Manhattan

The listing calls this three-floor home atop a classic Soho loft building at 12 Greene Street a "reimagining of urban living" that "defies easy categorization," and we'd have to agree. But what's instantly recognizable is the design knowledge and creative eye that was behind the construction of each room's eclectic but beautiful balance of form and function, including layers of verdant garden-draped patios, decks and terraces. Records show that the current owner purchased this 4,500 square-foot co-op for $1.7 million in 2005, which in itself sounds like quite a feat; the triplex is now asking a far more 21st century $16 million.
Tour the enchanted spaces of this amazing home

Distinctive Homes

June 5, 2017

Restored Romanesque Revival townhouse asks $2.9M in Hamilton Heights

This Romanesque Revival townhouse was constructed at 103 Hamilton Place, in the historic Harlem neighborhood of Hamilton Heights, back in 1910. In more recent years it's been carefully restored and upgraded, with the goal to bring the home back to its original grandeur. Rooms still hold marble fireplaces as well as pine, mahogany and oak shutters, windows and doors. That's paired with a modern kitchen and bathrooms, although one still holds its original clawfoot tub.
This way for a look inside

Distinctive Homes

My 600sqft: Pastry chef Meredith Kurtzman in her colorful Soho apartment of 40 years

6sqft’s ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to the Soho apartment of pastry chef Meredith Kurtzman. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

June 5, 2017

My 600sqft: Pastry chef Meredith Kurtzman in her colorful Soho apartment of 40 years

By Diane Pham

You may not know Meredith Kurtzman by name, but you can thank this spunky New Yorker for bringing great gelato to the city. A textile designer turned pastry chef, Kurtzman is lauded (at least within her industry) as "a trailblazer" in elevating ice-cream making in the U.S. Moreover she's wholly credited with introducing chaste New York palettes to once implausible flavors like olive oil gelato and, more simply, fresh fruit sorbetto; "genius" and "a true artisan" are just a few of words that have been used to describe her. However, while counterparts with her level of talent have catapulted themselves into the spotlight (see: Keith McNally and Bobby Flay), Meredith herself has opted for a more understated existence. She today—as she has for the last 40 years—lives in a modestly-sized but boldly colorful tenement apartment in Soho. Meredith is, in fact, one of those rare New York creatives whose real estate choices can be traced back to when Soho was a "last resort" for artists and storefronts were used as shelter. Stating the obvious, she's seen some things. Ahead, Meredith offers us a tour of her unique apartment, a 600-square-foot space filled with DIY projects, vintage charm, plants, and lots of color. She also shares stories of Soho in the 1970s, and where she still finds inspiration in a city that's so different from the one she knew as a youth.
inside meredith's apartment here

Some Trump Palace apartment owners want to remove the building’s name

Google Street View

June 5, 2017

Some Trump Palace apartment owners want to remove the building’s name

Google Street View Despite winning the presidential election last fall, Donald Trump’s New York City properties have hit a losing streak. Trump-branded hotels and condos throughout the city have seen a sharp decline in event bookings and property values. And at the 55-story Trump Palace at 200 East 69th Street, one of the tallest towers in the neighborhood, the average unit sits on the market for 107 days, 35 percent longer than the average luxury unit. To combat declining property values, an apartment owner at Trump Palace has written a letter asking neighbors to come together and remove the name “Trump” from the building, as the Hollywood Reporter discovered.
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Celebrities

June 5, 2017

A fireplace and balcony make this $675K Upper West Side co-op a cozy all-season home

On a particularly picturesque and leafy Upper West Side block within steps of Riverside Park, this one-bedroom co-op at 312 West 107th Street is, to paraphrase the listing, a certifiable charm-and-chill zone with 15-foot ceilings, exposed brick, a wood-burning fireplace and a private terrace.
See more, this way

Distinctive Homes

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news and offers

Images (L to R): 325 Kent Avenue, Capitol at Chelsea, 82 South 6th Street and West 54th Apartments

June 2, 2017

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news and offers

By Emrys Fitzgerald

325 Kent to Open this July on the Former Domino Sugar Site; New Renderings & Pricing Revealed [link] Don’t Be Boxed-Up This Summer: Outdoor Amenities Reign at This Midtown Rental Just Two Blocks from the Greenway [link] South Williamsburg Has a New Boutique Rental – And It’s Sure to Fill-Up Fast [link] FRANK 57 WEST […]

Real Estate Trends

U.S. officials argue 650 Fifth Avenue is a secret front for the Iranian government

Image via Google Street View

June 2, 2017

U.S. officials argue 650 Fifth Avenue is a secret front for the Iranian government

Image via Google Street View For the past few years, the federal government has claimed that the tower at 650 Fifth Avenue, owned by nonprofit the Alavi Foundation, is controlled by the Iranian government, which would violate U.S. sanctions. Since the court decision that allowed the government to seize the 36-story building was overruled last year, a trial has kicked off again this week to determine if the organization was funneling money to Iran. As reported by amNY, the government must prove the office tower, worth just under $1 billion, is a front for the Iranian government and will do so using emails, letters and journal entries from an Alavi board member.
Find out more

Policy

June 2, 2017

$2.7M Soho co-op shows off its 14-foot exposed wood beams

This deliciously lofty two-bedroom apartment comes from the West Broadway Arches, a Soho co-op at 140 Thompson Street. The building boasts a historic brick facade, while the interior's decked out with 14-foot ceilings, oversized arched windows, white oak floors, and exposed wood beams. A modernized, open floorplan also makes this a nice apartment for entertaining--or at least that's what the listing suggests.
See it for yourself

Distinctive Homes

June 2, 2017

Google’s Pier 57 tops out ahead of summer 2018 opening

Last we checked in at the beginning of the year, the $350 million transformation of Pier 57, aka “SuperPier,” was making progress with its canted glass panels fully installed. Wednesday, co-developers RXR Realty and Young Woo & Associates held an event to mark the 450,000-square-foot development's topping out, which came after 2,600 tons of structural steel were installed, 4,000 yards of concrete poured, and a 60,000-square-foot curtain wall built. The project will include 250,000 square feet of offices for Google, a 100,000-square-foot food market from Anthony Bourdain, and an elevated two-acre park with a rooftop movie and performance amphitheater to be used for Tribeca Film Festival screenings. This construction milestone comes ahead of an anticipated summer 2018 opening.
See more construction shots and get more details

June 1, 2017

REVEALED: Morris Adjmi’s Gothic-inspired condo tower coming to Nomad

Just yesterday, 6sqft shared renderings of Moscow-based firm Meganom's super-skinny, 1,001-foot-tall tower headed for 262 Fifth Avenue in Nomad. Now, CityRealty has uncovered another slender contender for the neighborhood, this svelte 40-story condo tower designed by Morris Adjmi for 30 East 31st Street. The site formerly held the ornate Romanesque Revival parish house of the Madison Avenue Baptist Church, which, to the dismay of preservationists, was demolished in 2015 by Elkstein Development Group. However, Adjmi, known for his contextual sensitivity, will reference the church's Gothic details, with six hefty columns that emphasize its 469-foot height and assume a diagrid pattern on the upper floors resembling the barrel-vaulted ceilings of a cathedral.
More details and renderings ahead

June 1, 2017

Large and lovely income-restricted co-op asks just $375K in Hamilton Heights

If you're curious--and qualified--to take the leap and start shopping for an affordable HDFC co-op, don't miss this Hamilton Heights listing at 409 Edgecombe Avenue. As an HDFC apartment, there are income restrictions that limit who can buy this $375,000 one bedroom. But for that reasonable price you get 945 square feet of lovely prewar space, including a spacious foyer and formal living and dining rooms. Best yet, the top-floor, corner apartment comes with views out over the Harlem River and out toward Yankee Stadium.
Take a look

The Little Red Lighthouse found at Fort Washington, via Wiki Commons

June 1, 2017

Tour Manhattan’s only lighthouse at Fort Washington Park this Saturday

If looking to learn more about historic New York City this weekend, head over to Fort Washington Park and check out the Little Red Lighthouse, Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse. The city’s Urban Park Rangers are hosting a tour this Saturday, June 3, from 1 to 4 p.m. and will be on hand to provide information about this unique landmark (h/t Time Out).
Learn the interesting history of the lighthouse

June 1, 2017

Gloria Steinem scoops up another floor in her Upper East Side brownstone for $1.1M

By Diane Pham

Trailblazer and feminist icon Gloria Steinem appears to be expanding her Upper East Side digs. The Post reports that Steinem has just purchased a $1.1M floor-through on the third floor of 118 East 73rd Street, a brownstone where according to property records—and this Oprah video—she already owns two floors.
see more inside here

June 1, 2017

MoMA reveals final design for $400M expansion

The Museum of Modern Art revealed on Thursday its final design for its $400 million renovation project, which calls for more space and a chronological and thematic approach to its exhibitions. In addition to the expansion of gallery and public spaces, the museum plans to feature more work of minority and female artists. Architecture firms Diller Scofidio + Renfro and Gensler have collaborated on the design, and the overall expansion will provide 50,000 square feet of new gallery space. The renovation is expected to wrap in 2019.
Check out MoMA's makeover

June 1, 2017

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel get $7M discount on Tribeca penthouse

By Annie Doge

Back in March, 6sqft reported that Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel signed a deal for a penthouse at 443 Greenwich Street in Tribeca. At the time, the exact apartment wasn't known, though it was assumed it may have been Penthouse G, then under contract for $27.5 million. This was correct, though the power couple ended up paying only $20.2 million for the 5,375-square foot home, according to The Real Deal. The "paparazzi-proof" building--it boasts privacy-focused amenities like an interior courtyard, underground garage, and a porte-cochere--has attracted former tenants including Mike Myers, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Jennifer Lawrence, and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.
See the place

June 1, 2017

Two-bedroom Harlem co-op asks a very reasonable $389K

This two-bedroom co-op at 214 Bradhurst Avenue in (pretty far) north central Harlem is sunny and sweet. It's a fourth-floor walkup, but it's competitively priced at $389,000, which might just make that trip worth it. The home overlooks Jackie Robinson Park, and it's about five blocks to the nearest subway, which is the 3.
Find out more and take a tour

Distinctive Homes

Help bring the world’s largest rhino sculpture to Astor Place

Rendering of the rhino sculpture in Astor Place

May 31, 2017

Help bring the world’s largest rhino sculpture to Astor Place

The Northern White Rhino species faces imminent extinction as only three remain on Earth. To raise awareness, a husband-and-wife sculpting duo are creating the largest rhino sculpture in the world and installing it in Astor Place (h/t Time Out). Gillie and Marc plan on putting $150,000 of their own money behind the project and created a Kickstarter page to raise the additional $50,000 needed to complete it. If all goes according to plan, the sculpture, titled "The Last Three," will be installed in January 2018.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

May 31, 2017

Moscow-based Meganom reveals designs for 1,001-foot skinny supertall in Nomad

Joining the ranks of supertall, super-skinny skyscrapers like 432 Park, 111 West 57th Street, and 125 Greenwich Street comes 262 Fifth Avenue in Nomad (h/t Dezeen). The first U.S. project by Moscow-based firm Meganom, the residential tower will soar to 1,001 feet, which will make it the tallest structure between the Empire State Building and One WTC, stealing the title by a longshot from the 777-foot 45 East 22nd Street. The architects say the project "will include several 'firsts' in terms of its design and environmental sustainability features," and that it will boast "a striking arched observation deck" at its top.
More renderings and details ahead

May 30, 2017

$3.4M Hell’s Kitchen penthouse boasts the city’s only private rooftop bocce court

Roof decks don't get much better than this one atop the penthouse at 454 West 46th Street, also known as the Piano Factory. The $3.395 million two-bedroom co-op, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, boasts a 3,000-square-foot private terrace, the only one in the city with its own bocce ball court. The court--which also functions as a golf putting green--is joined by a spacious sitting and dining area with a gas barbecue grill, as well as panoramic views of Midtown West. The apartment isn't too bad either, which a glass atrium over the living and dining areas. This penthouse pad last sold in 2009 for $2.9 million and has been on and off the market asking as much as $4.1 million.
Take a look

Distinctive Homes

May 30, 2017

Artist installs ‘Pissing Pug’ next to controversial ‘Fearless Girl’ statue in Wall Street standoff

Image: Gabriella Bass via @dawn_images via Instagram You can almost guarantee that if you put something out in public in NYC, it's going to attract more than just attention. As 6sqft previously reported, Kristen Visbal's “Fearless Girl” statue, installed by asset manager State Street Global Advisors and advertising firm McCann back in March to challenge sculptor Arturo Di Modica’s “Charging Bull” with her defiant gaze attracted controversy and selfies, seen as both an empowering statement and corporate drivel. According to the Post, NYC-based artist Alex Gardega’s Memorial Day weekend installation of "Pissing Pug"–a crudely rendered statue of a dog lifting its leg on the steadfast “Girl”–was his reaction to “corporate nonsense,” and that the fearless female “has nothing to do with feminism, and it is disrespect to the artist that made the bull."
New Yorkers are a tough crowd

Events & Things To Do

May 30, 2017

Anthony Weiner’s $12K/month Union Square duplex is prematurely pulled

By Annie Doge

This Union Square apartment has certainly seen its fair share of scandal. Notorious former Congressman Anthony Weiner, along with wife and Hillary Clinton aide Huma Abedin, moved into the duplex rental at Zeckendorf Towers in November 2014, just after his failed mayoral run and sexting scandal. And now that Abedin filed for divorce (nearly nine years since the couple announced their separation) after Weiner pled guilty to sending sexual text messages to a minor, they may finally be parting ways with the contemporary home. Three days ago, the Post reported that the unit hit the market for $11,900 a month, but the listing has since been pulled, perhaps from the publicity or because it was rented.
Take a look around

Celebrities

May 30, 2017

MAP: Battery Park City is the country’s most expensive zip code for renters

With little surprise, Manhattan comes in first for the highest apartment rents in the country, with Battery Park City leading the way for the most outrageous prices. According to data collected by RentCafe and assembled into an interactive map, the average rent in this downtown 'hood is about $6,000 per month, followed by the Upper East Side averaging $4,898 per month and the Upper West Side $4,892. Other pricey Manhattan zip codes that made the top ten include the Lower East Side, Soho and Clinton.
Find out the average rent of your zip code

Real Estate Trends

May 30, 2017

Redeveloping NYC’s armories: When adaptive reuse and community building bring controversy

Constructed between the 18th and 20th centuries to resemble massive European fortresses and serve as headquarters, housing, and arms storage for state volunteer militia, most of America’s armories that stand today had shed their military affiliations by the later part of the 20th century. Though a number of them did not survive, many of New York City’s historic armories still stand. While some remain in a state of limbo–a recent setback in the redevelopment plans of Brooklyn's controversial Bedford-Union Armory in Crown Heights raises a familiar battle cry–the ways in which they've adapted to the city’s rollercoaster of change are as diverse as the neighborhoods that surround them.
Find out how the city's armories have fared

May 26, 2017

Former writing studio of NY Review of Books founder Elizabeth Hardwick asks $1.4M

This quaint Upper West Side one bedroom comes from the Central Park Studios, an apartment cooperative built in 1905 by artists and writers for the purpose of creating living and studio space for their creative endeavors. Unsurprisingly, this apartment has its own creative history: it served as the writing studio to Elizabeth Hardwick, acclaimed author and co-founder of the New York Review of Books. She lived here with her husband, the poet Robert Lowell, until her death in 2007. The present owner, according to the listing, then wrote his first published book here. So who will be the next writer to continue the apartment's creative energy, for the asking amount of $1.42 million?
See the full space

Distinctive Homes

Trader Joe’s opening second 14th Street location

Rendering of 432-438 East 14th Street via Benenson Capital Partners, LLC

May 26, 2017

Trader Joe’s opening second 14th Street location

It's been 11 years since Trader Joe's opened its first NYC location on Union Square, and now the discount grocer has three others in Manhattan, one in Brooklyn, and one in Queens. This past year, they announced that new outposts will open in Brooklyn Heights, the Upper West Side (their second in the neighborhood), Soho, and on the Lower East Side at Essex Crossing, and today The Real Deal reports they've inked a deal for a 23,000-square-foot space across from Stuyvesant Town, just three avenues east on 14th Street from their original store. The site at 432 East 14th Street is replacing the former Stuyvesant Post Office, a controversial closure that even launched a local "save the post office" campaign.
Get the whole scoop

Uncategorized

May 25, 2017

Hudson Yards’ art center The Shed wraps up steel construction on its movable shell