy to the classical home.
More photos of the five-story regal brownstone this way

Real Estate Trends

May 12, 2014

Something to Sing About: Metropolitan Opera President Sells His Tribeca Loft for $2.8 Million

By Aisha Carter

Kevin W. Kennedy, The Metropolitan Opera president (and former managing director of Goldman Sachs) and his pediatrician wife Karen have sold their stunning Tribeca loft for $2.8 million. The pair's former residence is 1,641-square-feet, and features 4 rooms, including 1 bedroom and 2 bathrooms. Large windows with wrought-iron Juliet balconies are this building’s signature, illuminating the welcoming space with its wood floors and original exposed brick walls. The deal was closed by Melinda Nix of Sotheby's. 27 Leonard Street, situated between Broadway and Hudson Street, was originally built in 1876 for William B. Lawrence, a New York Stock Exchange board member. In 2003 it was converted to luxury condominiums with a commitment to balancing privacy and entertainment.
Take a look inside the Tribeca loft here

May 12, 2014

A Jean Nouvel Chelsea Stunner Sells for $3.8 Million

By Dana Schulz

When Jean Nouvel won the esteemed Pritzker Prize in 2008, the judges cited his "insatiable urge for creative experimentation." His design of residential building 100 Eleventh Avenue is no exception to the boundary-pushing modern architecture for which he is celebrated. Completed in 2010, the shimmering masterpiece has the most technologically advanced and highly engineered curtain wall systems in the city. Mr. Nouvel describes it as a "vision machine," and considering its nearly 1,700 panes of glass — some up to 37-feet wide — each a different size and set a different angle, he is justified in doing so. The 21-story LEED-certified condo building, has 72 units each with south- and west-facing views, floor-to-ceiling window walls, and mechanized shade systems. Every apartment has a unique arrangement of powder-coated steel window mullions, which form specific views related to the space's location. Unit 5D, which recently sold for $3.8 million through a listing held by Douglas Elliman, looks west onto the High Line and has a spacious, elegant layout.
See the stunning interior this way

May 9, 2014

Lena Dunham’s Parents Sell Their Tribeca Loft for $6.25 Million

By Aisha Carter

Carroll Dunham and Laurie Simmons, the parents of prodigious millennial Lena Dunham, have sold their Tribeca loft at 16 Desbrosses St, #4S for $6.25 million. The 3,600-square-foot location for the award winning film, Tiny Furniture, was once a textile warehouse. In recent years, the bright, airy space, perfectly suited for artistic inspiration, was re-designed by architect David Bers who was also responsible for designing the couple’s other residence in Cornwall, CT. They also collaborated with interior designer Nick Dine, son of pop artist Jim Dine, and the result was an open, spacious live/work design prepared to accommodate any sudden bursts of inspiration.
See more photos of the Tribeca loft here

May 9, 2014

Rockefeller University Takes Next Step Towards New Research and Conference Space Above FDR Drive

By Stephanie Hoina

The City Council’s Committee on Land Use gave approval to Rockefeller University’s plan to construct two new buildings over the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive on Manhattan’s east side. In exchange, the school, which controls air rights over the 4-block stretch starting at East 64th, has agreed to invest $8 million to develop and maintain a portion of the East River Esplanade.
More on the development here

May 9, 2014

Kelly Ripa Finds a Buyer for Her Renovated Soho Penthouse

By Aisha Carter

Remember the story of the ugly duckling and how she grew up to be a beautiful swan? Well, imagine that happening and still having to sit on the market for over a year. That’s what happened to Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos’s masterfully renovated Soho loft at 76 Crosby Street. Before we get into why this breathtaking hideaway sat on the market for so long, let’s take a moment to admire this 5BR/4.5BA beauty. As if 6,792 square feet of dark-stained white oak floors and 12-foot ceilings flooded with light isn’t enough, this place also features 2 media rooms, 2 home offices, and a playroom. So there’s plenty of room for work and play for the entire family.
Lose your breath with more stunning photos of the gorgeous apartment here

May 9, 2014

Uber Chic Apartment in W Downtown Sells for $2 Million

By Dana Schulz

Have you ever walked into a house and thought to yourself, "How do they keep it so clean?!" This is one of those houses. From the pure-white Italian lacquer cabinetry to the dark ebony wood floors, unit 52D at the W Downtown Hotel & Residence exudes impeccable sleekness. According to property records, the unit, which has never before been lived in, recently sold for $2 million. The sophisticated black-and-white interior design is contemporary, yet inviting. All furnished condos were designed by Louise Sunshine's Sunshine Group, whose motto is "all square feet are not created equal." Here this rings true, as each piece in the home is thoughtfully placed — the oversized steel lamp compliments the low marble coffee table in the living room, and plush, neutral fabrics warm up the bedroom.
design details this way

May 8, 2014

Matthew Blesso’s Green Noho Penthouse Sells for $7.35 Million

By Aisha Carter

It may not be easy being green but it sure is pretty. The new owner of Matthew Blesso’s famously renovated Noho Penthouse at 684 Broadway would likely agree. Blesso purchased the penthouse apartment back in 2006 from architect Hugh Hardy, then he proceeded to gut renovate the entire thing with the help of Joel Sanders Architect. Ow. Blesso’s vision was to create a pad sustainable enough to draw Thoreau himself to the concrete jungle. The apartment, listed by the Corcoran Group, is definitely in tune with mother nature with FSC-certified wood throughout, including its hardwood floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows keep it connected to the outside world, and just looking at the place makes you want to do a sun salutation. Well, if tables made from fallen trees and an original mural by artist Doze Green isn’t enough to convince you of the commitment of this apartment to green living, the roof deck definitely will.
Check out more photos of this urban oasis here

Socialite Valerie Mnuchin Buys a Slice of Heaven on Park Ave

By Aisha Carter

Valerie Mnuchin, daughter of former Goldman Sachs exec and current art dealer Robert Mnuchin, has just become the proud owner of a gorgeous 4BR/5.5BA penthouse on the UES. This three story apartment, redesigned in 1953 as a collaboration between original developer Henry Mandel and architects John Sloan and Albert Nast, has retained much of its pre-war charm with an original wood paneled library and a tromp l’oeil ceiling. The opulent triplex, occupying the 15th-17th floors of 898 Park Avenue, features views of the city right from it’s brightly lit formal dining room. The views don’t stop there either. The entire apartment is outfitted with large windows, most notably the ones that line the walls of the 16th floor, showcasing a wraparound terrace large enough for plush lounging furniture and plenty of foliage. And while we’re on the topic of the plentiful, let’s discuss the insane amount of storage space in this 4,100 square-foot mansion disguised as an apartment. Each of the apartment’s four bedrooms comes with an abundance of closet space and an en-suite bathroom.
Check out more of this dream home here

Real Estate Trends

May 8, 2014

NoMad Penthouse with Panoramic Views Sells for $8 Million

By Dana Schulz

Two blocks north of Madison Square Park in Manhattan's increasingly trendy NoMad (north of Madison Square, if you're not up on your neighborhood acronyms) neighborhood is 241 Fifth Avenue, a 20-story boutique residential glass tower. Part of the Madison Avenue North Historic District, the building was designed by Perkins Eastman Architects and received landmarks approval in 2007. It was completed in 2013, and according to public records, its penthouse unit just sold for $8 million. Core originally held the listing at $9.75 million.
Check out the views

Real Estate Trends

Simpsons

May 7, 2014

‘Simpsons’ Star Hank Azaria Buys New Pad With Stunning Views

By Aisha Carter

star Hank Azaria just bought a piece of Gold Coast property overlooking Central Park. After selling his Soho apartment last year, Azaria has found a new love, in the form of a $9.2 million apartment in a pre-war, Neo-Renaissance building designed by architect Rosario Candela at 75 Central Park West. If it’s at all possible to have Central Park over for lunch, this 3BD/4.5 BA apartment makes it practically customary with oversized windows that make views of the picturesque landmark accessible from the kitchen - along with several other rooms. The stunning space also features large rooms with hardwood floors, beamed ceilings and gorgeous decorative moldings.
Take a peek inside the Gold Coast beauty here

Real Estate Trends

May 7, 2014

Elegant Park Slope Townhouse Sells for $2.3 Million

By Dana Schulz

The polished, Italianate rowhouse at 354 10th Street in Park Slope sold for $2.3 million, according to city records filed yesterday evening. The listing was held by Corcoran Group. Built in 1899, the two-family home has a modest façade with carved window lintels and an intact cornice. One in a row of three similar houses, it's basement level is brownstone and the upper two stories are brick. Inside, the refined details continue with decorative picture moldings and original tin ceilings.
rowhouse eye candy this way

Real Estate Trends

May 7, 2014

Artist’s Dream Space on Water Street Sells for $1.8 Million

By Aisha Carter

If breathtaking views are the best muse then someone just landed the perfect pad. Noted photojournalist James Nachtwey has just sold his beautiful loft at 265 Water Street for $1.8 million dollars. Now the new owner can sit at her breakfast table and gaze placidly at the Brooklyn Bridge. Sounds like heaven, right? The 1,650 square-foot loft, resting atop a historic 19th century landmark building, is situated on one of New York’s charming cobblestone streets in the Financial District. This full floor penthouse suite is the perfect artist’s hideaway, with Artisan woodwork throughout, a wood beamed ceiling and a private studio — or second bedroom if she prefers.
Take a glimpse into this charming penthouse loft here

May 6, 2014

Ultra Hip Tribeca Loft at 137 Duane Street Sells for $2 Million

By Dana Schulz

According to public records, unit 2D at 137 Duane Street in Tribeca was recently sold by photographer Sebastiano Tomada for $1,995,000 via Douglas Elliman. Located in the Tribeca South Historic District, the spacious apartment has a long, narrow floor plan, perfect for open-layout lovers or someone looking for a live/work space. 14-foot ceilings, natural oak floors, and entryways on both Duane and Thomas Streets are just a few of the other selling points. Is it worth its price tag? Find out more about the space ahead, and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
photos and design details this way

Real Estate Trends

May 6, 2014

UES Penthouse with East River Views in Every Room Sells for $14.9 Million to Former Presidential Hopeful

By Diane Pham

Who knew bloggers could afford $14.9 million apartments? David Alan Stockman, of David Stockman's Contra Corner (and other things discussed after the break), and his wife Jennifer, an art collector and the current president of the Guggenheim Foundation’s board of trustees, have just purchased a 5BR/6.5BA penthouse at 170 East End Avenue through brokers Andrea Wohl Lucas and Bruce Lucas of Corcoran. Though the building itself isn't much to look at, this 4,902-square-foot penthouse makes up for its stark, stacked exterior with a well-thought-out floor plan designed to make the most of the location's natural light and sweeping views of the East River, neighboring Carl Schurz Park, and the cityscape.
Have a look inside

May 6, 2014

Gorgeous Pre-War Upper East Side Apartment Sold

By Aisha Carter

Apartment 7C, a palatial apartment at 911 Park Avenue has been sold. Marsh CEO Peter Zaffino purchased the astounding pre-war pad for $6.75 million. This Upper East Side beauty, represented by brokers Debra LaChance and Denise LaChance, has 10 rooms, with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and marble floors and hardwoods throughout. The high-rise also features a private landing, a library and a great room with a wood-burning fireplace for those cozy nights by the fire. It also contains an enviably large eat-in kitchen and the increasingly elusive formal dining room. The library features wall-to-wall built-ins and the entire apartment boasts coffered ceilings.
Take a look inside this astonishing apartment here

Real Estate Trends

May 6, 2014

Unique East Village Apartment with Retractable Facade Sells for $2.4 Million

By Aisha Carter

Oh, architects and their creativity. One such inventive architect Bill Peterson had a flash of “ahead of our time” genius when he decided to convert the front wall of his East Village apartment into a garage-style retractable facade after purchasing the pad in 2008. We suppose some people actually have too much privacy in New York City and would prefer to connect with the outside world (and terrify people with acrophobia simultaneously?).
Check out the inside of this unique beauty here

May 5, 2014

Reed Krakoff Pays $28 Million for an Opulent UES Townhome

By Aisha Carter

It’s a great market for townhomes. 54 East 64th Street has been sold to designer Reed Krakoff and his wife Delphine for $28 million. This news is especially remarkable considering the townhouse’s history. Formerly a Kips Bay Decorator Show House and a one-time home of the New York Observer, this Upper East Side gem was transformed into a luxurious home when it was purchased by real estate investor David Quinlan for $18.74 million back in 2005. After failing to turn the hefty profit he was hoping for, Quinlan sold the townhouse for $20 million in 2011. Last year it was placed back on the market for $20 million; however, broker Dolly Lenz changed that, upping the asking price to $28 million. They don’t call her a superbroker for nothing.
Check out more photos of the townhouse here

Real Estate Trends

May 2, 2014

Director Ken Burns Scoops Up a Condo in Richard Meier’s Prospect Heights Tower

By Annie Doge

It looks like documentary filmmaker Ken Burns is moving his family into Pritzker Prize winning architect Richard Meier’s On Prospect Park. The Burns family dropped $2.75 million on the home, which is located in one of Brooklyn's most beautiful (and active) corners — just steps away from Prospect Park, the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens, and the incredible Brooklyn Museum and Public Library. It's reported that the Mamma and Papa Burns spend most their time in New Hampshire, so it's likely that the 2,107-square-foot, 3BR/2.5BA modern abode will become the love nest of his daughter Lily (who was also listed on city records) and her fiance Tony Hernandez, both of whom are producers.
A look inside the on prospect park apartment here

May 2, 2014

Al Franken Sells His UWS Co-op for Just Over $4 Million

By Jon Dioffa

US senator Alan Stuart "Al" Franken, and his wife Franni, have just sold their 2,600-square-foot co-op at 90 Riverside Drive for $4.05 million. According to the listing held by Warburg Realty, the home features four bedrooms, hardwood floors, three dishwashers, and sunny southern exposures in a turn-of-the-century landmarked town home. From pictures, it looks quite quaint and charming, despite its multi-million dollar locale. City records show that the politico and former SNL star handed the keys to his UWS digs over to James Stone, a managing director at New Mountain Finance, and Lisa Kiell, international director at Jones Lang La Salle.
Peek inside the former Franken pad here

Real Estate Trends

May 2, 2014

Fashion Designer Derek Lam’s Soho Loft Sells for $5.25 Million

By Aisha Carter

After a long stint on the market, designer Derek Lam and his partner Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann are officially parting ways with their Soho loft. The pair put the two-story, 2,117 square-foot space on the market for $6 million last year, and they came in just a little short of their ask. The loft comes complete with a second story devoted entirely to the master suite, huge windows, and translucent panels that allow the home's inhabitants to reconfigure the kitchen and living room spaces as need be. They purchased the 3 BR/3 BA Mercer Greene apartment back in 2011 for $4.65 million. Another fun fact: Rihanna also once lived in the building.
Take a look inside the loft here

April 30, 2014

Modern Dance Legend Joan Miller’s Soho Loft Studio Sells for $1.5 Million

By Diane Pham

The late modern dance choreographer Joan Miller's Soho loft was just purchased for $1.5 million by film director Chiara Clemente and her partner Tyler John Thompson. The spacious, sun-filled loft is situated in a boutique, prewar, six-story co-op at the corner of Crosby and Grand Streets. The hip locale perfectly suits Clemente and Thompson's M.O. — the duo have been featured in all the coolest mags and sites, from Purple to W magazine to Opening Ceremony. Clemente has even worked with legendary photographer Bruce Weber.
Take a peek inside this stunning studio

Real Estate Trends

April 30, 2014

White Glove Park Avenue Co-op Sells for $6.5 Million

By Jon Dioffa

Vestar Capital founder and co-president Robert Rosner and his interior designer wife have snapped up a 14th floor condo at 1095 Park Avenue. The couple was previously in the former Stanhope Hotel, a 1926 Rosario Candela jewel box at 995 Fifth Avenue opposite the Metropolitan Museum of Art, that was converted into luxury condos. Their new abode features the same modern, streamlined aesthetic of their previous space — a style which Mrs. Rosner has once described as “a chic and sleek downtown sensibility in an iconic uptown setting.” Do you agree?
Get a closer look inside here

Real Estate Trends

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