Financial District

<b>Accounting for the Strange Faces That Adorn the Woolworth Building (And Other Fun Facts)</b>
October 23, 2014

Accounting for the Strange Faces That Adorn the Woolworth Building (And Other Fun Facts)

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The 101-year old Woolworth Building has been in the news quite a bit lately, especially since it was first announced that the top 30 floors would be turned into 34 apartments; one of which is a nine-story penthouse is expected to hit the market for a record $110 million. But the Woolworth has long been at the center of New York life with its storied past and lofty 792-foot height. It cost $13.5 million to erect the tower in 1913, and the building was the world's tallest when it first debuted. Though a number—50 to be exact—have surpassed it in height, the Woolworth Building has remained one of the world's most admired for its detailed and compelling ornamentation. Like other prestigious companies of its time, Frank W. Woolworth wanted something unforgettable and the building's architect, Cass Gilbert, certainly delivered. The tower is filled to the brim with mosaics, stained-glass, golden embellishments and of course tons of those carved faces and figures.
See the faces of the Woolworth building
REVEALED: Renderings for Santiago Calatrava’s Ground Zero Church
October 16, 2014

REVEALED: Renderings for Santiago Calatrava’s Ground Zero Church

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Ahead of the groundbreaking this weekend, a new video and renderings have been revealed for Santiago Calatrava's church near Ground Zero, which will overlook the 9/11 Memorial. The new St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will be constructed of white Vermont marble, inspired by a mosaic of the Madonna and Child Enthroned at the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul.
More on the design here
New Woolworth Building Listing Reveals Additional Residential Details

Rendering of unit 31A terrace

October 16, 2014

New Woolworth Building Listing Reveals Additional Residential Details

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First came the floorplans for the $110 million penthouse, then the first set of interior renderings, and now we have a new sneak peak inside the highly anticipated Woolworth Tower Residences. The Post has profiled unit 31A, a four-bedroom, full-floor unit on the market for $26.4 million. And along with a written description--"a kitchen with all the modern conveniences, a massive formal dining room, hidden bars, a library and...two terraces to enjoy the view from 31 stories up"-- come two new renderings, those of the terrace and the kitchen.
More details ahead
REVEALED: Beekman Hotel and Condo Interiors
September 24, 2014

REVEALED: Beekman Hotel and Condo Interiors

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Last month, pricing and exterior renderings were released for the much-anticipated Beekman Hotel and Condo conversion project. The long-shuttered historic structure (originally known as the Temple Court Building) will be topped off with a 51-story condominium tower adjacent to the 1883-built landmark and its famous atrium. It will contain 68 residential units designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen. The building's lower levels will house 287 hotel rooms. Now, Curbed has received the first reveal of the interior renderings, and they do not disappoint. From the modern apartments with Woolworth Building views to the luxe amenity areas, the rooms at 5 Beekman Street exude luxury and prestige. One of the most impressive interior shots is of the atrium, which extends through all nine stories of the original Terra Cotta structure and is topped off by a large, pyramidal skylight. It will be a lounge by Tom Colicchio known as the Living Room, the centerpiece of the hotel and a fine dining spot for residents and guests alike.
Tour the rest of the conversion, from the atrium to the roof terrace
Frank Gehry’s Decade-Old Design for the WTC Performing Arts Center Gets Dumped by Officials
September 4, 2014

Frank Gehry’s Decade-Old Design for the WTC Performing Arts Center Gets Dumped by Officials

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Frank Gehry continues to fall out of favor with New Yorkers as execs of the Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center have officially shelved the starchitect's design planned for Ground Zero. Gehry drew up plans for the art center over a decade ago and very few moves were made to bring the project to fruition—in part due to stalled fund-raising and delays to the construction of the transit hub which sits under site. The snub, which actually wasn't communicated to the architect directly, seems to not have affected him much, but he had some choice words directed towards the board's president, Maggie Boepple.
More on the drama here
Prodigy Network Closes on $85 Million FiDi Site for Their ‘Cotel’ Crowdfunded Hotel
September 3, 2014

Prodigy Network Closes on $85 Million FiDi Site for Their ‘Cotel’ Crowdfunded Hotel

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Back in June, we took a look at the winning designs for Prodigy Network's 17John 'Cotel' (collaborative + hotel = cotel), the city's first crowdsourced hotel and the world's first collaborative hotel. Now, the real estate crowdfunding startup has closed on the 15-story rental building at 17 John Street for $85.3 million, $25 million of which came from crowdfunded equity. Additional financing came from Deutsche Bank and another institutional investor. The property will be transformed into a 23-story, 191-unit extended-stay hotel, designed for the next generation of business traveler.
More on the first-of-its-kind project in NYC
REVEALED: 125 Greenwich Street Will Rival One WTC and Become Downtown’s Tallest Residential Tower
September 2, 2014

REVEALED: 125 Greenwich Street Will Rival One WTC and Become Downtown’s Tallest Residential Tower

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The latest in the world of New York City supertalls comes to us from New York YIMBY, who has revealed renderings for the Rafael Viñoly-designed 125 Greenwich Street. At 1,356 feet, it will become Downtown's tallest residential tower, the first to rival the 57th Street skyscrapers like Extell's planned Nordstrom Tower, which will rise 1,479 feet. It will also be just 12 feet shy of One World Trade Center's roof, making it the second tallest skyscraper in the Financial District.
More details and renderings here
What It Takes to Maintain the Fraunces Tavern Museum

Image credit: MAAP

August 29, 2014

What It Takes to Maintain the Fraunces Tavern Museum

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The Fraunces Tavern Museum at 54 Pearl Street in FiDi has a long history of use, changing hands and purpose countless times since it was constructed back in the 18th century. What started as a simple rental home was later turned into a dance studio, eventually finding itself as a popular tavern-slash-boarding-home-slash-community center throughout and after the Revolutionary War. The […]

Floor Plans of the Woolworth’s $110M ‘Pinnacle’ Penthouse Revealed
August 21, 2014

Floor Plans of the Woolworth’s $110M ‘Pinnacle’ Penthouse Revealed

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It looks like Alchemy Properties' plan to price the penthouse at the Woolworth building for $110 million has been approved by the New York Attorney General’s office, making it one of the most expensive listings to ever hit the downtown market at $11,700 per square foot. According to The Real Deal, who got a first look at the floor plans, the unit will be called the "Pinnacle" and host 9,400 square feet with about 500 square feet of outdoor space.
More plans and pricing this way
Prices and More Images of the Landmark Beekman Hotel and Condo Conversion Revealed
August 4, 2014

Prices and More Images of the Landmark Beekman Hotel and Condo Conversion Revealed

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It was announced back in May that the Beekman Hotel would finally being seeing its rebirth as a brand new condo and hotel. Now, not only has pricing for the 68-unit tower been revealed, but we're seeing a few new images of what's in store for the historic structure that has been shuttered for the last 20 years. As seen in the new renderings, the landmark building will be topped off with a conjoining 51-story condominium tower, creating a 68 residential units designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen. Though fully integrated, residents of the Beekman will have their own private entrance and lobby, located on Nassau Street, and the lower levels of the building will host 287 hotel rooms with a separate access point provided on Beekman Street. All occupants will have access to the hotel's amenities.
Find out more here
Sharif El-Gamal Commissions Jean Nouvel to Design Islam Museum Next to WTC
July 31, 2014

Sharif El-Gamal Commissions Jean Nouvel to Design Islam Museum Next to WTC

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Sharif El-Gamal, CEO of real estate developer Soho Properties, announced today that his company acquired 49-51 Park Place from Consolidated Edison for $10.7 million. He also confirmed that none other than Pritzker Prize-winning starchitect Jean Nouvel will be designing the site's three-story Islam museum and prayer space.
More on the breaking development
A 19th Century Candy Store and WWI Fighter Plane Liven Up a Financial District Office Building
July 30, 2014

A 19th Century Candy Store and WWI Fighter Plane Liven Up a Financial District Office Building

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Take a step back in time at 77 Water Street, a 26-story office tower designed by Emery Roth & Sons and built by the William Kaufman Organization. The Financial District building features a WWI fighter plane on its roof and a turn-of-the-century penny candy store in its lobby. Thinking that this tower looks too modern for these curiosities? You're right; it was erected in 1970. The William Kaufman Organization wanted to humanize the building and make workers forget they were in an office tower, and to accomplish this they had historic replicas of the plane and candy shop installed. They also added a variety of public art projects throughout the plaza and lobby.
More fun facts about 77 Water Street right this way
Beautiful Tribeca Penthouse Also Hosts a Picture Perfect Rooftop Escape
July 24, 2014

Beautiful Tribeca Penthouse Also Hosts a Picture Perfect Rooftop Escape

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Wooden floors, exposed brick, high ceilings AND a private outdoor space. Hooked yet? After seeing the photos of Penthouse 5 at 150 Chambers Street you'll want to move right in. This impeccable floor-through penthouse is $1,714 per square foot -- extraordinary for its Tribeca neighborhood. Check out the photos of your soon-to-be new home.
Check out why we can already see ourselves living here
Explore Some of NYC’s Most Beautiful Buildings That Used to be Banks
July 22, 2014

Explore Some of NYC’s Most Beautiful Buildings That Used to be Banks

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Banking made this town, and the bank buildings of the 19th and early 20th centuries continue to house some of New York's most classic architecture and design. Greek, Roman, and even Byzantine Revival architectures were the style of choice for bank buildings, and those great stone pillars are still worth visiting today. Ahead are some of the most beautiful former bank buildings in New York City.
See these beautiful bank buildings here
The New York Architecture Day Trip: From Colonial to Deconstructivism in Manhattan
July 20, 2014

The New York Architecture Day Trip: From Colonial to Deconstructivism in Manhattan

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New York has a long history of great architecture. From the very beginnings in the colonial period to today, there are more great buildings to see in New York than anywhere else on the planet. Thankfully, with this guide, you can see them all in one simple south-north trip across Manhattan. Many great buildings are too tall or difficult to see up close, so we've chosen an example of each style of New York architecture that can also be appreciated from the ground level, rather than forcing you to gawk straight up at a skyscraper. Check out our New York architecture day trip.
Get your itinerary here
Checking in on the Progress at One World Trade Center in Photos
July 14, 2014

Checking in on the Progress at One World Trade Center in Photos

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As many of you architecture buffs know, One WTC now rises a symbolic 1,776 feet, making it the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and the third tallest in the entire world. Designed by renowned architect David Childs of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, it also has a LEED Gold certification and is the most environmentally sustainable project of its size. After a temporary real estate slump, the 104-story, glass and steel building is now 56% leased, with big-time tenants like Conde Naste, Morgan Stanley, Legends Hospitality, and BMB Group. Eight years after construction began, One World Trade is at an exciting juncture with its tenants expected to move in by the end of the year, already beginning to build out their office spaces. The original crew of 10,000 has been reduced to 600, and we're checking in on what these remaining workers are up to.
Check out some amazing photos of the progress at One WTC
Stunning $13 Million Birkenstock Penthouse Takes You Around the World in 3,500sqft
June 23, 2014

Stunning $13 Million Birkenstock Penthouse Takes You Around the World in 3,500sqft

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Alex Birkenstock, heir to the shoe brand worn in colleges across the U.S., is selling his Setai Wall Street penthouse and he’s asking $12.995 million. If you’re into movies like Back to the Future or the episodes of Family Guy where Stewie and Brian hop in the time machine, you’ll get a kick out of this amazing apartment. With the help of Steve Harivel, one of the designers behind the famous Soho House hotel, this 3,500-square-foot pad seamlessly blends modern technology and vintage charm… and the best part is the furniture is included. If you’re already screaming like you got called to the front in The Price is Right, just wait until you see what this place has in store.
Oh, but there's more... a lot more. Just click here.
5 Prohibition-Style Speakeasies to Transport You Back to the Gilded Age
June 19, 2014

5 Prohibition-Style Speakeasies to Transport You Back to the Gilded Age

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Speakeasies and retro bars have been the new trend in New York for so long that this style may not be a trend at all. These "speakeasy bars" hearken back to a time somewhere between the Gilded Age and Prohibition, giving their interior designers a chance to play around with this fantastic historical style. The five speakeasies and retro bars below show a true design sense that transports us to the time of outlawed alcohol and tiny flapper dresses.
See our speakeasy gallery here
Prodigy Network Announces Winning Designs for 17John “Cotel” – NYC’s First Crowdsourced Hotel
June 16, 2014

Prodigy Network Announces Winning Designs for 17John “Cotel” – NYC’s First Crowdsourced Hotel

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Remember that competition held in February to crowdsource the design of a hotel to be located in downtown Manhattan? Looks like the results are in and Prodigy Network just announced the winners of the competition for the 17John ‘Cotel’ (collaborative + hotel = cotel). The winning designs cover both the public interior spaces and the private rooms of 17John, and as the competition brief outlined, all the rooms are specifically tailored to the modern business traveler. Rooms range from long-term living spaces to more standard short-stay hotel rooms. The hotel will also be equipped with flexible spaces for work and meetings, and digital services that "provide comfort, community, and connectivity for its guests".
see the winning designs here
An 80-Foot Slide Winds Through This Whimsical FiDi Penthouse
June 4, 2014

An 80-Foot Slide Winds Through This Whimsical FiDi Penthouse

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One of New York’s oldest landmarks is home to the city’s coolest apartment. Completed in 1896, 150 Nassau Street was originally designed as the headquarters for the American Tract Society. The religious printing house moved out of the beautiful Beaux Art skyscraper in 1914 and like a lot of historic New York City buildings, it has since been transformed into luxury condos. As with all penthouses, the top floor of the 23-story structure — appropriately dubbed the SkyHouse — boasts stunning views of the Big Apple’s most beloved landmarks, including the Empire State Building and the Brooklyn Bridge. What sets the four-story home apart, however, is its distinct layout and one-of-a-kind accents, courtesy of architect David Hotson and interior designer Ghislaine Viñas.
Take a tour of the cool FiDi penthouse
Woolworth Penthouse to be Priced at a Record-breaking $110 Million
June 2, 2014

Woolworth Penthouse to be Priced at a Record-breaking $110 Million

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According to Bloomberg News, the penthouse at the Woolworth building will ask for a jaw-dropping $110 million when units hit the market this Fall. This is the highest-ever ask for an apartment in downtown Manhattan, and one sure to send the market into a frenzy. Jonathan Miller, president of appraiser Miller Samuel Inc., told Bloomberg that the price is indicative of the prestige and unique history of the landmarked building, rather than the location or its status as a luxury apartment. “We’ve seen rapid absorption downtown," he told Bloomberg, "but this project is unlike anything that’s come online.”
More about the penthouse this way
New Yorker Spotlight: Photographer Barry Rosenthal on Living in the Financial District and Finding Inspiration in Nature
May 30, 2014

New Yorker Spotlight: Photographer Barry Rosenthal on Living in the Financial District and Finding Inspiration in Nature

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Photographer and artist Barry Rosenthal is inspired by nature. His latest series, Found in Nature, is a response to what he was seeing and feeling while out on beaches. Barry, whose pieces can be found in the permanent collection of the MoMA in New York City and the Springfield Museum of Fine Art in Springfield, Massachusetts, is himself being found through Found in Nature. The series was recently featured in Brazil's National Geographic Magazine. Although Barry works in nature, he has lived in the caverns of the Financial District since 1987. Long before the neighborhood would become popular with young professionals and families, Barry and his wife, Elyn, found that the area — then made up primarily of office buildings — had just what they were looking for: space. Over the last 25 years, they and their daughter Macie, now 18, made the Financial District their home. The family was certainly ahead of the curve. As a New Yorker, I was curious to learn more about Barry. What was it like living in this neighborhood back in the '80s, especially from the perspective of a photographer and artist with a keen eye for observing the world? Why did he decide to head out of his studio and work in nature?
READ THE INTERVIEW WITH BARRY ROSENTHAL HERE
See New Renderings of Fortis’s Waterfront Residential and Hotel Development at 151 Maiden Lane
May 27, 2014

See New Renderings of Fortis’s Waterfront Residential and Hotel Development at 151 Maiden Lane

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New renderings of Fortis Property Group’s mixed-use development at 151 Maiden Lane have been revealed! As reported by New York YIMBY, permits were filed last week for the new tower which will sit upon a 281,000-square-foot waterfront development site that the company purchased back in August of last year. Fortis’s new residential project will boast a 161,000-square-foot, 52-story luxury condominium with […]

15 Broad Street: FiDi’s Downtown by Starck is Anything But
May 22, 2014

15 Broad Street: FiDi’s Downtown by Starck is Anything But

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The year is 1928: Scotch tape is first marketed by 3M, the first air-conditioned building opens in San Antonio, the clip-on tie is designed, the NY Yankees sweep the Cards in the 25th World series – and the Equitable Trust Building at 15 Broad Street was completed. For nearly 80 years the L-shaped grey brick stone building would house some of the most influential financial companies in the world, until developer A.I. & Boymelgreen rescued it from certain demolition in 2003 and tasked French architect Phillipe Starck to turn it into a luxury condominium worthy of the financial capital of the world.
Check out #2412 at 15 Broad Street
Snøhetta’s Light-Filled 9/11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at Ground Zero Dedicated Today
May 15, 2014

Snøhetta’s Light-Filled 9/11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at Ground Zero Dedicated Today

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It’s amazing when you think about it, the number of people personally touched by the tragedy of 9/11. It seems in the days after the attacks, especially as a New Yorker, you found you had a connection to someone who had perished, either directly or indirectly. It was almost uncanny. And the phrase “Never Forget” became ubiquitous. As if you ever could. To ensure we never do, and that those too young to remember will continue to honor the day that changed the world, the 9/11 Memorial Museum at Ground Zero was dedicated today, in advance of its May 21st opening to the general public. Attendees included President Obama and Governor Chris Christie.
Snøhetta's Light Filled Pavilion greets museum visitors
Uber Chic Apartment in W Downtown Sells for $2 Million
May 9, 2014

Uber Chic Apartment in W Downtown Sells for $2 Million

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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
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