Manhattan

July 27, 2015

Harlem Townhouse Rental Mixes the Old and the New for $7,500/Month

Here's a historic Harlem townhouse, at 30 East 130th Street, now up on the rental market. From the exterior, it has pretty much retained its 1900s-era features. But the interior is a mix of the historic and the new as the result of a 2012 renovation. It's the type of place we picture a bunch of young professionals pooling funds to rent–at $7,500 a month with six bedrooms, you'd get decent bang for your buck. And what young New Yorker hasn't dreamed of renting a townhouse with all of their friends?
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Distinctive Homes

Roman Abramovich; View of the three townhouses — 11, 13, 15 (from L to R)

July 24, 2015

Roman Abramovich Closes on Third UES Townhouse for His $80M Makeshift Mansion

By Dana Schulz

At the beginning of the year, news broke that Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich had secretly bought a townhouse at 11 East 75th Street for $29.7 million, which followed his purchase of a townhouse two doors down for $18.3 million a month earlier. So, of course, we all assumed that he would snatch up the townhouse wedged in between to create his very own makeshift mansion. And now it's official, as the Daily News reports today that Abramovich has closed on the townhouse at 13 East 75th Street for $30 million, bringing his total up to nearly $80 million.
Find out more here

July 24, 2015

Construction Update: Tribeca’s ‘Jenga Tower’ 56 Leonard Tops Out

By Heather Cooper Vivares

Last January, 6sqft reported on the the progress of Alexico Group /Hines' project 56 Leonard: The concrete structure was around 700 feet tall with little more than 100 feet to rise. Now, alas, the 821-foot Tribeca tower, playfully known as "the Jenga building" and designed by Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, has finally topped out! With a delivery date expected sometime next year, all that remains for its wacky floor plate configurations and erratic cantilevered projections is the remainder of its exterior cladding, which we hear will now also progress from the top down, and the interior fit-out of its 145 residences.
More details this way

July 24, 2015

This Hip, Huge Artist Loft in Soho Will Not Come Cheap

By Emily Nonko

If you're looking for a short-term stay in Manhattan that will epitomize everything about the life of a glitzy artist, look no further. (Warning: it's going to cost you.) This artist loft in SoHo, at 20-26 Greene Street, is available for a two to five month rental. Of course, it's downright pricy to live as an artist with a great downtown apartment, and this particular unit is asking $10,500 a month. Look at it this way: it's cheaper than buying one for $14.5 million. Or $4.375 million. So is the interior worth this rental's price tag?
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Distinctive Homes

July 24, 2015

It’s Storage Galore at This Noho Duplex Renovation by Raad Studio

By Emily Nonko

A challenge that every New York apartment dweller will face eventually is one of storage. This is a city of cozy, compact spaces, and although many of us are lacking the luxury of basements, walk-in closets, garages, etc., we usually make up for it in unique ways. (Hello, lofted apartment!) Raad studio creatively took up the challenge at a duplex in Noho, where storage is so prevalent and seamlessly integrated into the design, it demands a standing ovation from storage-starved New Yorkers everywhere.
See the full reno

July 24, 2015

$51M Time Warner Center Penthouse Sale Sets a Record for the Building

By Diane Pham

Maybe it's the location near Lincoln Center and lots of shopping, or maybe it's the unobstructed views of Central Park, or maybe it's the ease of planting tons of one's foreign cash without worry within its walls, whatever the case may be, the ultra-luxe Time Warner Center has just drawn in a record $50.92 million sale. The owner, Russian billionaire Andrey Vavilov, listed the sprawling 14-room penthouse for $75 million early last year, then dropping the price to $68 million in November, finally landing on $51 million with a buyer known only as "Columbus Family LLC," according to city documents filed today. As CityRealty reveals, the transaction is the highest ever recorded at the building; the runner-up, incidentally, the same unit, which traded hands last in 2009 between Vavilov and Austrian investor Gerhard Andlinger for $37.5 million.
Have a closer look inside

Real Estate Trends

July 24, 2015

Tribeca’s 45 Park Place Site Cleared to Make Way for Slender 660-Foot Skyscraper

By Ondel Hylton

The site of a SOMA Architects-designed Tribeca skyscraper has finally been cleared, signaling that groundwork and construction of the slender 38-story tower may soon be before us. The 12,000-square-foot lot at 45 Park Place owned by El Gamal's SoHo Properties, was formerly three battered pre-war buildings, two of which were a downtown outpost of Burlington Coat Factory. The upcoming as-of-right project will total approximately 135,000 gross square feet and contain 50 condominiums, a public plaza, and a museum designed by French architect Jean Nouvel. A 2010 iteration of the project involving an Islamic cultural center became encircled in controversy due its proximity the World Trade Center site. But now with legal hurdles cleared, the site fully assembled, and city approvals in place, the glass and steel skyscraper is poised to move forward.
Get the scoop here

July 22, 2015

How You Can Live in a Billionaire’s Row Condo for Free AND Make Six Figures

By Diane Pham

Get a job as one of their building managers. As DNA Info reports, if you're just a regular Joe or Jane looking to take up residence in one of the city's priciest towers, you don't need to be a billionaire—or even a millionaire for that matter. The resident managers at four headline-stealing, ultra-luxury towers will live rent-free, in very large apartments, while also earning respectable six-figure salaries for their services.
Find out more here

July 22, 2015

Lauren Bacall’s $23.5M Dakota Apartment Finds a Buyer

By Dana Schulz

Ever since Lauren Bacall passed away last summer, it's been all eyes on her longtime Dakota apartment. First, in November, we learned that the actress's Central Park West home would list for a jaw-dropping $26 million. Then, less than two weeks later, the listing hit, a bit disappointing to many as the photos were the newly-staged versions. But this past March, interior photos of how the place looked when the movie star resided there for more than 50 years were dug up, revealing a treasure trove of antiques and artwork and showcasing beautifully intact original details like fireplaces with carved mantles, huge mahogany doors, and crown molding. In April, the price was reduced by $2.5 million, but now, the Daily News reports that Bacall's wood-paneled apartment has been purchased by a mystery buyer.
See inside the legendary apartment here

July 22, 2015

Soak in Views of Morningside Park from this $1M Classic Six Co-op

By Emily Nonko

Who doesn't love a classic six Manhattan apartment, especially with views of the park? This may not be Central Park, and this may not be a storied Upper East Side co-op building, but we're still loving this apartment up for sale at La Touraine, a 24-unit prewar co-op at 50 Morningside Drive in Morningside Heights. It's got stunning views of Morningside Park, not to mention a beautiful interior. The price isn't cheap, but it's certainly less than a classic six on the market with views of Central Park. The ask comes in at $1.05 million.
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Distinctive Homes

July 22, 2015

New Renderings of 435 West 19th Street, Condo with Private Pools and a Sky Garage

By Ondel Hylton

Work has begun on on Six Sigma's upcoming condo at 435 West 19th Street, and the head-to-toe renovation/addition of the 1924 building seems intent on housing all the most outrageous frills of recent West Chelsea builds under a single roof. Boutique design-and-build firm Six Sigma acquired the 20,000-square-foot office building, once home to the photography studios and sound-stages of CityStage, for $21 million in August 2014. According to the developer's website, Pei Partnership, a firm founded by the sons of renowned Chinese architect I.M. Pei, is crafting the design. Pei Partnership, not to be confused with Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, was also the designers of The Centurion, the Midtown condo lavishly clad in a cascade of Burgundy limestone.
Find out more about this project

July 21, 2015

BIG Ideas: Bjarke Ingels Talks 2 WTC and Why Today’s Skyscrapers Lack Confidence

By Michelle Cohen

Helping to kick off the 2015 New York Times Cities for Tomorrow conference, Danish architect Bjarke Ingels—principal of Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the firm responsible for 2 World Trade Center, Google HQ in Mountain View (with Thomas Heatherwick), the Dry Line and the pyramid-shaped “Via,” AKA 625 West 57th Street, among many others—talked “social infrastructure” with New York Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman. The baby-faced “starchitect 2.0” was his usual quotable and slightly mischievous self, yet, as always, provided plenty of insight on the topic at hand. Well-known for his suggestion that “Architecture at its best is really the power to make the world a little bit more like our dreams," Ingels offered his views on the ideal workspace design, what makes a memorable skyscraper and what some of his toughest challenges have been, in addition to speaking to the architect’s role in the social evolution of modern cities.
Find out the highlights and watch a video of the discussion

Architecture And Design

July 21, 2015

This Sweet West Village Rental Will Win You Over with Its Oversized Windows and Private Roof Deck

By Aisha Carter

There's a cute new two-bedroom rental listed at 255 West 4th Street. The floor-through apartment features two wood-burning fireplaces, a renovated bathroom and kitchen, walk-in closets and skylights, in 1,000 square feet of space. There's also a sizable private roof deck with panoramic city views. And it's available just in time for fall, in early to mid-September.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

July 21, 2015

Perfectly Preserved Harlem Townhouse Asks $3 Million

By Emily Nonko

If you're an old home lover, get ready to swoon. This Harlem townhouse at 465 West 141st Street has all of its historic details intact. Pretty much every room of the house will take you back to 1905, when the townhouse was built. Newer renovations in the kitchen and bathrooms also blend in seamlessly with the older detailing. It's up on the market for a bold price, given that the property is located further north in Harlem, just beyond City College. The current owner bought it last year for $2.3 million, now it's been listed for $2.995 million. After seeing the rest of the interior, you may just wish you could fork over the money right now...
Go inside

Distinctive Homes

July 20, 2015

Julia Roberts Lists Greenwich Village Apartment for $4.5M

By Annie Doge

America's sweetheart, actress Julia Roberts, is unloading her beachy Greenwich Village apartment, according to the Post. The listing, which is not yet public, is held by Stribling and describes a 2,000-square-foot, three-bedroom, three-bathroom co-op at postwar building 45 West 10th Street. Roberts bought the penthouse apartment for $3,895,400 in 2010 and now hopes to get $4.5 million for it.
Check out the home here

July 20, 2015

Rent Hilary Swank’s Designer-Decorated West Village Pad for $20,000

By Annie Doge

The Village is on fire right now with celebrities coming and going. Heidi Klum is renting in the 'hood for the summer; Topher Grace is renting out his loft; Francis Ford Coppola is moving into the same building as De Niro; and just this morning we learned that Julia Roberts is selling her apartment. Now, Hilary Swank is the latest star on the list. The Observer reports that she's renting out her stylish apartment at 400 West 12th Street (the Superior Ink building) for $20,000 a month. Swank bought the 1,500-square-foot, two-bedroom condo in 2009 for $3.64 million. She then enlisted designer Mark Zeff to "create a place that would give her a sense of grace and harmony." The space was photographed for Elle Decor in 2011, where the neutral palette, clean-lines, and serene decor were featured prominently, as was the living room wall made out of reclaimed barn wood. But now that the actress is spending more time on the West coast, she's looking to rent out her West Village home.
Take a look around the apartment

July 20, 2015

Pepsodent, Camel, and Yashica: The Ads and Architecture of Old Times Square

By Jason Carpenter

Everyone has an opinion on the ways Times Square has changed over the decades, but the basic look has been a different variation on the same theme since the late 19th century: Classic architecture covered in gigantic advertisements. Take a trip back in time with us through some pictures ahead—you might be surprised by what kinds of things used to be displayed in this Midtown hub.
See the ads of Old Times Square this way

July 17, 2015

Renderings Revealed of Helpern Architects’ Times Square Hotel for ‘Fashion-Alert Urban Millennials’

By Ondel Hylton

Here's our first look at a four-star, 290-room hotel set to rise just south of Times Square at 252 West 40th Street. Developed by OTO Development, the 20-story, 147,000-square-foot hotel will be the South Carolina-based company's third venture in the city. The 230-foot-tall midrise will be designed by Helpern Architects. According to their website, "the project is targeted to cosmopolitan, fashion-alert urban millennials and is expected to set a new standard and trend for the independent business traveler."
More details this way

First Look at the Interiors of Nomad’s 212 Fifth Avenue

*** Update via the development team: Interior renderings from ASJNY are only conceptual and do not represent the actual project moving forward.

July 17, 2015

First Look at the Interiors of Nomad’s 212 Fifth Avenue

By Ondel Hylton

Here's our first look at what the residences of a highly anticipated condo conversion at 212 Fifth Avenue could look like. In March we revealed a set of whimsical renderings for a conceptual design whipped up by the visualization artists ASJNY. The actual plan going forward, approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission this past April, calls for a more sensitive touch. In addition to carving out 48 homes, the 1913 neo-gothic building's ground-level storefronts will be renovated, its parapets reconstructed, and the tower's stately limestone, terra-cotta and brick exterior will be restored, which may entail creating some additional windows.
More details ahead

July 17, 2015

Francis Ford Coppola Buys $2.5M Apartment in the Same West Village Building as Robert De Niro

By Annie Doge

Famed director Francis Ford Coppola, responsible for “The Godfather” and “Apocalypse Now,” has picked up a $2.5 million apartment at 32 Morton Street, according to The Real Deal. The West Village address is the same building where Robert De Niro and his stepdaughter Drena bought a $2.8 million penthouse back in December. Coppola’s new loft has two […]

July 17, 2015

Cute Pad with Cozy Fireplace in the Heart of Chelsea Asks $650,000

By Aisha Carter

Here's a cheery, sunny pad at 333 West 21st Street, on one of Chelsea's best blocks. This 575-square-foot one-bedroom apartment has prewar details, high quality finishes and a prime location right by the High Line. It last sold two years ago for roughly $525,000, and now it's back on the market, asking $650,000.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

July 16, 2015

Famed Photographer David LaChapelle Lists His Stunning Chelsea Home for $2.5M

By Diane Pham

Photographer David LaChapelle, best known for shooting everyone from Madonna to Michael Jackson to Leonardo Dicaprio and Lady Gaga in some seriously weird situations, has just listed his West Chelsea co-op at 427 West 21st Street for $2.469 million. Surprisingly, unlike the artist's audacious pop-surreal works, his apartment is far more subdued, sporting a very classic look with pops of color and patterns selectively emerging throughout the home's historic interiors.
Have a closer look inside here

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Weekend, 7/16-7/19

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 end of week picks for 6sqft readers!

July 16, 2015

Art Nerd New York’s Top Event Picks for the Weekend, 7/16-7/19

By Lori Zimmer

With the wonderful warm weather we're experiencing right now, there's really no excuse for not getting out of the house (and especially the office) and enjoying a night on the town. This week I've rounded up a flurry of indoor and outdoor events that will satiate your art sensibilities, film fancies, your need to groove, and your stomach! Start the week's end off right tonight by heading to two shows featuring work from art world up-and-comers and photos zooming in on our dystopian future. Then follow that up by chowing down on barbecue at Adam Shopkorn's new food and art cultural hub—which happens to have found a fascinating home in an 1849 Greek Revival row house. On Friday, take in some bites, beverages and movie at the newly revamped South Street Seaport. On Saturday, put your dancing shoes on for an epic party at MoMA PS1 under the COSMO pavilion. And then use Sunday to chill out by fixing your gaze on Annika Connor's lush, romantic paintings, or by taking the fam and some friends over to the Rubin Museum's annual block party.
All the best events to check out here

Events & Things To Do

July 16, 2015

SCDA’s Switchback Skyscraper Launches Teaser Site and Clears Its Midtown East Lot

By Ondel Hylton

Last November, 6sqft brought you news that a 29-unit boutique condominium would rise at the edge of Billionaires' Row, in that somewhat ambiguous zone occupied by Bloomingdale's and Bloomberg LLP. Now, the high-end development's teaser site has launched, which showcases a handful of images of the tower's common spaces, and we took a trip to the site to get a first look at the construction progress. Just last month, the two 4- and 6-story office buildings occupying the site at 116-118 East 59th Street were cleared, and recent Department of Buildings filings reveal that the envisioned $330 million tower will stand exactly 500 feet tall, making it spot-on-the-mark of what we (and other bean-counters) officially deem a skyscraper.
More details and renderings ahead

July 16, 2015

New Initiative Rethinks Lower Manhattan Streetscape to Clear Tourists and Congestion

By Dana Schulz

If you've ever attempted to go shopping at Century 21 on a weekend or take a selfie with the Charging Bull, you know very well the perils of tourist-laden lower Manhattan. The confusing street layout, lack of open gathering spaces, and non-pedestrian-and-cyclist-friendly thoroughfares make the historic neighborhood a bit of a jumble, especially as it's currently undergoing a huge development boom and both residential population and tourism have more than doubled since September 11th. But a new initiative called Make Way for Lower Manhattan hopes to change all this. As DNAinfo reports, the plan's goal is to "highlight tourist areas, like the Seaport, the 9/11 Memorial, The Battery, Wall Street, and connect the dots better for tourists — giving them a means to find their way, stay and spend money without completely congesting the neighborhood." The group presented at this week's Community Board 1 meeting, unveiling ideas like creating a more accessible entrance to the Brooklyn Bridge that also connects people to the nearby South Street Seaport and moving the bull across from the New York Stock Exchange, its original home and much less congested site.
Find out more right here

July 16, 2015

This Peaceful Pad in the Mark Twain Wows with a 70-Foot Wraparound Yard

By Aisha Carter

It's time to zen out in a three-bedroom Greenwich Village pad with tranquil vibes and an impressive "outdoor sanctuary." This Mark Twain residence features two existing bedrooms, pocket doors, a home-office and a sunroom/napping room overlooking a wraparound yard. And it can be yours for $2.95 million.
More pics inside

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