Manhattan

On the eastern fringe of bustling Midtown, the (mostly) pre-war Tudor City complex was built as rentals by Fred French in the 1920s to give office workers easy access to their jobs while enjoying efficient and elegant living conditions. The buildings were converted to co-ops in the 1980s, and they've retained their elegance and compact efficiency. Woodstock Tower at 320 East 42nd Street is one of the most charming buildings among them, and this cheerful studio with city views, asking a pied-a-terre-friendly $375,000, is a fine example.
Lots of photos, this way

Distinctive Homes

April 12, 2017

Astoria, Morningside Heights and Bay Ridge have highest turnover of rent-stabilized apartments

Scoring a rent-stabilized apartment is a big win in New York City, as these regulated pads usually offer rent at below-market rates and provide tenants more protections against landlords. While more than 925,000 rent-stabilized apartments still exist in the city, these units turn over at a faster rate in certain neighborhoods than others, and their availability continues to dwindle (h/t WYNC). According to a new report by the city’s Independent Budget Office (IBO), the neighborhoods of Astoria, Morningside Heights and Bay Ridge all have high concentrations of rent-regulated housing built prior to 1974 and therefore, higher rates of turnover compared to other parts of the city.
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April 12, 2017

Snag a clean, classic design from gallery owner Taymour Grahne at this $3.5M Tribeca condo

You would expect the apartment of an art gallery owner to look stunning, and this Tribeca condo does not dissapoint. It's owned by Taymour Grahne, founder of the local Taymour Grahne Gallery. He paid $2.7 million for the two-bedroom pad at 8 Warren Street back in 2011, and now it's asking $3.5 million. The interior, of course, has some great artwork alongside a simple, paired-down design that compliments the exposed brick and high ceilings.
Get the grand tour

Distinctive Homes

April 11, 2017

Coughlin Architecture gives an actor’s 500-square-foot penthouse an efficient design update

By Rebecca Paul

Living in a tiny apartment no longer has a stigma attached to it. If anything, their inhabitants and the architects who outfit them seem to revel in their diminutive stature. One such example is this mere 500-square-foot penthouse apartment located on West 56th street across from the Hearst Tower, recently given a sweeping update by Coughlin Architecture. The home's owner, an actor splitting time between NYC and LA, requested an open, bright space, with a minimal kitchen and bathroom.
see more inside

Distinctive Homes

April 11, 2017

Spend the summer creating in this Soho artists’ loft with a giant studio for $7,300 a month

This 2,500 square-foot full-floor space at 458 Broadway definitely captures the essence of the timeless Soho artists' loft, from the enormous window-lined studio to the sleek loft kitchen and colorful bath. It's available for rent from June through August for $7,300 a month; furnished and in the midst of non-stop Soho, it could be the perfect way to step into the loft life for the summer.
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Distinctive Homes

April 11, 2017

Contest winners suggest a car-free 14th Street with shuttles and bike lanes during L train shutdown

Advocacy group Transportation Alternatives has been trying to stay focused on grounded solutions–literally, as opposed to the tunnel and skyway ideas that are also being discussed–to mitigate the anticipated possible chaos when the dreaded 15-month L train shutdown hits. The organization is aiming for the ear of the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the MTA which control street design and bus expansion, respectively. The group recently held an "L-ternative" contest seeking pedestrian-centered proposals for main transit corridors along the L line, such as 14th street, Gothamist reports. The winning proposal, called 14TH ST.OPS, imagines a (car) traffic-free 14th Street with a six-stop shuttle bus using dedicated lanes, plus protected bike lanes.
Check out the winning post-L-Train vision

April 11, 2017

A design proposal envisions a cantilevered transit hub on Roosevelt Island

Roosevelt Island, the mile-long neighborhood that lies in the East River between Manhattan and Queens, will be a stop on the NYC Ferry route that connects Astoria to Wall Street beginning in August. While this will ease access to other parts of the city for residents of the island, French architect Victor Ostojic has another idea. As Curbed reported, Ostojic published a conceptual proposal of a cantilevered glass-covered ferry terminal on the western side of the island. Located parallel to Manhattan’s East 63rd Street, the terminal would include ground-floor retail, a food court, office space and a luxury hotel on top.
See renderings of the transit hub

April 10, 2017

The New Design Project’s Park Avenue apartment has an uptown address with downtown style

By Rebecca Paul

This beautiful Park Avenue apartment from the The New Design Project reflects the elegance and refinement synonymous with its Upper East Side address but also boasts a unique downtown vibe made possible by the studio's signature aesthetic. The light-filled home is adorned with modern furniture and lighting, as well as carefully curated floor treatments and accessories.
See the whole home

April 10, 2017

There’s plenty of charm packed into this 330-square-foot Tudor City pad, asking $364K

You can do a lot with 330 square feet, and for proof, look no further than this studio apartment at 45 Tudor City Place, one of the co-ops that makes up Tudor City in Murray Hill. The unit has just hit the market for an appealing price tag of $364,000. It's a corner studio with exposures to the south and west and views over Tudor City Park. Large closets and a murphy bed help with storage, while high ceilings and the large, original windows provide extra breathing room.
See more right this way

Distinctive Homes

Gamma Real Estate closes on $86M purchase of 3 Sutton Place, taps Thomas Juul-Hansen for new design

The original rendering of 3 Sutton Place by Foster + Partners

April 10, 2017

Gamma Real Estate closes on $86M purchase of 3 Sutton Place, taps Thomas Juul-Hansen for new design

Following a contentious legal battle, Gamma Real Estate has won the foreclosure auction and closed on the $86 million acquisition of 3 Sutton Place, a development site where the firm plans on building a 700-foot-tall condominium tower. As Commercial Observer learned, this includes three neighboring lots at 428-432 East 58th Street between First Avenue and Sutton Place. Earlier this year, 6sqft explained that a bankruptcy judge authorized the sale of the property after Joseph Beninati’s Bauhouse Group failed to pay back creditors. While Stephen B Jacobs remains the executive architect, Gamma has hired Thomas Juul-Hansen, a Danish-born architect, who will design the skyscraper.
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Real Estate Trends

April 10, 2017

Village carriage house rented by Taylor Swift with a pool, garage and elevator asks $24.5M

Last June, 6sqft reported that pop siren Taylor Swift was renting a carriage house at 23 Cornelia Street in the West Village for $40,000 a month while the Tribeca penthouse she'd purchased was undergoing a $535,000 renovation. The 1912 brick carriage house, which features a swimming pool, an elevator and a private garage, is now on the market for $24.5 million. The renovated home, owned by Soho House executive David Aldea who purchased it for $5.3 million in 2005, also boasts five bedrooms and several terraces in addition to its idyllic location and historic charm.
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 8, 2017

For $1M this Hell’s Kitchen duplex has lots of wood and brick and plenty of flexibility

This two-bedroom duplex co-op at 357 West 55th Street in West Midtown has a lot going for it considering its $999,000 ask. With a double-height, exposed-brick wall and wood details such as the spiral stair that connects its two floors, there's a warmth that makes this apartment unique. Two full baths make the space guest-friendly, in addition to the fact that you can enter from either floor.
See more of both floors

Distinctive Homes

April 7, 2017

What this $492K Chelsea studio lacks in size it makes up for in beauty and brains

On the top floor of a classic walk-up co-op building in the Chelsea Historic District, which happens to possess one of the loveliest roof decks in the neighborhood, this compact studio apartment at 333 West 21st Street offers old-world charm and some smart ways to make the small space work. For the first, high beamed ceilings, a wall of exposed brick, a decorative fireplace and large windows work their magic. For the second, a sleeping loft adds to the floor space. At $492,000 it's less than you'd expect to pay for any size Chelsea apartment that's well-appointed and ideally located.
Explore this small but smart apartment

Distinctive Homes

April 7, 2017

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC’s rental concessions

By Ondel Hylton

Live in a Former Tootsie Roll Factory with 1 Month of Free Rent [link] Grand Opening of Related Companies’ New Hudson Square Rental at 261 Hudson Street [link] American Copper Buildings Begin to Welcome First Residents [link] Two Months of Free Rent at Park West Village, Only One Block from Central Park [link] Upper West […]

Real Estate Trends

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 7, 2017

Ari Onassis’ former Sutton Place townhouse hits the market for $30M

The exclusive neighborhood of Sutton Place has been described as a "riverside enclave for the well-to-do," and Sutton Square, which sits at the end of 58th Street and offers its residents an expansive shared garden perhaps best embodies this exclusivity. It makes sense then that Aristotle Onassis and his first wife Tina once lived in this magnificent townhouse at 16 Sutton Square; John Whitehead later lived in the same home for the last 26 years of his life. The 12-room house, now on the market for $29,950,000, also has a private backyard, as well as a terrace perfect for boat watching and a spectacular glass, circular staircase that "virtually cantilevers over the river."
See the exclusive townhouse here

Distinctive Homes

April 7, 2017

Townhouse once owned by President Martin Van Buren hits the market for the first time in 53 years

You could now own a piece of New York presidential history for $4.9 million. The Federalist-style townhouse at 150 East 38th Street, in Murray Hill, was once called home by President Martin Van Buren. This is, without a doubt, one of the most unique properties in New York--besides the presidential ownership, ironwork frames the entryway, a squat structure connected to the four-story townhouse. It was built in 1857, altered in 1935, and then restored in the early 2000s. The interior will bring you back in time, with fireplaces, wood paneling and coffered ceilings.
Don't miss the interior tour

April 6, 2017

Funky, renovated West Harlem townhouse has hit the market for $4.5 million

This Harlem townhouse is one of a kind, thanks to a recent renovation. Located at 363 West 120th Street--just a half block from Morningside Park--the historic property was configured into an owner's triplex with a rental duplex below. While some interior details like the original tile and woodwork were integrated with the design, the overall aesthetic feels more modern, with bold additions like steel doors, recessed lighting and a super sleek kitchen. The unique finished product is now on the market asking $4.5 million.
Time to take a look

Distinctive Homes

April 6, 2017

Supermodel and philanthropist Petra Němcová sells $3M Tribeca condo with huge terrace

By Annie Doge

Supermodel Petra Němcová first hit it big in 2003 when she appeared on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, but the very next year she made headlines for a very different reason when she survived the Indian Ocean tsunami after holding onto a palm tree branch for eight hours. This inspired her to found the Happy Hearts Fund, which rebuilds schools in areas hit by natural disaster. The nonprofit is headquartered in Hudson Square, so it makes sense that Němcová has been living nearby at 200 Chambers Street in Tribeca. She listed the striking corner unit, which has one of the building's largest private terraces, for $3.5 million in 2016, but the Post now tells us that after a recent price chop to $2,995,000 it's found a buyer.
Check it out

April 6, 2017

Rosie O’Donnell checks out $5.75M mod co-op on the Upper West Side

By Annie Doge

It's been two-and-a-half years since Rosie O'Donnell sold her chic Greenwich Village penthouse for $9 million, presumably spending more time at her other home in Nyack. But it looks like she's ready to move back to NYC, as the Post says that she's been house hunting on the Upper West Side. O'Donnell reportedly checked out a $5.75 million spread at the historic artist co-op 27 West 67th Street--part of the West 67th Street Artists’ Colony History District. The ultra-mod duplex is currently owned by internationally famed artist Abby Leigh, whose late husband was Tony-winning “Man of La Mancha” composer Mitch Leigh.
Take a look around

Sale of $79.5M Upper East Side mansion sets new record for Manhattan’s most expensive townhouse

Image via Google Street View

April 6, 2017

Sale of $79.5M Upper East Side mansion sets new record for Manhattan’s most expensive townhouse

Image via Google Street View 6sqft reported in November that the 25,000-square-foot, 41-foot-wide townhouse at 19 East 64th Street belonging to art heir David Wildenstein had gone into contract for $81 million. The sale has closed for $79.5 million–$3,180 a foot–according to public records, setting a new record for Manhattan's priciest townhouse sale; the previous record was held by the Harkness mansion at 4 East 75th Street, which sold for $53 million in 2006. According to The Real Deal, the buyer, listed as 19-21 East 64th Holding LLC, is affiliated with HNA Holdings Group CEO Roy Liao. HNA Holdings Group is also behind the $2.2 billion deal to purchase 245 Park Avenue. The 1930s townhouse is the former home of the Wildenstein gallery.
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Real Estate Trends

April 5, 2017

REVEALED: Inside the model residences of Zaha Hadid’s 520 West 28th Street

By Dana Schulz

Just a few days after the first anniversary of Zaha Hadid's death, developer Related Companies has revealed the first look inside the apartments at 520 West 28th Street--the Pritzker Prize-winning architect's first (and possibly only) NYC project. The first is a 4,500-square-foot, $15 million four-bedroom designed by Jennifer Post, combining her signature elegant, minimal aesthetic with Hadid's futuristic, architectural vision. The other is a 1,700-square-foot, $4.9 million unit from West Chin who employs his signature modern style in a way that complements the building's signature curves and organic indoor and outdoor architecture. Both spaces will serve as the building's sales gallery before the anticipated June 2017 move-in.
See all the renderings here

April 5, 2017

Tom Brady and Gisele looking to upgrade apartments at 70 Vestry Street

By Annie Doge

With deflatgate behind him and another Super Bowl win under his belt, Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady is looking to upgrade apartments. The Post reports that he and supermodel wife Gisele Bündchen may be trading up from the 11th floor spread at Tribeca's 70 Vestry Street they bought for $20 million in August to a $35 million unit on the floor above. Why? The speculation is that Brady wants to be on floor 12, the same number as his jersey. Perhaps it's pure ego or superstition since his jersey was recently stolen after the big game. Either way, the Robert A.M. Stern-designed building won't be complete until next year, so the power couple has some time to make a final Hail Mary.
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April 5, 2017

Ralph Lauren closing flagship store amid Fifth Avenue slowdown