Manhattan

When NYC collapsed: The rise and fall of America’s largest and grandest hotel

The Grand Central Hotel in the late 1800s, via Wiki Commons

August 2, 2018

When NYC collapsed: The rise and fall of America’s largest and grandest hotel

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In the mid-1970s, New York City was falling apart. Its finances, infrastructure, and social cohesion were, figuratively speaking, crumbling. But in one very tragic case, they were literally crumbling, too. And it all came tumbling down on August 3, 1973, when what was once one of the world’s grandest hotels (which had more recently become known for mayhem of both a musical and criminal sort) collapsed onto Broadway at Bond Street in Greenwich Village. From serving as the scene of one of the time's most notorious murders to a connection to the National Baseball League, the Grand Central Hotel certainly had a grand history.
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After years of delays and $20M increase, Lower Manhattan pedestrian bridge won’t meet fall deadline

Rendering via WXY Architecture

August 2, 2018

After years of delays and $20M increase, Lower Manhattan pedestrian bridge won’t meet fall deadline

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After two Battery Park City bridges were destroyed during the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the city quickly built the Rector Street Bridge, a temporary solution to let pedestrians safely cross West Street. The state's department of transportation released a proposal in 2006 to reconstruct the promenade but opted to renovate the bridge in 2009 instead. WXY Architecture released a new proposal in 2013 to replace the Rector Street Bridge with a 230-foot-long light-filled, permanent pedestrian walkway at West Thames Street. But, as Crain's first reported, the project won't meet its fall deadline and the project's budget has grown from $20 million to roughly $40 million.  
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Jonathan Franzen closes the chapter on his $2M Upper East Side co-op
August 1, 2018

Jonathan Franzen closes the chapter on his $2M Upper East Side co-op

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Just last month, the New York Times interviewed novelist Jonathan Franzen on his move from the Upper East Side to a suburban street in Santa Cruz, California. After having a long-distance relationship with his "spouse equivalent," writer Kathryn Chetkovich, he agreed to move to the west coast, saying he didn't miss Yorkville, the "last middle-class neighborhood in Manhattan," at all. And he's now made that perfectly clear, unloading his three-bedroom co-op at 140 East 81st Street for $2 million, according to city records.
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10 secrets of Washington Square Park

Photo via Wiki Commons

August 1, 2018

10 secrets of Washington Square Park

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With 12 million visits a year from tourists and residents alike, Washington Square Park has plenty of things to see and do. And Parkies worth their salt know the basics: it was once a potter’s field where the indigent were buried, and a roadbed carried vehicles through the Park for almost 100 years. But the Park holds some secrets even the most knowledgeable Washington Square denizen might not know, like its connection to freed slaves in NYC and the fact that it was the first place the telegraph was publicly used.
Read on to discover if you’re a Park newbie or a Park expert
IKEA’s 2019 catalog comes to life at this free pop-up event in Soho

“Haven in the city”

July 31, 2018

IKEA’s 2019 catalog comes to life at this free pop-up event in Soho

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To mark 75 years of sleek, affordable design, IKEA is hosting a free pop-up event for just five days in Soho. Starting on Wednesday, design nerds and interior newbies alike will enjoy walking through different homes and get inspired by the various products and furniture, many which can be found in the company's 2019 catalog (officially released on Tuesday). Dubbed the IKEA Inspiration Experience, the event, located at 477 Broadway, runs between August 1 and August 5.
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LPC landmarks Philip Johnson’s AT&T Building at 550 Madison
July 31, 2018

LPC landmarks Philip Johnson’s AT&T Building at 550 Madison

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This morning the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate the AT&T building at 550 Madison Avenue as an individual landmark. Designed by Philip Johnson and completed in 1984, the world’s first postmodern skyscraper originally served as the AT&T headquarters. A decade later, Sony moved in and it became known as the Sony Tower. Recently, a growing roster of preservationists and architects have been urging the LPC to landmark the building after plans surfaced showing significant changes to its architecture.
So what happens now?
1.5M Midtown duplex has every season covered with a roof deck and a wood-burning fireplace
July 31, 2018

1.5M Midtown duplex has every season covered with a roof deck and a wood-burning fireplace

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This two-bedroom condominium at The Armory at 520 West 42nd Street may not have its own rooftop bocce court, but it has spring and summer sussed with a large private rooftop terrace for gardening, barbecuing, and entertaining. In colder months, head indoors where a working fireplace awaits, and watch the snow fall through big greenhouse windows. The Hell's Kitchen home is asking $1.499 million.
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Small living advocate Graham Hill lists his 350-square-foot Soho micro apartment for $750K

Photo by Christopher Testani for LifeEdited

July 30, 2018

Small living advocate Graham Hill lists his 350-square-foot Soho micro apartment for $750K

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When eco-conscious architect and entrepreneur Graham Hill listed his famously tiny 420-square-foot apartment in Soho, we thought a unit couldn't get any smaller. But Hill has done it again, listing another micro apartment at 150 Sullivan Street for $750,000. The itty-bitty digs, dubbed LifeEdited 2, measures just 350 square feet but manages to seat 10 for dinner, host two guests and have space for a home office.
Tour the tiny space
Cozy Chelsea co-op with a ’70s vibe asks $975K
July 30, 2018

Cozy Chelsea co-op with a ’70s vibe asks $975K

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This one-bedroom co-op at 250 West 15th Street in Chelsea shows off its considered design and just enough of an of-the-moment look and laid-back 1970s feel for us to almost overlook its compact size and slightly odd layout. The turn-key apartment is priced to sell at less than a million–and a wood-burning fireplace with an exposed brick hearth and drawers galore can't hurt its chances.
Have a seat by the fire
RENTING IN NYC: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Images (L to R): 485 Marin Boulevard, Lewis Steel Building, Heritage Dean Street and 321 Wythe Avenue

July 28, 2018

RENTING IN NYC: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

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Images (L to R): 485 Marin Boulevard, Lewis Steel Building, Heritage Dean Street and 321 Wythe Avenue 321 Wythe Debuts in Williamsburg: Luxury Rentals with All-Star Amenities + Skyline Views [link] The Alabama in Greenwich Village: Furnished Rentals for Students and Young Professionals [link] Clinton Hill’s Latest Rental Debuts with Homes from $2,175/Month [link] Meet […]

Explore ‘faces and voices’ of Manhattan storefronts with new exhibit from James and Karla Murray

Photos © James and Karla Murray

July 27, 2018

Explore ‘faces and voices’ of Manhattan storefronts with new exhibit from James and Karla Murray

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Whether it's their photography from our My Sqft series, images from their best-selling Storefront books or their most recent "Mom-and-Pops" life-size installation in Seward Park, chances are you've already admired the work of Karla and James Murray. And now there's an opportunity to further appreciate their work and the work of those they have mentored. Earlier this year, James and Karla hosted two, two-session workshops, which taught the art of capturing New York City storefronts. Starting August 1, the workshop's participants will show off their photos at the Jefferson Market Library's Little Underground Gallery. Celebrate with them during a free opening reception for the exhibit next Friday, August 3 from 5 pm to 7 pm.
Learn more about the event
$2M Soho co-op packs three bedrooms and a terrace into a stylish full-floor home
July 27, 2018

$2M Soho co-op packs three bedrooms and a terrace into a stylish full-floor home

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This full-floor, three-bedroom apartment at 118 Sullivan Street is on a classic stretch of Soho that combines commercial and nondescript with expensive and charming in a way few downtown Manhattan neighborhoods do. The co-op itself, asking $2 million, conveys the same un-fancy classic chic, with spacious rooms, three bedrooms, and an elegant patio.
Step in, stay awhile
Merchant’s House Museum files petition in court against construction of adjacent eight-story hotel

The museum via Google street view

July 27, 2018

Merchant’s House Museum files petition in court against construction of adjacent eight-story hotel

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The Merchant's House Museum and its supporters filed a petition on Monday in New York Supreme Court against the construction of an eight-story hotel planned next door. The 186-year-old East Village home at 29 East Fourth Street belonged to hardware merchant Seabury Tredwell, who bought the 10,000-square-foot residence for $18,000 in 1832. The museum, which has been remarkably preserved since then, became the first property in Manhattan to be designated a New York City landmark in 1965. But landmark status does not guarantee protection from any adjacent construction projects. The museum is now taking legal action against the hotel project because, as its executive director, Margaret "Pi" Halsey Gardiner, told the WSJ: "It's not going to be able to survive construction next door, I guarantee you."
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For $10K/month, this West Village duplex is a tranquil townhouse retreat
July 27, 2018

For $10K/month, this West Village duplex is a tranquil townhouse retreat

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In the enviable Abingdon Square enclave, above a neighborhood shop and next door to iconic Rebel Coffee, this bright and cozy aerie at 21 8th Avenue is a certain kind of West Village dream. Asking $9,995 a month, the home is comprised of the top two floors in a charming brick townhouse. As the building's only residential unit, it's tucked above a quiet village boutique.
Take the tour
For $16K a month, this unique Lincoln Square loft has a double-height plant wall in the living room
July 26, 2018

For $16K a month, this unique Lincoln Square loft has a double-height plant wall in the living room

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This four-bedroom pre-war duplex would be unusual for its double-height living room alone, but the soaring internal space is graced with a stunning living wall feature that you definitely won't find in the average Upper West Side living room. You can rent this cool space–originally an artists' loft when the Atelier at 33 West 67th Street was constructed in 1903–for $16,450 a month.
Take the tour
This fall, 1,000 New Yorkers will perform an ‘opera’ on the High Line

Photo byLiz Ligon via Mile Long Opera.

July 26, 2018

This fall, 1,000 New Yorkers will perform an ‘opera’ on the High Line

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For five consecutive nights from October 3-7, 2018 "The Mile-Long Opera: a biography of 7 o’clock," will bring together 1,000 singers from across New York for free performances on the High Line. The project is a collaboration between architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer David Lang, with words and lyrics by acclaimed poets Anne Carson and Claudia Rankine. The free collective choral work shares personal stories, gathered through first-hand interviews with hundreds of New Yorkers about city life.
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Test out townhouse life at this newly restored Harlem mansion for $13,000/month
July 26, 2018

Test out townhouse life at this newly restored Harlem mansion for $13,000/month

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This renovated, turn-key townhouse at 133 West 122 Street in Harlem combines 4,745 square feet of gorgeous historic details with the space and convenience of a modern mansion in one low-commitment rental opportunity for $12,950 a month. This uptown stunner was built in the 1880s by architect Francis Kimball; a recent renovation by David Mann brings contemporary chic and 21st-century comfort to the home's five bedrooms and five stories of living space, all while highlighting historic details like stained glass transoms, inlaid floors, and a whopping seven decorative fireplaces.
Tour this stunning Harlem mansion
Misty Copeland dances her way to an Upper West Side apartment for $3.1M
July 26, 2018

Misty Copeland dances her way to an Upper West Side apartment for $3.1M

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Ballet superstar Misty Copeland, the first black ballerina to become a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre, moved to the Upper West Side when she was just 17 years old to join the company. And it doesn't seem like she plans on leaving any time soon. The dancer and her husband, attorney Olu Evans, have bought a condo at 215 West 88th Street for $3.125 million. The three-bedroom home is located in the Merrion, a building erected in 1915 (h/t Real Estate Weekly).
See it for yourself
Lottery opens for 160 affordable apartments near the High Line, starting at $702/month

Photo via Flickr cc

July 25, 2018

Lottery opens for 160 affordable apartments near the High Line, starting at $702/month

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The High Line and affordability don't typically go hand-in-hand, but the lottery opens tomorrow for a new, 160-unit affordable housing project at 425 West 18th Street, less than a block from the High Line. As part of a Bloomberg-era initiative to lease unused NYCHA land to private developers, the 18-story building took over the parking lot of the 1960s Fulton Houses complex. The low- and middle-income availabilities range all the way from $702/month studios to $3,216/month two-bedrooms, and amenities include a laundry room, bike storage, and outdoor space on the roof and first floor.
Find out if you qualify
First look at ODA’s boxy condo coming to busy 14th Street corner

Rendering by ODA Architecture

July 25, 2018

First look at ODA’s boxy condo coming to busy 14th Street corner

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First renderings of ODA Architecture's 13-story tower planned for Greenwich Village reveal a Tetris-inspired, boxy design, YIMBY reported on Wednesday. Much like the firm's other projects, the facade of the building, located at 101 West 14th Street, will look like a series of sculpted, stacked boxes. Developer Gemini Rosemont has filed permits to convert the site which currently holds a former bank into condos with ground floor retail. There will be 45 condos total, with 21 of them duplexes.
See the design
Tribeca and Yorkville top the list for new development condo sales in 2018

Photo via Chris Goldberg/Flickr

July 25, 2018

Tribeca and Yorkville top the list for new development condo sales in 2018

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For followers of Manhattan real estate it would be hard to miss the bumper crop of innovative, eye-catching and pricey new developments rising what seems like daily in Tribeca; but big numbers for new towers may come as a surprise when they're attached to old-school Yorkville on the Upper East Side. In the city that never fails to surprise, recent research from CityRealty shows that Tribeca and Yorkville are the top neighborhoods for new development condo sales so far this year. There are, of course reasons for the unlikely pairing at the top.
See who else is on the list
$4.4M Upper East Side penthouse tops the townhouse where Marc Chagall once lived
July 25, 2018

$4.4M Upper East Side penthouse tops the townhouse where Marc Chagall once lived

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Like many grand Manhattan properties in the neighborhood, this duplex penthouse atop a five-story townhouse at 57 East 73rd Street has an interesting past: It was once home to painter Marc Chagall (though another former Chagall residence nearby at 4 East 74th Street has attracted a bit more buzz in recent years, especially since Michael Jackson lived there in the 1990s). The 73rd Street townhouse has been divided into five condos since the artist's time. Besides having painterly penthouse bragging rights, there's a terrace that looks out over the Upper East Side neighborhood, which in turn is one block from Central Park and the Carlyle Hotel. The 1,350-square-foot home is asking $4.35 million–after several price chops from its original ask of $4.95 million in June.
Get a closer look
Our 1,600sqft: Inside the Tribeca live-work showroom of Vipp, a Danish ‘tool building’ company
July 24, 2018

Our 1,600sqft: Inside the Tribeca live-work showroom of Vipp, a Danish ‘tool building’ company

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6sqft’s series “Where I Work” takes us into the studios, offices, and businesses of New Yorkers across the city. In this installment, we’re touring the showroom-apartment of Tribeca's Vipp, a third-generation Danish company. Want to see your business featured here? Get in touch! Nearly 80 years ago in Denmark, Holger Nielsen designed a trash can with a pedal for his wife Marie's hair salon. Despite having no intention of selling it, demand grew for Nielsen’s sleek, and hygienic, trash bin and it became a fixture in Danish clinics, and later home use, over the next several decades. Nielsen called the bin “Vipp,” Danish for tilt, which describes the lid's movement. In 2009, the design was accepted into the permanent design collection at MoMA. Today, Vipp is a third generation family-owned company run by Nielsen’s daughter, Jette Egelund, and her two children Kasper and Sofie. In addition to its classic bin, Vipp now offers a wide range of lifestyle products, from entire kitchens and bathrooms to tableware and lighting. Based in Copenhagen, Vipp came to the United States four years ago and opened a showroom in Tribeca. Sofie Christensen Egelund, along with her husband and business partner Frank Christensen, turned the showroom into their actual apartment, outfitted with Vipp products. The designer-couple gave 6sqft a tour of their live-work space and Sofie talked to us about the company's design DNA, the move from Denmark to Manhattan and what it's like to work together as a married couple.
Take a tour of the apartment-showroom
Amazon launches same-day delivery from Whole Foods in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan

Image via Whole Foods Market

July 24, 2018

Amazon launches same-day delivery from Whole Foods in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan

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You can now have all of your organic needs met within as little as an hour--without waiting in line. Amazon launched on Tuesday "ultrafast" same-day delivery from Whole Foods Market in 24 cities, including Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and select areas of Long Island. The service, for Prime members only, began earlier this year and will continue to expand to more neighborhoods in NYC and in the country throughout 2018. "Today’s announcement is another way that we are continuing to expand access to our high-quality products and locally-sourced favorites," Christina Minardi, executive vice president of operations for Whole Foods Market, said in a statement.
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