Manhattan

On October 25th, 1917, New Yorkers were celebrating "Liberty Day," a holiday invented by the federal government to finance the massive effort of entering World War I. One-third of the war's funding would come from the imposition of progressive new taxes, while two-thirds would come from selling "Liberty Bonds" to the American people. The holiday was part of an unprecedented publicity campaign to convince the public to buy the bonds. New Yorkers are notoriously hard to impress, so it's no surprise the government rolled out all the punches: a three-engine Caproni bomber plane flew low among the skyscrapers, a parade of military motorcycles traveled up 5th Avenue, and a captured German U-boat submarine lay festooned with American flags inside Central Park.
Read more about the day's events

History

15 chances to live around the block from Penn Station, from $621/month

Renderings of Chelsea29 courtesy of CBSK Ironstate & Hill West Architects

October 25, 2017

15 chances to live around the block from Penn Station, from $621/month

Applications for the second batch of affordable apartments at Chelsea29, a 21-story rental building designed by Hill West Architects, are now being accepted (the first batch of 19 launched in May). The luxury tower sits at 221 West 29th Street, conveniently located near Penn Station, the art galleries of Chelsea, and soon-to-be bustling Hudson Yards. Residents will have access to a full-time attended lobby, roof terrace with spots for barbecuing, lounge, and a fitness center. New Yorkers earning 40 and 130 percent of the area median income can apply for 15 apartments ranging from $621/month studios to $2,743/month two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

October 25, 2017

$900K West Village duplex is so cute you won’t notice it’s only eight feet wide

The listing says "Blink and you'll miss it!" and this diminutive duplex at 15 Jones Street in the West Village is definitely not one to miss. To be fair, the warning refers to charm-filled Jones Street, the city's sixth-smallest street, not the fact that this chic retreat on the market for $900,000 is only a bit wider than the average queen-sized bed. The co-op's two floors add a surprising amount of space, separating living and sleeping, with a bathroom on each floor making it great for couples, entertaining and guests.
Take a look at all the good stuff in here

Distinctive Homes

Photo courtesy of the UN

October 24, 2017

The history of the United Nations in NYC

Every year on October 24th, 193 countries celebrate United Nations Day, the international holiday commemorating the anniversary of the ratification of the 1945 UN Charter. Beginning in 1948, the holiday is part of a broader United Nations Week, which runs from October 20th to 26th. While the day is a global holiday, the UN and UN Day continue to be unique to New York City, home to the peacekeeping organization’s headquarters since 1952.
More this way

Lord & Taylor’s iconic Fifth Avenue building will become WeWork’s global headquarters

Photo courtesy of Lord & Taylor

October 24, 2017

Lord & Taylor’s iconic Fifth Avenue building will become WeWork’s global headquarters

With rising rents and a national shift towards e-commerce, retail vacancies in NYC have continued to rise, especially in affluent areas like the Fifth Avenue corridor. Old-school department stores, which once served as cultural destinations where shoppers would spend entire afternoons, have been hit especially hard since they occupy such large sites. One of Midtown's most iconic, the 103-year-old Lord & Taylor flagship at Fifth Avenue and 39th Street, has decided to stay afloat by selling its 676,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance building to WeWork for $850 million. The co-working company will relocate its global headquarters to the landmark, reports the Times, leaving less than a quarter of the space, roughly 150,000 square feet, to Lord & Taylor.
Get the whole scoop

Uncategorized

October 24, 2017

Extroverts, voyeurs and people with nothing to hide will love this $5M Chelsea loft

If you love to entertain–and you think privacy is overrated–this two-bedroom Chelsea loft at 130 West 17th Street is definitely the apartment for you. Asking a lofty $4.95 million, the listing doesn’t mention square footage, though past listings have it at about 2,700 square feet. And though it's described as “intimate enough for private living,” it’s definitely “blurring the lines between public and private spaces” with a shower that’s as crowd-friendly as the home’s three entertainment zones.
See it all, this way

Distinctive Homes

Images (L to R): LEFRAK CITY, 4720 CENTER BOULEVARD, 200 WATER STREET and PERCH HARLEM

October 21, 2017

This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

By Ondel Hylton

Images (L to R): LEFRAK CITY, 4720 CENTER BOULEVARD, 200 WATER STREET and PERCH HARLEM At LeFrak City, New Amenities Unveiled After $70 Million Renovation; Rentals from $1,485/Month [link] Luxury on the East River at View 34; No Fee Rentals with up to Three Bedrooms [link] Leasing Continues at Perch Harlem, Built to Meet Passive […]

Real Estate Trends

October 20, 2017

$8M Soho loft is a bachelor’s bunker for the man who has everything

From the mother-of-pearl shower with aromatic steam to the vaulted mahogany master closet, this dark and luxurious lair is stocked from stem to stern with custom perks that go way beyond the $7.9 million loft's private key-locked elevator and smart home system. Located in a classic pre-war Soho loft building at 459 West Broadway, the 3,150-square-foot space is even outfitted with a secret home gym hidden behind a moving bookcase.
Come in for a peek

Distinctive Homes

October 19, 2017

Horse stable turned loft with 10-foot tin ceilings asks $2.8M in Chelsea

136 West 24th Street was originally built as horse stables in the 1890s for patrons of the historic Ladies Mile shopping district. Today it's quite the stunning loft apartment, boasting thick wooden beams, 10-foot-high tin ceilings, three bedrooms, and three full bathrooms. And its Chelsea locale is right in the heart of the neighborhood, an easy walk to both Madison Square Park and the Highline. After the co-op last sold in 2011 for $2.45 million to the playwright Martha Pichey (mother to actor Rafi Gavron), it has hit the market for $2.8 million.
See the historic interior

Distinctive Homes

October 19, 2017

City officially pitches four neighborhoods for Amazon’s HQ2

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Economic Development Corporation released their official pitch for Amazon's second headquarters on Wednesday, one day before the deadline. Boasting the city's talented tech workforce, the de Blasio administration has pitched Midtown West, Long Island City, the Brooklyn Tech Triangle (DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn and the Navy Yard), and Lower Manhattan as the four best spots for Amazon to call home. The tech giant's nationwide competition, announced in September, set out to find their next headquarters, called HQ2. The company promises the headquarters will bring 50,000 new jobs and $5 billion in initial city investment.
Find out more

Policy

October 19, 2017

Off the grid: The little Flatiron Buildings of the Village

The Flatiron Building is one of the city’s most iconic and beloved landmarks. Since 1902 it’s been a symbol of New York, though ironically its acute angle formed by the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue makes it an unusual sight in our otherwise orthogonal city on a grid. But while the Flatiron Building may be the most famous product of quirky street angles, it’s far from the only one. In fact, the "off-the-grid" streets of Greenwich Village and the East Village contain scores of them, most of which pre-date the 23rd Street landmark.
Take a tour of the little Flatirons

October 19, 2017

Katie Couric lists Park Avenue pad for $8.25M after buying a condo nearby

By Annie Doge

Last year, Katie Couric and her husband of nearly two years, financier John Molner purchased a five-bedroom full-floor apartment at the Peter Pennover-designed 151 East 78th Street, paying $12,168,087. Now, the New York Post reports that the celebrated news anchor's longtime home at 1155 Park Avenue is for sale. The 10-room co-op, listed for $8.25 million, has five bedrooms and high ceilings, large windows, original parquet flooring and treetop views over Park Avenue's famous tulip gardens. The classic Upper East Side full-service building offers a 24-hour doorman and a fitness center among its perks.
Take a look

The 50 most expensive neighborhoods in New York City

The Flatiron District, photo via Pixbay

October 19, 2017

The 50 most expensive neighborhoods in New York City

Taking the top spot from Tribeca for the first time in a long time, the Flatiron District now ranks as the most expensive neighborhood in New York City, according to data compiled by Property Shark. In its latest report looking at the residential market during the third quarter of 2017, the group lists the 50 priciest neighborhoods in the city, with the usual upscale 'hoods like TriBeCa, Central Park South and Hudson Square rounding out the top tier (h/t Time Out NY). In another plot twist, Red Hook has become Brooklyn’s most expensive neighborhood this quarter--overthrowing DUMBO--with a median sale price of $1.92 million in Q3.
See the full list

Real Estate Trends

October 19, 2017

After a colorful makeover and price chops, Judy Garland’s former Dakota co-op finds a $10M buyer

Since it arrived on the market in 2016 for $16.75 million, 6sqft has admired this three-bedroom co-op in the iconic Dakota for its history as the (alleged) onetime home of the equally iconic Judy Garland as well as for its colorful makeover by trendy young designer Sasha Bikoff. Now the apartment, which was owned by the designer's late mother, former pianist, ballerina, and Studio 54 denizen Jacqueline Bikoff, has reportedly entered contract at its recent asking price of $10 million, according to Mansion Global. Bikoff bought the elegant Upper West Side pad in 2010 for $13 million from renowned bridge players Roy Welland and Christal Henner.
Take one last tour

October 18, 2017

$17M Tribeca penthouse received a mod, wood-paneled makeover

Not all luxury living in 21st century downtown Manhattan is a glass-clad cliche, and this sprawling, light-filled Tribeca penthouse is proof. On the highest floors of a five-story 1920s building at 142 Duane Street, this is a triplex to be reckoned with at 7,200 square feet plus two private outdoor terraces. Part of what makes this $16.95 million condop (a co-op with less stringent condo-like rules) so special is a showstopping contemporary gut renovation by architecture firm Triarch in 2005, with natural wood paneling inspired by modernist architects like Jean Michel Frank, Adolf Loos and Bruno Paul.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

October 18, 2017

Construction kicks off on Trinity Church’s Pelli Clarke Pelli-designed community center and office tower

One year ago, Trinity Church Wall Street revealed plans for a $300 million mixed-use tower designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli that would link to the historic Neo-Gothic church by a footbridge over Trinity Place. Earlier plans for luxury condos were squashed by the community, so Trinity decided instead to build an office tower and community space that will "allow the church to continue to shape the area and advocate for the community in the future," as the Rector, Rev. Dr. William Lupfer, explained. And it looks like the future is now; according to CityRealty, the Department of Buildings approved plans for the 26-story building and construction is underway.
READ MORE

Eateries and entertainment venues proposed for Governors Island

Photo of Governors Island via simplethrill on Flickr

October 18, 2017

Eateries and entertainment venues proposed for Governors Island

Since Governors Island first opened in 2005, transforming the 172-acre piece of land in the New York Harbor into a public space has been slow. However, after a 40-acre park with a playground opened last year the ball has officially started rolling. According to Crain’s, the Trust for Governors Island recently released two requests for proposals aimed at making the waterfront location a destination for entertainment and cultural activities. The trust is offering licenses for up to three years during the island's season, which runs from May 1 through October 31.
Find out more

October 18, 2017

Asking $2.5M, ‘this old house’ on the Upper West Side belonged to Bob Villa

Fans of the renovation show "This Old House" will appreciate this Upper West Side townhouse at 21 West 75th Street. Bob Vila, the host of the show for 10 years, owned the home with his son, Chris. Built in 1909 by John C. Umberfield and designed by architect George Walgrove, the historic townhouse inspired many episodes of the show. And in the show's spirit, it was more recently renovated and restored before being divided into five condos. This condo, asking $2.5 million, occupies the full third floor of the property.
See the original details still in place

Bjarke Ingels’ curvy East Harlem tower tops out

Rendering of E126 courtesy of Bjarke Ingels Group

October 18, 2017

Bjarke Ingels’ curvy East Harlem tower tops out

The concrete, t-shaped residential tower designed by starchitect, Bjarke Ingels and his firm BIG, topped out over the weekend, adding diversity to Upper Manhattan’s usual upright architecture. The East Harlem project at 158 East 126th Street, known as E126, uniquely slopes inward as it rises upward, allowing more sunlight to hit the street. As CityRealty learned, the unusual configuration will provide residents incredible views of the East River and Central Park from a rooftop garden.
Check it out

Architecture And Design

A Beaux-Arts style building will rise on the Upper East Side’s 79th Street, the block’s first condo

27 East 79th Street, renderings courtesy of Adellco

October 17, 2017

A Beaux-Arts style building will rise on the Upper East Side’s 79th Street, the block’s first condo

The Upper East Side's 79th Street, stretching between Madison and Fifth Avenues, remains known for its architecturally beautiful 19th and early 20th-century homes. Now, as CityRealty learned, the stretch of street will soon gain its first condominium at 27 East 79th Street, also the block's first new building in 40 years. The Parisian-inspired, 15-story building will have interiors designed by Cabinet Albert Pinto, whose trademark style mixes old-world luxury with modern design. The firm's previous clients include the French President and royal families of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Albert Pinto's team, run by Linda Pinto, will be working with local firm, HTO Architects.
See inside

Architecture And Design

David Adjaye reveals designs for an interactive spy museum in Midtown

Renderings courtesy Adjaye Associates

October 17, 2017

David Adjaye reveals designs for an interactive spy museum in Midtown

One of the reasons for Ghanaian British architect David Adjaye's rise to international fame is his work on renowned museums, from Washington D.C.'s National Museum of African American History and Culture to Denver's Museum of Contemporary Art to the recently released plans for the Studio Museum in Harlem. And he'll now add to that list, again in NYC, but this time the project is a bit on the lighter side. The Architect's Newspaper reveals Adjaye Associates' renderings for SPYSCAPE, a spy museum and interactive experience that will open at 250 West 55th Street on February 16th. Spread over two floors in the office building, the exhibitions will be divided among individually designed pavilions, each one exploring one of the seven themes of spying. This format, according to the firm's Associate Director Lucy Tilley, allowed them to "challenge the traditional museum typology with a design that straddles the physical and digital worlds."
More details and renderings ahead

Architecture And Design

Beyer Blinder Belle overseeing $50M restoration of FiDi’s iconic Equitable Building

Rendering via MAQE

October 17, 2017

Beyer Blinder Belle overseeing $50M restoration of FiDi’s iconic Equitable Building

One of New York's best-known office buildings will get a major restoration. According to Curbed, Equitable Building owner Silverstein Properties plans to spend $50 million to return the Financial District building to its former glory, restoring many design elements that were on display when it first opened in 1915. Beyer Blinder Belle will oversee the reno, which includes the restoration of the entrance, a new lighting system with hanging bronze fixtures, a new reception desk, and a granite accent wall. For those unfamiliar with the Equitable Building, it actually played a huge role in the city's current zoning laws. The H-shaped tower, which takes up the entire block on Broadway between Pine and Cedar Streets, caused a scandal when it opened due to the long shadows it cast on nearby streets, leading the city to establish the first-ever zoning laws to regulate the height of future tall buildings.
Read about the restoration details

Architecture And Design

October 16, 2017

Art meets architecture at 180 East 88th including an intricate plasterwork installation in the lobby

CityRealty previously reported on the highly anticipated–and visually unique–skyscraper rising at 180 East 88th Street. Developers DDG want the 50-story condominium tower to stand apart from the sea of glass towers rising on the Upper East Side, and renderings show that the building's design is indeed a breathtaking departure from the average both inside and out, from herringbone-patterned brickwork to each unit’s herringbone floors imported from Austria. As an example of the project's unmatched level of individuality and attention to detail, DDG is working with a series of artists, including the renowned stucco artist Jan Hooss, who is creating an intricate plasterwork installation above the fireplace that will anchor the building's lobby. Based in Stuttgart, Germany, the artist has worked with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at Chateau Miraval. DDG CEO Joseph McMillan told CityRealty, "We wanted something unique and different for this building which is why we went with stucco art."
Watch a video of the artist describing his work for Brad Pitt and for the new building

Museum of Natural History reveals designs for new Halls of Gems and Minerals

Conceptual rendering of the south entrance to the new Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, from the Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites. Visitors will be greeted by 9- and 12-foot amethyst geodes. Courtesy of Ralph Appelbaum Associates.

October 16, 2017

Museum of Natural History reveals designs for new Halls of Gems and Minerals

The giant blue whale and equally massive dinos might get all the glory at the American Museum of Natural History, but a new acquisition is bringing another exhibit into the extra-large club. This morning, the institution unveiled a 12-foot-tall, 9,000+ pound amethyst geode from Uruguay (one of the largest in the world) that will anchor its all-new Halls of Gems and Minerals. Ralph Appelbaum Associates is handling the renovation of the 11,000-square-foot space, which is being designed in anticipation of AMNH's upcoming $340 million expansion by starchitect Jeanne Gang. The Halls previously ended in a cul-de-sac but the new Halls will feature a "stunning Crystalline Pass" to connect to Studio Gang's 235,000-square-foot Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation.
See all the renderings and watch a timelapse video of the geode's installation

Architecture And Design

A previous rendering of 666 Fifth Avenue, courtesy of Kushner Companies/Zaha Hadid Architects

October 16, 2017

Kushner Companies’ plan for extensive renovations at 666 Fifth Avenue rejected by Vornado