Manhattan

If you think the Lower East Side has turned into a big sausage party, check out this listing–you'll see it's nothing new. The unassuming brick building at 170 Eldridge Street has written in peeling paint across the top of one of the loading bays "Office of / S. Oppenheimer" and "S. Oppenheimer." Dating from somewhere between 1875 and 1879, this is considered by some to be the city's oldest painted signage. The sausage casing distributor was started in Chicago by Sigmund Oppenheimer, who emigrated from Mannheim, Germany in 1868 and flourished for nearly a century, with offices worldwide and a New York presence that began in the 1870s at this address and later expanded to 96 Pearl Street and elsewhere in the city. Since 1996, the property has been a rare and fascinating mixed-use townhouse for restaurateur Georges Forgeois, whose enduring establishments (Jules Bistro, Cafe Noir, Bar Tabac) are standout destinations in their respective neighborhoods. Forgeois' brother, Dany, purchased the property in 1996 for $200,000 and later transferred ownership to Georges, according to records, in 2012. The home was listed in November for $12 million and just got a broker change and a price chop to $9.5M.
Find out more and take a look inside

April 20, 2016

Thor/General Growth File Permits to Add New Office Space Atop Fifth Avenue’s Upcoming ‘Coach House’

Part of its overall marketing plan to reinvent itself, Coach has leased space at 685 Fifth Avenue for a new flagship location to be called "Coach House." As outlined in new DOB filings and renderings, the luxury retailer will occupy a three-story corner portion at the base of the building, amounting to 23,400 square feet. As part of the property's transformation, floor area from the lower levels will be removed and redistributed to the top of the 20-story building, providing five new floors of office space and raising the building's height from 227 feet to 292 feet.
Watch the marketing video for the project

New Developments

April 20, 2016

‘Wolf of Wall Street’ Apartment With a Tricked-Out Private Garage Asks $25M

This Tribeca property isn't the kind that hits the market everyday. It belongs to Alan Wilzig, who was a character in "The Wolf of Wall Street," introducing Leonardo DiCaprio's character to the woman who becomes his wife. Wilzig is an entrepreneur and semi-professional racecar driver, meaning that his three-story, 6,500-square-foot condo at 7 Hubert Street comes with a very tricked-out garage. This unit has been on and off the market since 2014, asking as much as $44 million, and now it's down to $24,885,000.
Take a tour

Distinctive Homes

April 19, 2016

Yankees Commentator and Former Pitcher David Cone Scores $8M Greenwich Lane Pad

By Annie Doge

David Cone, former MLB pitcher (you might remember that perfect game he threw for the Yankees in '99) and current Yankees commentator for the YES Network, has scored an $8.1 million apartment at the Greenwich Lane, according to city records. This is slightly up from the $7.97 million ask. The four-bedroom spread takes up more than 2,800 square feet and features a private balcony, beamed ceilings, northern and southern exposures, and a luxurious master suite.
Check out the impressive floorplan

April 19, 2016

Creator of the Lowline Designed a Secret Door in This Sleek Tribeca Rental

James Ramsey is the man behind Raad Studio, the design firm well known for its proposal to build out the Lowline on the Lower East Side. The firm is also known for its kooky, unique interiors, and it's given this two-bedroom apartment at Tribeca's 151 Hudson Street plenty of personality. Prewar details are paired with contemporary features like a glass-walled wet bar, built-in shelving, and even a custom bookcase that hides a secret door into one of the bedrooms.
Check it out

Distinctive Homes

April 19, 2016

Jessica Chastain’s Lovely Greenwich Village Duplex Now on the Market for $1.8M

By Annie Doge

Jessica Chastain put her former digs at 250 Mercer Street on the rental market for $11,500 a month back in September. But it looks like now she's trying to unload the Greenwich Village duplex for good, as the Observer reports that the apartment has been re-listed for sale at $1.8 million. Chastain bought the 1,284-square-foot home in 2012 for $1.2 million, so she's not turning that much of a profit, but considering she bought a $5.1 million residence at the historic Osborne last year (that once belonged to Leonard Bernstein), we'd say this isn't much of an issue.
Take a tour

April 18, 2016

Skyline Wars: In Lower Manhattan, A New Downtown Is Emerging

By Carter B. Horsley

Carter Uncut brings New York City’s latest development news under the critical eye of resident architecture critic Carter B. Horsley. This week Carter brings us his fourth installment of “Skyline Wars,” a series that examines the explosive and unprecedented supertall phenomenon that is transforming the city’s silhouette. In this post Carter looks at the evolution of the Lower Manhattan skyline. Lower Manhattan at the start of the Great Depression was the world’s most famous and influential skyline when 70 Pine, 20 Exchange Place, 1 and 40 Wall Street, and the Woolworth and Singer buildings inspired the world with their romantic silhouettes in a relatively balanced reach for the sky centered around the tip of Lower Manhattan. Midtown was not asleep at the switch and countered with the great Empire State, the spectacular Chrysler and 30 Rockefeller Plaza but they were scattered and could not topple the aggregate visual power and lure of Lower Manhattan and its proverbial “view from the 40th floor” as the hallowed precinct of corporate America until the end of World War II. The convenience and elegance of Midtown, however, became increasingly irresistible to many.
More on the the history of Lower Manhattan and what's in store

April 18, 2016

Donald Trump’s Failed and Fraught Attempt to Own the Empire State Building

By Dana Schulz

In 2000, shortly after ending his first presidential run, Donald Trump was asked for what he would like to be remembered. He responded, "I'd like to own the Empire State Building," adding that it would make him "New York's Native Son." As Crain's recalls, he came awfully close to renaming the iconic tower the "Trump Empire State Building Tower Apartments." For nearly a decade, Trump had a 50 percent, no-cost stake in the building, but he lost it when he attempted a hostile takeover of the structure in the late 90s.
Read about the entire saga

History

April 18, 2016

Construction Begins on Gene Kaufman-Designed Apartments Rising Over Bryant Park

At a narrow Midtown lot at 1050 Sixth Avenue, construction is moving forward on a slender 24-story residential tower penned by New York's most beloved architect, Gene Kaufman. Rising behind the landmarked Bryant Park Studios Building (aka The Beaux-Arts Building), Kaufman's oft substance-less style will likely stand in sharp contrast to the charming 1901 structure. Skyline Developers, the New York division of Jersey-based Garden Homes Development, are the developers. The Orin Wilf-led firm owns the adjacent art-deco office tower at 1040 Sixth Avenue, and their new venture here will replace two turn-of-the-century walk-up buildings.
More details ahead

April 18, 2016

Mega-Mansion Watch: National Academy Lists Three UES Properties for $120M

Three lots in Carnegie Hill on the Upper East Side comprising the National Academy Museum & School just hit the market for $120 million. The prize properties, situated directly on Central Park, could be "one of the most remarkable conversion opportunities currently available in all of New York City." The property, listed by Cushman & Wakefield, includes two interconnected townhouses at 1083 Fifth Avenue and 3 East 89th Street, and a 65-foot-wide school building on East 89th Street, adding up to over 42,000 square feet of of above-grade space plus 12,000 square feet below-grade for "a wide variety of potential visions" including an epic single-family home, boutique condominiums, or continued use as an educational/community facility.
Find out more

April 18, 2016

Robert A.M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South Gets Stoned; New Renderings and Construction Shots

By Ondel Hylton and Julian Friedman

At the forefront of Midtown's high-rise sierra, a new peak is emerging. Simply addressed 220 Central Park South, the two-winged development is being designed by celebrated historian and poet of the city's skyline Robert A.M. Stern and developed by commercial and retail heavyweights Vornado Realty Trust. The tower portion of the complex has already ascended some 300 feet above street level and is noticeable from many parts of Central Park. Ultimately, it will stand 66 stories, 950 feet high, making it among the tallest residential buildings in the city. The exclusive, Central Park South-fronting wing, dubbed "The Villas" is up to the third of 17 stories and will be topped by a palatial quadplex penthouse. Earlier this month, the tower's warm limestone cladding was being applied to the lower mechanical floors, which will have 18- to 24-foot-high ceilings, boosting the building's height by more than 100 feet and allowing nearly all its residences to possess Central Park views. To coincide with the construction work, Vornado recently published a collection of new renderings in a property portfolio, showing us for the first time several new looks at the project, including three full-scale views from Central Park and close-up looks at the base, porte-cochere, and an upper-level interior.
Check out the renderings and construction shots right here

April 17, 2016

Manhattan Loft Uses Cartesian Geometry to Explore Light and Space

By Rebecca Paul

This Manhattan loft, also referred to by the project's architect as the High Loft, was redesigned to meet the needs of a young family of four. The changes were executed with design principles that also examine the play of urban light and views within the home's internal structure. In addition to the home's interior square footage, the family was attracted to the space's 13-foot high ceilings, and several other aspects of the building including its rich history and distinct cast iron structure.
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April 14, 2016

Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo Put Sexy Soho Loft on the Market for $5.5M

By Annie Doge

Just a month after announcing that they're expecting their first child, uber-sexy couple Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo have listed their equally sexy Soho loft. The Observer reports that the pair is looking to unload the sprawling, 2,800-square-foot spread at 112 Green Street to the tune of $5.5 million, $1 million more than they purchased it for in August, 2014. The brokers, Adam Mahfouda and Jules Borbely of Oxford Property Group, are the same team Ms. Prinsloo used to sell her Alphabet City apartment. If the loft-like details--six original cast-iron columns, old-time radiators, restored exposed brick walls, and 13-foot tin ceilings--weren't enough to make you drool, let us throw in the fact that this sale can include all the furniture. We've got our eyes on the huge velvet couches and giant light fixture, but we're not sure if those Louis Vuitton trunks in the master bedroom are part of the deal.
Take the full tour

April 14, 2016

As Rem Koolhaas Finally Designs First NYC Building, A Look Back at His Unbuilt Proposals

Thirty-eight years after the publication of his acclaimed book "Delirious New York," Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas and his global architecture firm the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) seem to have finally landed their first ground-up New York City commission. Excavation is already underway at the 22,000-square-foot project site located at 122 East 23rd Street and will soon host a pair of block-through residential towers articulated by faceted elevations and chiseled corners. While there has been no official announcement that Koolhaas is on board, several consultant websites and Linkedin profiles indicate that the Pritzker Prize-winner has been tapped, while New York-based SLCE will serve as the architects of record. To mark the occasion, and as we eagerly await the design unveiling, 6sqft has rounded up Koolhaas' prior unlucky attempts to build in the city. The proposals befell to the usual suspects that typically stymie bold architecture in the city—community opposition, economic downturns, and the conservative nature of the city's developers and public sector. *Update 4/21: OMA has confirmed their involvement in the project and share that Shohei Shigematsu, partner and director of the firm's New York office, is leading the design effort.
See it all right here

April 14, 2016

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Week – 4/14-4/20

By Lori Zimmer

In a city where hundreds of interesting happenings occur each week, it can be hard to pick and choose your way to a fulfilling life. Art Nerd‘s philosophy is a combination of observation, participation, education and of course a party to create the ultimate well-rounded week. Jump ahead for Art Nerd founder Lori Zimmer’s top picks for 6sqft readers! This week, check out the giant swimming pool that is smack in the middle of Rockefeller Center, or frolic with the two-story bunnies in Battery Park City. Photographer Joe Russo shares pieces from his years of shooting celebs and artists, and the annual AIPAD photographer show takes over the gorgeous Park Avenue Armory. Music novelist Ben Vendetta talks about 90s Brit Pop at Otto's Shrunken Head, and old school graffiti artist BIO shares new work in the Bronx. And finally, save your pennies to party in style with Swizz Beatz at the Brooklyn Museum.
more on all the best events this way

Events & Things To Do

April 13, 2016

New Photos of Judy Garland’s Former Dakota Apartment Designed by Sasha Bikoff

By Rebecca Paul

6sqft has already covered the listing for this impeccable and impressive $16.7M apartment previously owned by the one and only Judy Garland, but now we've come across additional images offering a more detailed look into this space at the iconic Dakota. The home was designed by Sasha Bikoff, and from room to room the interior seamlessly combines a variety of patterns and pieces, spanning across design styles and movements without a hiccup. The color palette is simultaneously both bold and soft, and each room is packed full of unique design vignettes.
Have a closer look at the stunning home here

April 13, 2016

East Village Speakeasy Turned Condo Building Has a Duplex Up for Rent

Many, many years ago, the East Village building at 12 Avenue A was a speakeasy and dancehall. Today, it's a luxury condo with a very pricey unit up for rent—a four-bedroom duplex asking a hefty $24,500/month. The owner is looking for a short- or long-term renter to enjoy this lofty, open space. Its days as a dance hall are long gone, as the sleek interior is now decked out with modern artwork, a private roof deck and fancy finishes like Carrara marble and dark oak floors.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

April 13, 2016

AC/DC Bassist Cliff Williams’ Former West Village Condo Is Back on the Market for $3M

This two-bedroom condominium in a chic and adorably urban corner of the West Village at 63 Downing Street looks a lot like an apartment a model or actress buys after she gets her first big gig (though in that context the ask is pretty steep; what kind of world is it when starter model apartments are selling for $3M?). She'll move in with a boyfriend soon thereafter, and rent the pad out for a few years. Then if she's done well, she'll make celebrity real estate headlines when she sells it and buys a big loft in Williamsburg or Bushwick. There are a lot of models and actresses out there, so this sunny downtown pad with almost as much outdoor space as indoor should be snapped up in no time. Apparently, it's the kind of apartment that elder statesman rockers with plenty of cash buy, too, because AC⚡️DC bassist Cliff Williams owned this unit with his wife Georganne for nine years before selling it in 2013 for $2.3 million—well over the $1.89M ask (the couple have a daughter who's a model and actress, so it all fits somehow). Williams made a killing selling his Fort Myers, Florida mansion for $7 million about a year ago, so there's something to be said for his real estate karma.
Take a look at these summer-ready terraces

April 12, 2016

Keith Olbermann Lists Trump Palace Condo for $4M in Opposition to Presidential Candidate

By Dana Schulz

CityRealty recently took a closer look at if and how Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric is affecting his real estate empire. They found that, despite how polarizing he is a presidential candidate, it's unlikely that anything will change thanks to an established trust in his brand and the city's current supply and demand status. But there's at least one New Yorker who disagrees, and he's taken a bold step to prove it. The Wall Street Journal reports that liberal commentator Keith Olbermann has listed his Upper East Side condo in the Trump Palace for $3.9 million in opposition to the presidential candidate. Though he's taking a loss on the listing price (he bought the 40th floor pad for $4.2 million in 2007, near the height of the market), he said "I feel 20 pounds lighter since I left... If they had changed the name of it to something more positive like Ebola Palace I would have happily stayed."
But what does Mr. Trump have to say?

April 12, 2016

$3.8M Soho Pad Boasts a Townhouse Design in a Condo Building

You don't find many townhouses in Soho, a neighborhood better known for its massive warehouses converted to lofty apartments. The next best thing? This triplex condo at 29 King Street that feels a whole lot like a townhouse. Each of the three floors is accessed by a private elevator, with a double-height living room that looks out onto the unit's 900-square-foot garden. The townhouse layout then comes with condo perks like a full-time super, laundry room and storage.
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Distinctive Homes

April 12, 2016

The Port Authority Paid $47.6M in 2015 to Cover Condé Nast’s Move to One WTC

By Dana Schulz

Though the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey would like you to think it's been smooth sailing finding tenants for One World Trade Center, their spending habits say otherwise. As Crain's reported, more than a year after Condé Nast made the big move from 4 Times Square to One World Trade, the agency is still dropping $3 million a month to pay for the old lease. This deal came about in 2011 when the Port Authority offered the incentive to entice the media company to relocate amid floundering activity at the downtown tower. In 2015 alone, they spent $47.6 million, and the payments are expected to continue into 2019 (when the lease ends) unless building owner the Durst Organization can find a new tenant.
More details ahead

Policy

April 12, 2016

Luciano Pavarotti’s $10.5M Pied-à-Terre and Next Door Unit Listed as $20M Combo

The 2,000-square-foot co-op at the Hampshire House at 150 Central Park South that was for three decades the favorite Manhattan pied-à-terre of the late operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti, is for sale for $10.5M–or as part of a two-unit, $20.5 million option to create a 3,300 square-foot three-bedroom dream home with two balconies and iconic Central Park views. The neighboring two-bedroom apartment–listed in February for $10 million–is about half the size of Pavarotti's place, but has a 40-foot terrace with park views from every room. The resulting three-bedroom combo has 72 feet of park frontage and the kind of stunning views Central Park South is known for. The opera star, who passed away in 2007, had several apartments in the city but was particularly fond of this one, in part because of its proximity to the Met. The other two members of the "Three Tenors" opera supergroup, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras have lived at this building as well at various times.
Take in the view, this way

April 11, 2016

Uma Thurman’s Newly-Listed $6.25M Gramercy Duplex Comes With a Key to the Park

Actress Uma Thurman has just listed her Gramercy Park duplex co-op at 1 Lexington Avenue for $6.25M; a key to the private park is part of the deal. Thurman lived at the prewar co-op for nearly 15 years, buying several additional units and combining them—while keeping a hand in the real estate game all the while, including a four-bedroom co-op at the venerable River House at 435 East 52nd Street, purchased from romance author Barbara Taylor Bradford in 2013 for $10 million. She's finally parting ways with her Gramercy home to make that move uptown. The "Kill Bill" star reminisces in a NY Times interview about her family life in the building, "It was such a cozy place—it really was home for us."
Check out the gorgeous home that resulted

April 11, 2016

How Much Is Eloise’s Plaza Apartment Worth? And Stuart Little’s Gramercy Townhouse?

By Michelle Sinclair Colman

It is well known that Eloise lived in The Plaza. But the book was published in 1955, well before Manhattan real estate skyrocketed. So what would her apartment be worth today? In fact, many children’s books have been set in New York City—think "Harriet the Spy" or "Stuart Little." In this day and age of record-setting prices, how much would those fictional characters have to pay to live in their homes today? Who would have seen the most appreciation, Eloise or Lyle Crocodile? Much detective work (à la Harriet) reveals the residences of a boy-mouse and a anthropomorphized girl dog span various neighborhoods including the Upper East Side, Gramercy Park, and Park Slope. What follows is a survey of six iconic picture books set in New York City and the current valuations of their fictional homes.
Check them out here

Real Estate Trends

April 11, 2016

One of Manhattan’s Last Wood Frame Homes Is Up For Rent Asking $13K/Month

There are very few wood frame homes remaining in Manhattan -- with some sprinkled throughout neighborhoods like the Upper East Side and the Village -- but here's one at 312 East 53rd Street, in Turtle Bay. It was constructed in 1866, right before the city prohibited further construction of wooden buildings due to the fire hazard. Since then, this home, and its wood-framed neighbor next door, amazingly still stand. Residents of both homes can be traced all the way back to 1866 -- No. 312 was once occupied by Lincoln Kirstein, who would go on to found the New York City Ballet. Its latest owners are Jessica and Robert Nacheman, a principal at the engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti, who bought it back in 2012 for $2.275 million and put it up for rent.
See more of the interior

April 10, 2016

Construction Begins at Gene Kaufman-Designed Gramercy Hotel