Manhattan

Soho is one of NYC's most bustling neighborhoods, and if you're hoping to live in this action-packed hood look no further than this very cool loft that just popped up on the market. The spacious, three-bedroom apartment is located at 55 Prince Street in the Tiffany Foundry building built in 1861 and is currently listed for $3 million. The elegant, rustic unit has an open floor plan featuring original wooden beams, exposed brick, and oak flooring.
See the rest of the home here

Distinctive Homes

Davis Brody Bond, Architects of 9/11 Museum, Will Design New NYU Building in the Village

A rendering of the NYU expansion plan

December 18, 2014

Davis Brody Bond, Architects of 9/11 Museum, Will Design New NYU Building in the Village

Architecture firm Davis Brody Bond is continuing their tradition of designing projects met with much controversy. First came the 9/11 Museum, then the Frick Museum expansion, and now the new NYU building in the Village. Davis Brody Bond will join KieranTimberlake in designing the university's new building on the Coles Sports Center site on Mercer Street between Houston and Bleecker Streets. The building is part of the highly contentious $6 billion, 1.9 million-square-foot NYU 2031 expansion plan. The development agreement allows NYU to develop only one parcel of land at a time, with Coles being the first.
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December 18, 2014

Meredith Vieira Buys an $8.55M Penthouse at the El Dorado

All of Meredith Vieira's hard work has certainly paid off. According to the Post, the journalist-slash-talk-show-host-slash-game-show-host has just scooped up a penthouse at the El Dorado. The home is a three-bedroom stunner with two large terraces and Central Park reservoir views. The final closing price has yet to be revealed, but it was last asking $8.55 million in May when it went into contract. The previous owners paid $5.95 million for it back in 2011—surely a recent, beautiful, never-lived-in renovation helped give this CPW pad a price boost.
Have a peek inside

Celebrities

December 17, 2014

Can PS109 Affordable Artists’ Housing Slow the Gentrification of East Harlem?

We all know the typical gentrification pattern–artists move in to a neighborhood and make it hip; they're followed by trendy coffee shops and cool vintage stores; rents rise; the artists move on to the next frontier. But what if the influx of artists to a neighborhood slowed gentrification? It sounds like an impossible premise, but it just might be taking shape in East Harlem. Fast Co. EXIST takes a look at El Barrio’s Artspace PS109, the project which has transformed an abandoned public school building in East Harlem into 89 units of affordable live/work housing for artists and their families and 10,000 square feet of complementary space for arts organizations. A whopping 53,000 creatives applied to live in the building, where studios will rent for as low as $494/month and two-bedroom units will go for $1,022/month. But isn't Artspace’s goal to break the gentrification cycle—"to preserve the cultural fabric of a small corner of Manhattan that’s starting to change quickly" by preserving its affordable housing?
Read more ahead

December 17, 2014

1100 Architect Transforms a Boring Midtown Loft into Their Client’s Pop Art Dream Home

This home, which was previously your average-fair Midtown penthouse, was transformed by 1100 Architect to represent the playful and vibrant Pop art sensibility of the artists their clients admire most. With an art collection boasting names like Warhol, Riley, Lichtenstein and others, this penthouse renovation could be a mini-MoMA. The interior furnishings reflect the Pop style's infamous geometric forms and hard-polished surfaces like marble agglomerate floors, lacquer, stainless steel, glass, and plastic.
Tour this bright pad here

December 16, 2014

Lubrano Ciavarra Architects’ West Village Townhouse Boasts a Plush Green Roof

This elegant West Village townhouse was recently renovated by Lubrano Ciavarra Architects, a Brooklyn-based firm founded by Anne Marie Lubrano and Lea Ciavarra in 1999. Nestled on a beautiful tree-lined street, it boasts a rich brick exterior and plenty of original details. The 2,900-square-foot home's design is a cool combination of modern, clean textiles and a very unique approach to incorporating nature in and outside of the house.
Take a look around here

December 16, 2014

$2.85M Soho Loft Mixes Historic Cast Iron Charm with Modern Industrial Design

This full-floor two-bedroom loft is located in the heart of SoHo's landmarked Cast Iron Historic District at 543 Broadway and is currently priced at $2.85 million. The expansive unit is situated on a high floor of a Neo-Classical loft building and is accessed through a private, key-locked elevator. From stainless steel appliances and glass-framed rooms to vaulted ceilings and original exposed brick, this home has the perfect combination of architectural details and luxury amenities.
Check out the rest of the loft here

Distinctive Homes

December 16, 2014

Times Square Is Getting a Heart-Beating Urban Drum for Valentine’s Day

As New Yorkers, we don't really think of Times Square as a romantic location, but for Valentine's Day 2015 we might just stand corrected. Brooklyn-based architecture firm Stereotank was announced as the winner of the annual Times Square Valentine Heart Design contest, a public art competition held for the past seven years by the Times Square Alliance and the Architectural League of New York. Stereotank's HEARTBEAT installation is an interactive, heart-beating, glowing urban drum.
More on HEARTBEAT ahead

December 16, 2014

Rent a Piece of History for $40K/Month with This Greenwich Village Townhouse

By Aisha Carter

A fully furnished townhouse in Greenwich Village's landmarked MacDougal-Sullivan Gardens Historic District is available for a short-term lease for $40,000 per month. The 5,000-square-foot home has four levels along with a windowed cellar and a spectacular rooftop penthouse.
Take a look inside here

Distinctive Homes

Is 125th Street the Next 14th Street? Big-Name Developers Think So.

125th Street via jmd41280 via photopin cc

December 15, 2014

Is 125th Street the Next 14th Street? Big-Name Developers Think So.

14th Street, 23rd Street, 86th Street–there's no question that these east-west thoroughfares are some of the city's most bustling corridors of commercial, cultural, and residential activity. And 125th Street in Harlem could now be joining their ranks, a real estate trend dissected in a WSJ article today. Big-name NYC developers are cashing in on the street's transformation. Greystone & Co. bought a $11.5 million site through a bankruptcy auction earlier this month, where they'll put 75 market-rate and affordable apartments, along with ground-floor retail space. Across the street, Continuum Co. will add 700 residential units and 85,000 square feet of retail. Nearby, Wharton Properties has obtained funding for their 33,000-square-foot retail complex that will be anchored by Whole Foods.
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Real Estate Trends

December 15, 2014

Arne Glimcher, One of World’s Most Powerful Art Dealers, Buys $5.6M Madison Square Loft

If you're familiar with the NYC gallery scene you definitely know the Pace Gallery and its founder Arnold "Arne" Glimcher, one of the world's most powerful art dealers, as well as a film producer and director. According to city records, Arne and his son Marc have bought a $5.6 million Madison Square loft at 117 East 24th Street. The contemporary space boasts four bedrooms and 4,000 square feet as well as 11.5-foot ceilings and plenty of wall space to display one's art collection, though we're not sure which of the father-son art dealing pair will be residing in the loft.
Take a look around

December 15, 2014

EVENT: Here’s Your Chance to Check Out Billionaire Peter Brant’s Converted Con Ed Station

By Diane Pham

Now's your chance to get a look into one of the city's coolest spaces. EV Grieve tells us that from now through Sunday, the curious yellow brick building located at 421 East 6th Street will open its doors to the public for its first art show featuring Dan Colen. The former Con Ed substation was recently purchased for $27 million by billionaire Peter Brant from the estate of the late Walter de Maria, the famed sculptor who converted the 16,402-square-foot structure into an incredible home and studio back in the '80s. The event is sure to delight, if not for the artist's work (which ARTnews dubs "deeply mediocre"), then at least for the chance to get a first glimpse into the extraordinary space. Nondescript and gritty on the outside, the building’s cavernous interior spaces boast ceilings as high as 32 feet, and plenty of the near-century-old substation's original details remain intact.
Find out more here

Mayor De Blasio Builds a “Privacy Fence” Around Gracie Mansion to Keep Curious Eyes Out

Image: Gracie Mansion before the extra four feet of fence was added. © wallyg via photopin cc

December 12, 2014

Mayor De Blasio Builds a “Privacy Fence” Around Gracie Mansion to Keep Curious Eyes Out

By Diane Pham

“Man of the People” Mayor De Blasio seems to be getting a little annoyed with his constituents’ nosy nature. The Post reports that De Blasio has just erected a “privacy fence” adding another four feet to the home’s existing barrier. The new fence was constructed inside an existing red brick wall and a wrought-iron fence that […]

Celebrities

December 12, 2014

Luxurious Upper East Side Townhouse Fetches Impressive $9M

Massive townhouses that have received a modern overhaul can often feel cold and museum-like, but this Upper East Side stunner has managed to maintain its warm, cozy feel after getting a state-of-the-art contemporary upgrade from two-family home to one. Located at 435 East 87th Street, the five-story, six-bedroom home just sold for an impressive $8.9 million, according to city records. It was built in 1901, but its 6,500-square-foot interior has been completely reimagined as the ultimate "luxury entertainers' home." The classic décor, along with touches of the home's history like crown moldings and a sweeping staircase, make it pretty clear why the new owners dropped such a pretty penny.
Tour the rest of the home here

December 11, 2014

Robert De Niro Buys $2.8M West Village Apartment

He's at it again, this time buying a $2.8 million West Village apartment at 32 Morton Street. Real estate lover Robert De Niro inked the deal for the two-bedroom penthouse loft along with his stepdaughter Drena, according to city records. A few months ago, De Niro made headlines when he moved into a $125,000/month rental at star-studded 15 Central Park West while waiting for the renovation to be complete at his Brentmore triplex. He also got some recent notorious attention for getting into a very public tax fight with the Hudson Valley town where he owns a 78-acre property. And let's not forget about his $250 million Barbados hotel project. With so many real estate balls in the air, it's hard to say if De Niro or his daughter will be living in the latest acquisition, but it would be the perfect downtown pad.
Check out the penthouse here

December 11, 2014

Family Fun: Where to Find the Best Winter Wonderlands and Santa-Centric Events in NY

By Michelle Cohen

Anyone with kids knows that there’s no such thing as too much when it comes to the sensory wonders of the holiday season. We've rounded up some Santa-centric events—from lap-climbing photo-ops to full-on wonderland to brunch with the holiday's most famous man—that aim to satisfy endless appetites for holiday cheer. We've even got a couple for your pets!
This way to the North Pole...

December 11, 2014

Biographer Couple Lists Artsy Central Park Duplex at Gainsborough Studios for $6M

By Aisha Carter

Biographers Edmund and Sylvia Jukes Morris have just listed their duplex apartment at the exclusive Gainsborough Studios for $6 million. The stunning space promises to be a treat for all seasons with gigantic windows offering indescribable views of Central Park that will take your breath away. Yes, a place like this is so inspiring it would turn anyone into an artist.
Take a look inside, here

December 11, 2014

Weather Anchor Sam Champion Sells Upper West Side Condo for $4.7M

Everyone’s favorite well-coiffed weatherman Sam Champion has sold his Upper West Side condo for $4.7 million, according to city records released today. Champion bought the 2,019-square-foot unit on the top floor of 45 West 67th Street in 1995 for $750,000, netting him an impressive $4 million profit on the sale. The 33-story building was erected in 1985 and […]

December 11, 2014

Telecom Mogul Michael Hirtenstein Combines Three Apartments into One Elegant Tribeca Triplex

Designer Amy Lau recently completed an impressive mid-century triplex in NYC's downtown neighborhood of Tribeca. The apartment belongs to Michael Hirtenstein, a high-rolling telecom mogul, who, upon seeing it, knew he had to make the massive space his own. The apartment was originally purchased by Mr. Hirtenstein for $16.5 million dollars as three separate units before he combined them into one massive apartment for an unknown amount of money. This gorgeously designed home spells luxury in every detail and features exquisite furnishings throughout. Combining pieces from bespoke, mid-century modern and contemporary designers, this space tells a unique story represented by many points of view.
Get a closer look inside

December 11, 2014

REVEALED: Interior Renderings for Robert A.M. Stern-Designed 520 Park Avenue

Robert A.M. Stern's 520 Park Avenue has already been called "the next 15 Central Park West," and like its Stern predecessor, 520 is an ultra-luxury development with a stately façade wrapped in stone. Set to be completed in 2016, it will rise 51 stories high, but contain just 31 units, one of which is the $130 million penthouse, the city's most expensive apartment. And though most of the attention has been on "the greatest apartment on the Upper East Side," the fanfare has now shifted to the first batch of interior renderings for the building. 520 Park's full website is now live, and not surprisingly, the residences have classic layouts, impressive Central Park views, and a host of high-end amenities.
Take the tour here

December 10, 2014

Penthouse at Cary Tamarkin-Designed 456 West 19th Street Returns with Same $12M Asking Price

By Aisha Carter

If this duplex penthouse at 456 West 19th Street were a movie buff it would probably quote Rose Dawson from Titanic, saying, “I’ll never let go, Jack. I’ll never let go…of my $11.75 million price tag.” Okay, so maybe we took a few creative liberties, but you get the point. In 2011, Code and Theory founder Brandon Ralph spent $6.8 million on the pad before turning around and attempting the ambitious flip. For roughly a year and a half, the unit sat on the market before finally withdrawing this past summer. Yet it returns, completely undeterred by its apparent misfortune. This condo knows its worth… and that number is $11.75 million. Why? For starters, it sits on the top half of the building, where its fluid curves set the entire building apart from the rest. Add to that soaring windows and seamless indoor/outdoor living and you have a winner right in the heart of the West Chelsea Arts District. Now, does that make it worth almost $12 million? We’ll let you decide.
Let's take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

December 10, 2014

Diane von Furstenberg’s Daughter Sells Gramercy Park Co-op for $4.2M

Tatiana von Furstenberg, singer, filmmaker and daughter of fashion mogul Diane von Furstenberg, has sold her luxury co-op at 1 Gramercy Park for $4,240,000, according to city records. She purchased the home in 2006, and since her address of record is in Los Angeles, perhaps she’s becoming a permanent West Coaster–or moving to her mother’s beloved […]

December 10, 2014

Cooper Hewitt Design Museum Reopens This Week After a Three-Year High-Tech Renovation

It's been three years since the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum was first cloaked in scaffolding, but the $91 million, LEED-certified renovation has finally come to a close. The museum, located in Andrew Carnegie's former Gilded Age mansion on Fifth Avenue, is set to reopen this Friday, December 12th. It now boasts 60% more exhibition space and a slew of new high-tech interactive features including downloadable 3D designs, multi-touch surfaces as large as pool tables and an interactive projection that allows guests to view 500 digital images of wallpaper right on the gallery walls.
More details on the revamped museum

O Christmas Tree: Where to See the Biggest Evergreens Around the City

New York Stock Exchange Christmas tree via Mille Fiori Favoriti

December 9, 2014

O Christmas Tree: Where to See the Biggest Evergreens Around the City

Last week, we took a look back at the history of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree to mark the annual lighting celebration. Though this is probably the most famous Christmas tree in the world, many of us jaded New Yorkers would rather not deal with the crowds and traffic jams that come with visiting Rock Center. So as an equally festive alternative, we've rounded up some of the other huge trees illuminating the city this holiday season.
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Events & Things To Do

December 9, 2014

Don’t Forget, One World Trade Was Supposed to Be the Greenest Building in America

By Diane Pham

Since the opening of One World Trade Center just a few weeks ago, the world has been in an uproar over the design and the incredible cost of making New York's tallest tower a reality. But one feature that we all seemed to have forgotten was the promise that the tower would be the greenest building in America. A recent City Lab article looks at what went wrong, and why, in a race to meet contractual obligations to its anchor tenant, Condé Nast, the development dumped a major part of its plans to go green, currently leaving the building in a state of noncompliance.
Find out more here

December 9, 2014

Rosie O’Donnell Sells Chic Greenwich Village Penthouse for $9M