Manhattan

If we had to assign this Greenwich Village apartment to one of the "Sex and the City" gals it would have to be Charlotte for its classic and elegant design. But, in reality, it's home to Candace Bushnell, the woman who wrote the newspaper column and book that inspired the world-famous show. The one-bedroom co-op at 45 East 9th Street was featured in Elle Decor in 2010 as a much more colorful and playful home. Two years later–following her divorce from New York City Ballet dancer Charles Askegard–she listed the place for $2.8 million and then as an $8,000/month rental. Now, three years later, the Observer reports that the listing is back with a very slight slight price chop to $2 million and its new formal look.
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July 15, 2015

POLL: Are You For or Against Extell’s 800-Foot Tower at 250 South Street?

By Dana Schulz

Extell’s 800-foot tower at 250 South Street has been controversial since day one. As we recounted on Friday, “The building was first reported to be 68 stories, then 71 stories, then 56 stories, and now the latest filing with the Department of Buildings has a revised height pinned again at 68 stories, or 800 feet […]

New Developments

July 15, 2015

One57 Received $66M in Tax Breaks in Exchange for Just 66 Units of Affordable Housing

If you need more proof that there are some serious flaws with the 421-a program, once again, look no further than One57. As reported by the Journal, the super-luxe tower was the beneficiary of a whopping $65.6 million tax cut, an abatement granted in exchange for a paltry $5.9 million contribution to help cover the cost of 66 affordable apartments in the Bronx. That means your tax dollars subsidized apartments at nearly $1 million per unit—the highest known subsidy under the program—when affordable units on average cost a mere $179,000 apiece. It's estimated that the generous cut could have provided for 367 affordable apartments. The findings came from the latest review by the city’s Independent Budget Office (IBO).
FInd out more here

Affordable Housing

July 15, 2015

From Clipper Ships to Condos: Construction Begins on 161 Maiden Lane at the Seaport

Site excavation has begun on a sleek condominium tower set to erupt into the forefront of one of Manhattan's most iconic and historical vistas. Developed by Brooklyn-based Fortis Property Group, a 5,000-square-foot site at 161 Maiden Lane is slated to give way to a 150,000 square-foot tower positioned to become downtown's first residential skyscraper directly fronting the East River. Earlier this month, Curbed (via Fredrik Ecklund's Instagram) revealed the project's official name of "One Seaport" and that it will rise 60 stories. Whether that number reflects actual floors or phantom Trump floors remains to be seen, but permits filed with the Department of Buildings last summer detail a 51-story, 640-foot glass prism designed by Goldstein Hill & West Architects (GHWA). Either way, given the project's location, small lot size and lack of height limitations, One Seaport promises to be a new marker in the downtown skyline that will provide its lucky residents with spectacular views of the bridges, Brooklyn, and beyond.
Click here for the past, present, and future of 161 Maiden Lane

190 Bowery Is Already Back on the Market, Aby Rosen Attempts a Flip

EDITOR’S NOTE: An RFR Realty representative reached out to Curbed to say that 190 Bowery is NOT for sale. The listing is not current and will be removed from Cushman & Wakefield’s site.

July 15, 2015

190 Bowery Is Already Back on the Market, Aby Rosen Attempts a Flip

By Dana Schulz

It seems like the saga of 190 Bowery is never going to be over. As you'll recall, photographer Jay Maisel turned the former Germania Bank Building into his own private mansion and lived there from 1966 until February of this year, at which time he sold it to developer Aby Rosen of RFR Realty for $55 million. Like we previously said, "Since that time, it’s been all eyes on Rosen. Is he removing or preserving that iconic graffiti? What the heck happened with that 'public' art show inside the building?" And though the Landmarks Preservation Commission approved plans in May for a restoration and conversion to an office building with ground-floor retail, it now seems that Rosen may be getting cold feet. Curbed reports that he's taking offers for 190 Bowery in what looks like a very high-profile flip attempt.
See what the listing has to say

July 14, 2015

For the Price of One Soho Apartment, You Can Buy 38 Homes in Memphis

By Dana Schulz

We learned last week that the average sales price in Manhattan has skyrocketed to $1.8 million, and while this figure is definitely newsworthy, it's even more shocking when we look at the average price of an apartment in certain neighborhoods. Take tourist-friendly Soho, for example, where it costs an average of almost $3 million ($2,912,792 to be exact) for a residence. Many New Yorkers may be unfazed by this number–it seems that every day now we're being presented with seven-digit statistics. So the folks over at CityLab, decided to put it in perspective, mapping how many homes in cities across the country that $3 million price tag can buy.
See the breakdown here

Real Estate Trends

July 14, 2015

A Bright Beauty in Yoko Ono’s Former Village Co-op Wants $2M

This flexible one-bedroom duplex at 49 Downing Street has two claims to fame: the Greenwich Village stable house in which it resides is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and Yoko Ono once called the penthouse home. This unit's current owner has lived in the space since 2006, and now it's on the market for $1.975 million.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

July 14, 2015

Upper East Side Townhouse With Chanel-Inspired Bathroom Asks $26 Million

By Emily Nonko

Where to begin with this Upper East Side townhouse at 18 East 69th Street? There's the Chanel-inspired bathrooms, an impressive variety of wallpaper, and a bathtub in a bedroom. There's the sheer size of the property, which holds a two-story retail space, a penthouse apartment, and another duplex. Then, of course, there's the price, which comes in at $26 million. It's hard to keep track of everything going on at this property, but one thing's for sure–we've never seen anything like it before.
See the interior

Distinctive Homes

July 13, 2015

New Video Reveals How SHoP’s 626 First Avenue Will Dance into Midtown’s East River Skyline

SHoP Architects' copper-clad fraternal pair of towers is finally rising along the East River, and a handful of newly uncovered images and a fly-through video reassure us that this dancing couple will be the boldest addition to the East River skyline in decades. Developed by Michael Stern's JDS Development Group, the nearly one-million-square-foot project, now known by its address 626 First Avenue, will contain a whopping 800 rental units, placing it in the league of other recent mega-rental developments such as Two Trees' Mercedes House (864 units), Silverstein's River Place (921 rentals), and Moinian's Sky (1,175 units). Like these others, JDS is promising to provide an extravagant amenity package that they claim "will set a new benchmark for rental developments."
Watch the video and find out everything 626 First Avenue will offer

July 13, 2015

New York’s First-Ever Penthouse: A 54-Room Upper East Side Mansion Built for a Cereal Heiress

By Lauren Price

There’s nothing like owning thousands of square feet of living space inside a penthouse, particularly in a town where power is measured by the size of one’s apartment. Ever wonder when the very first penthouse was built in Manhattan? It was in 1925, when George Fuller Construction Company decided to develop a 14-story apartment house at 1107 Fifth Avenue between 91st and 92nd Streets.
The rest of the story this way

July 13, 2015

Charming Loft in the Dietz Lantern Building Asks $12,500/Month

Here's a cool Tribeca loft rental in the Dietz Lantern Building, boasting original details like barrel-vaulted ceilings and exposed brick. This 2,100-square-foot two-bedroom has an interesting layout with access to the second bedroom from the master, and it's available for $12,500 a month.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

July 13, 2015

West Chelsea’s Tallest Tower Rises and Finally Reveals Itself

Residential construction along the High Line continues at full steam as a rash of activity along the park's northern extents rises higher and larger than earlier developments farther south. To provide a gradual transition from mid-rise West Chelsea to the enormous skyscrapers planned for the Far West Side, the Bloomberg administration in 2005 allowed more generous zoning between West 28th and 30th streets along Tenth and Eleventh avenues. Earlier this week Curbed, via ILNY's Flickr photostream, gave us our first look at West Chelsea's future tallest structure, a 425-foot rental tower at 319 Tenth Avenue that is part of a trio of buildings being developed by Long Island-based Lalezarian Properties.
Take a look at this new tower and learn more about it

July 10, 2015

New Yorker Spotlight: Doug Steinberg Keeps the Doors Open at 110-Year-Old New York Central Art Supply

By Susan Cohen

In 1905, Benjamin Steinberg opened up a store on Third Avenue between 10th and 11th Streets. Little did he know then that one day artists like Willem de Kooning would walk through its doors. For the last 110 years, New York Central Art Supply has served the needs of New York's amateur and professional artists. Three generations of the Steinberg family have supplied paper, paints, brushes, and canvases to everyone from first-year art students to Keith Haring. And over the last year, Doug Steinberg, Benjamin's great-grandson, has taken a more active role at New York Central, planning for the store's future. While Doug never formally joined the family business (he currently owns and runs his own company), New York Central has been a constant in his life. He says he's worked there "on and off since I was born," and has a deep appreciation for what his great-grandfather started and his father Steve grew in the '60s and '70s. We recently spoke with Doug to learn about New York Central's rich history, why so many well-known artists purchased and continue to purchase supplies here, and how the store is preparing for its 21st century evolution.
Read the interview right here

July 10, 2015

James Gandolfini’s Former Village Apartment Listed for $21,000/Month

The late James Gandolfini once shared a West Village apartment with his ex-wife Marcy Wudarski Gandolfini, whom he was married to from 1999 to 2002. Several years before splitting, the couple bought two adjacent units in 99 Jane Street–first an $850,000 unit and then a $1 million unit. They combined them into one large four-bedroom pad, but when they split, Wudarski kept the home, and Gandolfini went on to marry wife Deborah Line in 2008 (they were married up until his untimely death in 2013). Now, Wudarski has listed the apartment for $21,000 a month, according to the Daily News.
Take a look around

July 10, 2015

Construction Update: Extell’s Controversial 800-Foot Tower Ready to Rise at 250 South Street

After being slapped with a partial stop-work order about three weeks ago for causing a local street to sink, Extell's Lower East Side mega-development at 250 South Street appears to be back on track. A recent visit to the site shows that piles for the building are again being driven into the bedrock. However, it appears excavation will continue to be an arduous journey since most of the parcel sits on landfill and is only a few feet above street level. Since its reveal last year, the tower has been met with intense public outrage due to its unprecedented height for the mid-rise neighborhood. The building was first reported to be 68 stories, then 71 stories, then 56 stories, and now the latest filing with the Department of Buildings has a revised height pinned again at 68 stories, or 800 feet at its highest floor. To put that in perspective, the neighboring Manhattan Bridge is only 330 feet tall, and just 170 feet at its roadway—meaning the building will be nearly five times the height of the bridge's road deck.
FInd out more here

New Developments

July 9, 2015

Construction Update: NYC’s First Micro Apartment Complex Is Now Fully Stacked

Moving day inches closer for those looking to claim a module in the city's first micro apartment complex. As of this week, My Micro NY is fully stacked, rising 120 feet from its site at 335 East 27th Street at the border of Gramercy in Kips Bay. The project, also known as Carmel Place, is the product of a city-sponsored design competition launched by former mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2012 as a way to test out if micro dwellings could be an answer to the city's housing shortage, and in turn give enough reason for adjusting NY's dated building codes to allow for smaller units better suited for today's shrinking households. As it stands, the legal minimum is 400 square feet, while My Micro NY's apartments measure a mere 260 to 360 square feet.
More images of the construction

July 9, 2015

Supermodel Gigi Hadid Lists Mod Nolita Pad for $2.45M

You've probably seen Gigi Hadid's face plastered across town on Guess or Maybelline billboards, or maybe if you're a "Real Housewives" junkie you'll recognize her from the Beverly Hills franchise, as she's the daughter of the show's Yolanda Foster. After moving to NYC to attend the New School, she bought an ultra-modern apartment at 250 Bowery last year for $1.92 million, through a trust in her mother's name. The duo's time decorating the home was featured on the "Real Housewives" show, and it was definitely worlds away from the typical Bed, Bath and Beyond sophomore-year shopping. Now, after reportedly checking out a $3 million Lower East Side condo at 100 Norfolk Street (and getting together with Joe Jonas), Hadid has listed her Nolita apartment for a cool $2.45 million, according to the Daily News.
Check out her pad here

July 9, 2015

This $8,500/Month Renovated Soho Loft Has a Bright, Summery Attitude

Here's a gorgeous, fully renovated loft at 88 Crosby Street in Soho. This top-floor space features exposed brick walls, exposed beams, high tin ceilings, hardwood floors, and even a skylight. The bright decor–which includes plenty of potted plants, hot pink sofas, and an umbrella mosaic above the bed–makes this the perfect summer escape. It's been on the rental market since 2009 with what looks like one-year leases. And it's available now for $8,500 a month.
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

Construction Update: Robert A.M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South Begins Race into the Sky

Image courtesy of Desimone Engineering

July 8, 2015

Construction Update: Robert A.M. Stern’s 220 Central Park South Begins Race into the Sky

Billionaire's Row's race into the sky continues. Two of its biggest projected selling towers are beginning to rise out of their gargantuan foundations and are rushing to claim their piece of coveted Central Park-fronting airspace. Construction of Vornado's 220 Central Park South development has an early lead against Extell Development's significantly larger Central Park Tower (formerly Nordstrom Tower) across West 58th Street. The first level of concrete and re-bar are now poking up above street level and the elevator/stairway cores are now clearly visible to pedestrian passersby.
See new images of the tower here

July 8, 2015

This West Village One-Bedroom with a Built-In Ice Cream Maker Is Cute Indeed

By Emily Nonko

A renovation at this one-bedroom apartment, located in the West Village co-op building at 82 Charles Street, has left the unit looking downright adorable. The listing promises it to be a "perfect blend of prewar character and modern conveniences perched on one of the most bucolic blocks in the city." It's hard to argue with the location. And we like how more traditional design elements (exposed brick) are paired with some surprising modern additions (built-in ice cream maker!). It's now on the market asking $899,000.
See more of the interior

Distinctive Homes

July 8, 2015

Over-the-Top Upper West Side Townhome Wants $30K/Month

You know how there are some things that are ahead of their time? Well this five-bedroom residence at 48 West 85th Street is not one of them. If anything, it's straight from Liberace's vision board. The 6,000-square-foot home was listed for $13.8 million a year ago, but, alas, it must not have found a buyer. Now, for $30,000 a month you can travel back in time and enjoy over-the-top furnishings like "Baccarat crystal chandeliers" and "Tiffany dishes."
More pics inside

Distinctive Homes

July 7, 2015

Jet-Setting Fashionista’s Sprawling Tribeca Loft Shines with Bold Decor

By Emily Nonko

This Tribeca loft, located at 90 Hudson Street, may be a one-bedroom unit but it's still huge. That means plenty of space for cool furniture and decor, which the current owner has definitely taken advantage of. The seller, Marika Wagle, manages merchandising and buying for designer fashion brands in New York City and also sells home decor, jewelry and clothing from her travels through India, Morocco, Turkey and Africa. That means that just because the apartment will come empty upon sale, you could still fill it with a similar design.
See the rest of the interior

Distinctive Homes

Gentrification Sale: Get a Single Hand-Cut Summer French Fry for Just $8.99!

Image via Bill de Bodega

July 7, 2015

Gentrification Sale: Get a Single Hand-Cut Summer French Fry for Just $8.99!

Jarritos with an $11.99 corkage fee, a hipster breakfast for $8.99? Act fast because you won't want miss out on all the great deals going on at the Washington Heights "Gentrification in Progress Sale." A row of mom and pops located along a stretch between 162nd and 163rd streets got a Williamsburg-worthy facelift on Monday as Brooklyn locals Doug Cameron and Tommy Noonan plastered storefronts with scathingly sardonic signage pointing to the area's demise. The campaign, first reported on by Vanishing NY, was created in response to the ousting of several of the block's 30-plus-year-old businesses by a new landlord in order to make way for commercial tenants willing to pay higher rents.
See more here

Policy

July 7, 2015

Kimberly Peck’s All-White Union Square Loft Is Surprisingly Perfect for a Modern Family

By Shiloh Frederick

Normally, white is a color families shy away from in fear of kid-related accidents. But daring architect Kimberly Peck has brushed off the age-old design restriction in this Union Square loft renovation that makes white the central color. Addressing the growing family's needs, she carved a second bedroom and bathroom out of the loft's 1,375 square feet, in addition to enlarging the kitchen. Working with the space's characteristic wooden floors and exposed brick walls, Peck created a space that's stylish, yet still homey.
See the renovation here

July 7, 2015

Rent Topher Grace’s Stylish West Village Loft for $16,000

Actor Topher Grace of "That '70s Show" fame is shaking up his real estate game. After selling his Los Angeles home for $1.69 million, he's now looking to rent out his stylish West Village condo, according to the Daily News. This also comes on the heels of Grace's recent engagement to actress and model Ashley Hinshaw. He bought the two-bedroom, full-floor loft at 59 Bank Street for $2.2 million in 2006, but has been renting it out over the past several years, starting at $14,000 in 2011 and now going for $16,000.
Take a look around

July 7, 2015

$4M Live/Work Tribeca Loft Offers Endless Options and an Artsy Outdoor Space