Greenwich Village

Forty-eight years ago, just after 1:00am on June 28th, police raided Greenwich Village’s Stonewall Inn, the well-known gay bar on Christopher Street. Unlike past raids against gay bars, the crowd outside fought back, throwing bottles at the cops and protesting around the site for the next six days. According to the NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project, […]

History

June 19, 2017

Stonewall Inn gets $1M grant from Google to preserve stories of the gay rights movement

By Devin Gannon

Last June, President Obama formally recognized Greenwich Village’s Stonewall Inn and its surrounding area as a national historic monument, creating the first National Park Service unit dedicated to the gay rights movement. To expand the reach of this monument, Senator Chuck Schumer announced on Sunday a $1 million grant from Google to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center to begin a project preserving the oral histories and human experiences from early LGBTQ leaders present during the Stonewall Inn riots. According to the New York Times, the initiative will create an educational curriculum for students and a digital platform that's expected to launch by the 50th anniversary of the protests in 2019.
Find out more

History

May 12, 2017

If you’re trying on every NYC neighborhood, start with this $13K/month pre-war Village co-op in ‘large’

It's often said that if you're not sure which neighborhood you'd like, renting is the best way to get to know a few before you make the commitment of buying. And while Greenwich Village is often a top choice, it's an expensive commitment. This $13,000 a month rental in a classic pre-war co-op at 61 West 10th Street is pricey, but you're starting at the top, with a view, on downtown Manhattan's "Gold Coast" in the aptly named Windsor Arms. And there's plenty of room at the top in the form of two big bedrooms with room for more.
Take the tour

April 9, 2017

$2.4M Village co-op is townhouse charming and loft cool

Situated on a gorgeous tree-lined Village block, this full-floor co-op at 68 West 11th Street has the charm of an historic townhouse and the cool factor of a spacious downtown loft. A stylish and space-conscious renovation adds to the good looks of this third-floor walk-up, and a big skylight brings in plenty of light.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

April 7, 2017

Gorgeous $25M Village townhouse owned by Roy Lichtenstein’s son for sale for the first time in 170 years

In the heart of the beautiful Greenwich Village Historic District, this 24-foot-wide 1847 Greek Revival townhouse at 118 West 12th Street is on the public market for the first time in 170 years, asking $25 million. In addition to rare and perfectly restored historic details, the home has been renovated with a collector's eye for the eclectic and unique, incorporating the best in contemporary comforts, adding even more character to its already magical rooms. While we wish we could say the dizzying collection of Roy Lichtenstein works and other art that adorns the walls of this amazing home were part of the deal, we'd imagine the current owner, filmmaker Mitchell Lichtenstein–the Pop artist's son–and his husband Vincent Sanchez, will be holding on to those treasures.
View the rooms and collections of this remarkable home

April 4, 2017

Explore the homes of NYC’s notable writers with an audio-narrated tour

By Devin Gannon

Some of the greatest literary giants of all time lived and wrote in New York City. In celebration of the 200th anniversary of HarperCollins, which was founded in NYC, the publishing company created an interactive walking tour map that narrates the history of each author as you walk (h/t DNAinfo). Just a few of the famed Big Apple authors include Harper Lee, Mark Twain, Zora Neale Hurston and Richard Wright.
Find out more

March 24, 2017

Behind the counter and into the caves at Murray’s Cheese

By James and Karla Murray

Murray's Cheese was founded in 1940 on Cornelia Street. When Rob Kaufelt bought the business in 1991, he grew the store into an internationally known food destination that now includes educational programs, a full-service restaurant, catering, and state-of-the-art cheese aging caves in Long Island City. Personally, our love affair with Murray’s Cheese began in 1994, when we were newlyweds on a budget, often buying cheese from the small Bleecker Street store to eat with some freshly baked bread purchased from the nearby Zito & Sons Bakery. Plus, with Murray’s being our namesake, we felt an immediate connection to the store. Just last month, the Kroger Company purchased the equity of Murray’s Cheese and its flagship Greenwich Village location to form a merger of the two companies. As this new era approaches, we decided to capture all the cheesy goodness of the store, restaurant, and caves, as well as chat with Rob, cavemaster PJ, and Murray's Cheese Bar's general manager Jake Goznikar to learn about Murray's history, unique contributions to local and world-wide food culture, and future.
Take the grand tour

March 22, 2017

Rent in the Greenwich Village building where Alexander Hamilton purportedly spent his final day

Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr may have dueled in Weehawken, New Jersey, but they also both left their mark on Greenwich Village. At the end of the 18th century, Burr began buying up land around Bedford and Downing Streets for his Richmond Hill country estate (a Federal rowhouse here recently hit the market for $5.75 million). Hamilton's connection is much less glamorous: On July 12, 1804, the day after the duel, he died in the home of his friend William Bayard. According to a plaque on the building, this took place at 82 Jane Street, where a listing for a $3,495/month one-bedroom also backs up the claim. But historians say Bayard actually lived a block north on Horatio Street.
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March 8, 2017

After $10M lawsuit, Sean Lennon removes tree that damaged Marisa Tomei’s parents’ house

Back in September, after a 19-month legal battle, John and Yoko Ono's son Sean was ordered by a Manhattan judge to remove a tree on his Greenwich Village property at 153 West 13th Street after neighbors Gary and Addie Tomei (parents of actress Marisa Tomei) claimed it spread roots on their property, "cracking the stoop, breaking the railings, and coming through the basement floor of their townhouse," as 6sqft explained. The Post now reports that Lennon has finally settled on the $10 million suit and removed the pesky tree.
The whole story

Celebrities

February 22, 2017

Impeccably restored apartment in an 1839 Greek Revival townhouse asks $12,495/month in the Village

The listing brags that this Greenwich Village co-op looks like something out of a movie, and we'd have to agree. A two-year restoration of this apartment, which occupies the third floor of the 1839 Greek Revival townhouse 158 Waverly Place, left the 2,000-square-foot space looking gorgeous. Historic details are paired with both intricate wallpaper patterns and modern amenities. The apartment, too, has hosted a notable crew of residents. The townhouse was built for Lambert Suydam, the former president of Manhattan Gas & Light Co., and then the third floor was later occupied by Oscar winning actress Judy Holliday between 1948 and 1952. The latest owner, Thomas Ruff, is a German photographer who purchased it in 2006 for $1.65 million, according to public records. And now the co-op can be rented for $12,495 a month.
Take a look

February 21, 2017

$2.6M for a ‘sleek and sexy’ modern condo right off Union Square

The aren't many glassy condo developments in Greenwich Village, but this one at 3 West 13th Street has an apartment up for sale. The two-bedroom pad occupies the entire eighth floor and is accessed by a private key-locked elevator. Floor-to-ceiling windows, white tile flooring and a modern gas fireplace lend to an aesthetic the listing dubs "sleek and sexy."
See the full apartment

Distinctive Homes

February 16, 2017

Justin Timberlake tours $18.5M mod triplex penthouse in Greenwich Village

Justin Timberlake may be bringing sexy back to Greenwich Village, as the Post reports that he was seen checking out the sprawling triplex penthouse at 12 East 13th Street. The mod pad was first listed for $30.5 million in 2013, but has since been cut nearly in half to $18.5 million. It boasts amazing architectural details like a three-story, sloped wall of glass and a dramatic sculptural staircase, as well as luxury offerings including two massive terraces and two parking spots.
Check it all out

February 13, 2017

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz drops $40M on the Greenwich Lane’s most expensive penthouse

It's safe to say this $40 million penthouse is of the "venti" size, considering it's the priciest unit in new mega-development the Greenwich Lane and, at $7,159/square foot, one of the most expensive residential sales in Greenwich Village to date. Though The Real Deal reports that the buyer is Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, whose estimated $3 billion net worth makes this a drop in the bucket. The 5,587-square-foot duplex spans the 16th and 17th floors and boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with skyline views and more than 1,600 square feet of private outdoor space.
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February 11, 2017

Charming $615K slip of a West Village co-op shuns the generic box

Though this narrow pre-war alcove studio with some interesting angles at 138 West 10th Street may not be big, it's not cookie-cutter either. The Village location is about as pricey as you can get in Manhattan, so anyone questioning the $615,000 ask might keep that in mind; there's also a landscaped roof deck, so you never have to feel boxed-in.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

February 10, 2017

Greenwich Village studio with wall of windows and private backyard gets a price chop to $995K

This charming Greenwich Village studio costs just a hair under $1 million after a recent price chop. Located at the cooperative 45 West 10th Street, the pad first hit the market last summer asking $1.075 million and the price has whittled away in the months since down to $995,000. (It last sold in 2007, for $495,000.) This studio does boast some perks, like a separate bedroom nook that creates space for a charming, bookshelf-lined living room, as well as a massive private backyard.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

January 24, 2017

Cozy Greenwich Village studio with Murphy bed is renting for $3,495/month

Some smart design maximizes space at this Greenwich Village studio, located at 140 West 10th Street and asking $3,495 a month. The wall and Murphy bed system was designed in Italy by the space saving furniture company Clei, and the system provides a flexible space that can be transformed into either an entertaining area or bedroom.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

January 12, 2017

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith lists upscale Greenwich Village condo for $5M

Shepard Smith has been bestowed with the dubious title of "most likeable anchor on Fox News," and the popular breaking news chief won even more points for defending competitor CNN against PEOTUS ranting. But he's also looking to get some real estate points by selling his Greenwich Village apartment at 65 West 13th Street for $4.9 million (h/t Luxury Listings). Smith bought the 2,341-square-foot condo in 2004 for $1.875 million, briefly listing it for $4 mil in 2011.
Take a peek

January 8, 2017

High, dramatic ceilings grace this $3.5M Greenwich Village loft

What's a loft apartment without towering ceilings above? This lofty prewar building, at 30 West 13th Street in Greenwich Village, was converted to co-op in 1978 and holds 24 units. This one, now on the market for $3.5 million, is a sprawling three bedroom with dramatic beamed ceilings in the open living and dining room. This last sold in $2.3 million in 2004 and has been on and off the market since 2015, when it was first asking $3.95 million.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

December 27, 2016

Craigslist founder makes plans to convert his Village duplex into a two-family home

It's more common to see NYC's rich and famous buy to combine, but Craig Newmark—better known as the brains behind Craigslist—appears to want to cozy up in smaller quarters. Back in May, Newmark dropped nearly $6 million on a massive 6,075-square-foot, three-bedroom duplex at 52 West 9th Street, and now according to The Real Deal, he's making plans to transform the generous spread into a two-family home.
more here

Celebrities

December 19, 2016

Louis C.K. drops $2.45M on another Greenwich Village apartment

Comedian Louis C.K. (real name Louis Székely) already owns four units in a West Village brownstone, but these were joint purchases with his ex-wife, painter Alix Baily. Though they openly maintain a good relationship, he's now ventured out on his own, as the Observer reports that he dropped $2.45 million on a two-bedroom co-op at 101 West 12th Street, a larger apartment building a few blocks away.
Check it out

December 13, 2016

Historic districts and landmarking: What they mean and how they could affect you

In New York City, where buying and selling real estate is a high-stakes endeavor, the topic of historic and landmark designation is frequently raised. There are heated discussions on the subject of listing neighborhoods or buildings on the State and National Register of Historic Places or having them designated by the city’s Landmarks Preservation Commission. It's important to know what those organizations do and the distinctions between them. You could even be eligible for significant financial aid for your renovations if you own property in an historic district.
Find out what these designations mean, how you could benefit from them and why they're sometimes controversial.

December 8, 2016

NYU reveals design for $1B 23-story building at controversial Greenwich Village site

NYU's controversial plan to replace their Coles Sports Center site at the corner of Mercer and Houston Streets received approvals way back in 2012, but due to community opposition and lawsuits, they only filed plans and began demolition this October. The Wall Street Journal now shares the first renderings of the hulking, 23-story, 735,000-square-foot building at 181 Mercer Street designed by Davis Brody Bond (who's also responsible for the 9/11 Museum) and KieranTimberlake. It will cost a whopping $1 billion and host a bevy of uses, including 60 classrooms, common spaces, two cafes, practice/instruction rooms for the arts, three theaters, a giant athletic facility that'll have four basketball courts and a six-lane lap pool, 30 to 60 faculty apartments, and a 420-bed freshman dorm.
Lots more renderings and details

December 6, 2016

Leonardo DiCaprio loses $2 million on sale of his eco-friendly Greenwich Village apartment

A $2 million real estate loss sounds like quite the hit, but to environmental activist and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, whose net worth is $217 million, it probably won't make too big of a dent. Back in 2014, he dropped $10 million on a three-bedroom Greenwich Village condo in The Delos, an uber eco-friendly building that boasts vitamin C-infused showers, purified air and water, in-duct aromatherapy, and posture-supporting flooring. He rarely resided there (he owns another environmentally conscious apartment in Battery Park City), but has been renting the apartment for $25,000 a month since March 2015 to Bill Clinton's economic policy advisor Jonathan Orszag. Now the Observer reports that the apartment has sold to an LLC for $8 million.
See the whole spread

December 5, 2016

There’s an ‘exotic’ Christmas tree selling for $1,000 in the Village

$1,000, as the Post notes, could pay for more than 600 meals for the homeless at the Bowery Mission, or 25 holiday gifts for in-need New Yorkers through the Winter Wishes program. It could also get you an "exotic" white fir Christmas tree off the street in Greenwich Village. Sixteen-year tree saleswoman Heather Neville, who runs a stand at Seventh Avenue and 11th Street, is charging $77 per foot for a 13-foot tree, which equals $750. Add to that a $200 stand, $25 delivery and setup fee, and $20 for the three men doing the job, and you've got yourself a four-figure Christmas tree.
If you think this is bad, just wait

Events & Things To Do

December 1, 2016

On World AIDS Day, NYC AIDS Memorial is dedicated in Greenwich Village

When the AIDS epidemic struck in the 1980s, New York City was the first place in the country to report a case, and in the years following, the area around Greenwich Village had more cases and deaths than anywhere in the city. The now-shuttered St. Vincent's Hospital at 11th Street and Seventh Avenue South became known as the "ground zero" of the epidemic; it was the nation's second institution to treat HIV, and its staff of Catholic nuns refused to turn away any patient. To commemorate this effort and honor those who were lost, the city has today, on World AIDS Day, dedicated the new $6 million NYC AIDS Memorial, located in St. Vincent's Triangle, across from the old hospital site (h/t Curbed). Designed by architecture firm Studio a + i, the 18-foot geometric steel canopy hovers above granite pavers by visual artist Jenny Holzer that feature selections from Walt Whitman’s "Song of Myself."
See images of the new memorial and today's dedication

November 21, 2016

New NYU program lets students live in local seniors’ spare bedrooms