Manhattan

Apartment hunters looking to stretch their legs will love the massive third floor loft at The Dandy which has just popped up on the market asking $9.9 million. The 4,800-square-foot triple mint condition unit has all The Dandy’s signature characteristics—namely exposed barrel-vaulted ceilings, dark hardwood plank floors, and exposed brick walls—but there’s a little extra for the wine lovers. Let’s just say this loft’s cup runneth over.
See more, inside

Distinctive Homes

November 18, 2014

Picturesque Upper West Side Brownstone with Skylit Art Studio Asks $8.75 Million

Nothing says the Upper West Side quite like images of quaint townhouses above sidewalks of tree-lined streets, and this beautiful brownstone up for sale fits right in. Located at 139 West 87th Street, the grand, recently restored property is in perfect move-in condition. The home includes approximately 4,000 square feet, 4-6 bedrooms and an abundance of luxurious and historic details. The current asking price for this classic piece of New York architecture is $8.75 million.
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Distinctive Homes

November 18, 2014

Minetta Street Townhouse with Yo-Yo Sales History Goes for $5.7M

Sure, we all love a good flip story, but this is more like a flip flop. This lovely townhouse at 17 Minetta Street in Greenwich Village sold for the first time as a single-family home in 2010 for $5.1 million; it then sold again in 2013 for $5.8 million (after asking $7.5); now it's sold for $5,676,000, above the $5.35 asking price, according to city records. We're not quite sure why the landmarked home keeps getting tossed around for little to no profit. The 19th century Federal townhouse got a modern renovation in 2008 by architects and designers Zhenya Merkulova and Alan Tanksley; it's accessed through a gated mews that leads to a private garden.
Tour 17 Minetta Street here

November 17, 2014

Barry Diller Pledges $130M for Futuristic Offshore Park on the West Side

Floating space in New York's waterways is not a new concept. Take the +Pool, for example, the public pool proposed for the East River that was recently supported by Kanye West. But a new offshore park proposed for the Hudson River off 14th Street seems exceedingly ambitious, as it would cost $170 million, be located 186 feet off land, and contain wooded nooks and three performance venues including an amphitheater. Barry Diller, sponsor-to-be of this ambitious plan, gives the project a much more realistic outlook. The billionaire chairman of IAC/InterActiveCorp, former head of Paramount Pictures and Fox–and husband to Diane von Furstenberg–was the single largest donor to the High Line. He's pledged $130 million from the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation to make the 2.7-acre park a realty, as well as agreed to run the outdoor space and cover operating expenses for 20 years. He and his wife have starchitect-designed offices in the Meatpacking District and are clearly becoming king and queen of the neighborhood.
More on the futuristic park ahead

Architecture And Design

November 17, 2014

One Vanderbilt: New Images of Midtown East’s Zigzag Supertower

By Ondel Hylton

Recently at the Municipal Art Society's 2014 Summit for NYC, James von Klemperer, FAIA , a principal at Kohn Pederson Fox & Associates, briefed the audience with new details on the architecture firm's upcoming supertall project known as One Vanderbilt. In case you haven't been paying attention, the 68-story, 1,514-foot zigzag building is expected to become the tallest office tower in Midtown and third tallest in the city behind One World Trade Center (1,776 feet to spire tip) and Extell's Nordstrom Tower (1,775 feet to spire tip).
Check out all the new images of the supertall tower here

November 17, 2014

Jane Kim Creates a Rustic Ski Lodge-Like Urban Loft Using Recycled Materials

Located on Franklin Street in Tribeca, the interior of this loft, by designer Jane Kim, is a cool combination of rustic elegance and industrial modernism. The wooden floors and brick laid walls warm up the expansive space that's somewhere between urban loft and mountain ski lodge. If you happen to be one of those New Yorkers charmed by the use of raw materials and luxury amenities, this might be the perfect bit of inspiration for your next home makeover.
Have a look inside

November 17, 2014

New Rendering for 111 West 57th Street Shows Ethereal Views

By Ondel Hylton

Move over 432 Park, there's a taller, slimmer and sexier ultra-luxury residential tower coming to Midtown. At the Municipal Art Society's 2014 Summit for NYC, Simon Koster, Principal at JDS Development Group, provided the audience with a compelling presentation on how our ideals can serve as the basis in how we shape our city. The restored crown of Stella Tower, the East River mega-rental project at 616 First Avenue, and 111 West 57th Street's discretionary approval by the Landmarks Preservation Commission were used as relevant examples. And the 57th Street project really caught our eye. The 1,400+ foot tower will also become the slimmest building in the world with a slenderness ratio of 1:23. Its narrow profile and stepped crown evoke the romantic art-deco towers of the 1920s and '30s and other timeless city landmarks. SHoP Architects are the designers and WSP Group are the engineers/magicians making sure things remain upright.
More on the tower here

November 17, 2014

The $26M Listing for Lauren Bacall’s Dakota Apartment Is Finally Here

By Diane Pham

Those who've been waiting for a glimpse into the late Lauren Bacall's Dakota apartment will finally have their curiosity quelled. Curbed has just spotted the official listing for Ms. Bacall's sprawling Central Park West home and, as expected, it boasts a $26 million asking price. It was previously reported that the apartment was in need of quite a bit of work, but by the looks of things, the home is in fine shape with many of its original 19th century details still intact, including the original plaster moldings, pocket doors, fireplaces, wainscoting and hardware.
Inside the Dakota apartment

November 17, 2014

VIDEO: Architect Robert A.M. Stern Talks 15 Central Park West and How It’s a “Background Building”

By Diane Pham

15 Central Park West is frequently in the news—whether it's because a new celeb has moved in, or that it's recorded yet another blockbuster sale. But standing far from the limelight is the building's architect, Robert A.M. Stern, who, like his buildings, opts for the stately, subdued and classic over the winding and twisting standalones of his contemporaries. "We have a lot of silly buildings being built, in my opinion. The buildings should not look like Lady Gaga,” the architect says. In the latest installment of the Louisiana Channel Stern discusses what might be his most famous project, 15 CPW, and why he strives for buildings that complement, not dominate.
Watch the interview here

Architecture And Design

November 14, 2014

Checking In on the Progress of Zaha Hadid’s High Line Condos

By Diane Pham

Of the condos planned along the High Line Park, one of the most—if not the most—anticipated addition comes via Zaha Hadid. One of our intrepid reporters recently stopped by the construction site located at 520 West 28th Street to see how works are coming along, and it looks like the site is near-ready for its starchitect treatment. […]

November 14, 2014

ESPN NFL Guru Adam Caplan Swaps Almost-Identical Tribeca Apartments

By Annie Doge

It's pretty common that we report on celebrities upgrading their digs, but today we have the opposite story. ESPN's NFL insider Adam Caplan sold his two-bedroom, floor-through penthouse apartment at 150 Chambers Street in Tribeca for $3 million, but picked up another similar two-bedroom unit in the same building for $2,375,000, according to city records released today.
Take a look at Caplan's old and new homes

November 14, 2014

Gorgeous Penthouse Condo Offers All the Thrills of Greenwich Village

As a neighborhood, Greenwich Village offers a taste of almost everything that makes people dream of living in New York–eclectic restaurants, vibrant nightlife and shopping and world-famous community events, all in a low-scale, family-friendly neighborhood. Now you can enjoy all of the benefits of living in one of the best neighborhoods in the world, as this impeccable five-bedroom penthouse condo just popped up on the market. Located at 29 East 10th Street, this seriously gorgeous piece of real estate is currently listed for $14.995 million and offers the privacy of townhouse living with the ceiling heights and proportions of a classic Downtown loft.
Tour the rest of the home here

November 14, 2014

Lindsay Lohan Rents Financial District Apartment

By Annie Doge

LiLo is moving to FiDi. When she wraps up her run of “Speed the Plough” on London's West End, Lindsay Lohan will cross the pond straight to the Financial District, where she's inked a deal on a 700-square-foot apartment at the W New York Downtown at 123 Washington Street, according to the Daily News. The one-bedroom pad was originally listed for $2 million and then as a $5,000/month rental, though there's no confirmed word on exactly what Lindsay, along with her sister Ali, will be paying. But the Lohan girls will have plenty of celeb neighbors, including Kate Upton and Bow Wow.
Take a look inside LiLo's new home

November 14, 2014

Dream House Combo at Duane Street Lofts Reduces Price to $9 Million

Two duplex penthouses at 110 Duane Street Lofts are still sitting on the market nearly six months after they were first listed. A $1 million drop puts the new asking price at $8.999 million. The potential ultimate “trophy residence” promises 4,550 square feet of combined interior space, along with over 2,300 square feet of landscaped outdoor space in the form of two private roof terraces. The updated listing also includes a proposed combination floor plan (subject to board and city approval) to spark the imagination of prospective buyers. So come with architect and interior designer in tow for a stream of endless possibilities.
More photos inside

Distinctive Homes

November 13, 2014

Designer Robert Couturier’s Midtown Apartment Could Double as a Modern Art Museum

This gorgeous midtown home says mod from top to bottom. Designer Robert Couturier is responsible for the apartment's impeccable interior design, and according to Couturier, "décor above all else, must be appropriate to the architecture, to the clients, and to the setting." Keeping that in mind, the cool stylings and playful details infused throughout this apartment have us convinced that the owners are the kind of folks we'd like to meet.
Tour the mod, colorful apartment here

November 13, 2014

Noho Penthouse Will Show You Its Curves for $10,000/Month

If you’re a fan of curves and arches, this $10,000 per month penthouse at 19 Bond Street in Noho just might be your mecca. The two-bedroom corner loft stuns with 1,450 square feet of interior space and an additional 850-square-foot planted roof deck, not to mention a few lofted spaces and streams of natural light flooding in from southwestern exposures.
More Curves and Arches This Way

Distinctive Homes

November 13, 2014

118 East 59th Street: Boutique Skyscraper To Rise in Hybrid Area Between Midtown and the UES

By Ondel Hylton

An exclusive condo tower is set to rise within the quickly changing area where Midtown East's commercial bustle tempers down into the elegant residential blocks of the Upper East Side. Located at 118 East 59th Street near Park Avenue, the unassuming site is being developed by Hong Kong-based Euro Properties, their first foray into the Manhattan market. The mid-block tower will soar 38 stories yet contain only 29 units–another example of the city’s new and somewhat oxymoronic building type, the boutique skyscraper, which typically contains fewer units than a standard six-story co-op building, and even fewer inhabitants. This 59th Street project will join the ranks of 432 Park Avenue (1,398 feet/104 units), 520 Park Avenue ( 781 feet/31 units), and 125 Greenwich Street (1,375 feet/128 units) as buildings with the greatest height-to-unit-count disparity.
More on the tower here

November 12, 2014

Light Installation Artist James Turrell Sells Gramercy Park Apartment for $2M

From June to September of 2013, crowds were flocking to the Guggenheim for a chance to stare up at the famous rotunda, recast as an enormous volume filled with shifting artificial and natural light. Titled Aten Reign, the show cemented installation artist James Turrell's reputation as a major cultural force in New York City. But now that the fanfare has died down, the Flagstaff, Arizona-based artist and his wife have sold their apartment at 26 Gramercy Park South for $2.1 million, according to city records released today.
Check out Turrell's NYC pad here

November 12, 2014

Zen Tribeca Loft Complete With Neon Signs and Beatles-Inspired Bed Can Be Yours for $10.5M

Tribeca is filled with well-designed lofts, but this space boasts a symmetrical zen-like elegance that is definitely worth checking out. The one-bedroom unit is located at 158 Franklin Street on one of the neighborhood's most desirable cobblestone blocks and is currently listed for $10.5 million. The interior space features low furnishings and eastern-inspired details–most notably a bed inset into the floor, reminiscent of the Beatles' bed in their famous movie, "Help" (we can't be the only ones who've dreamed of having that bed). The loft recently underwent a complete renovation, and we like what we're seeing.
Tour the rest of the home here

Distinctive Homes

November 12, 2014

Live in Tom Brady and Gisele’s One Madison Pied-a-Terre for $40K/Month

By Annie Doge

Supermodel Gisele Bündchen and her NFL star hubby Tom Brady have just put their 3,300-square-foot apartment at One Madison on the rental market. The couple, who also own a mansion in Los Angeles and have built another in Brookline, MA, are offering up their modern Manhattan pad for $40,000 a month—or $42,500 if you want the space to come fully furnished. Either way, the home boasts some pretty spectacular 360-degree views of the city all throughout.
Have a look inside

November 12, 2014

Lavish Former Home of Socialite Marietta Tree Asks $10 Million

A charming maisonette apartment at 1 Sutton Place South just popped up on the market, asking $9.995 million. This 4,700-square-foot pad was formerly the home of Marietta Tree, a 1940s and ‘50s socialite, U.S Representative to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, and companion to powerful men like John Huston and Adlai Stevenson. The home underwent a complete renovation in 2004 by designer Albert Hadley and architect Basil Walter. The end result channels a lavish Georgian townhouse in London.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

November 11, 2014

$14M Greene Street Penthouse Features Fun Furniture and Fantastic Views

Don’t be fooled by this penthouse’s carefree appearance. The 3,510-square-foot duplex is one of the last units standing in the meticulous conversion at 53 Greene Street, and it’s commanding quite a premium at $14.05 million, a whopping $4,000 per square foot.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

November 11, 2014

Beautiful Upper East Side Fairytale Mansion Now $2M Less

The fairy tale of New York City is constantly unfolding, and this one-of-a-kind Upper East Side townhouse will surely set the scene for a romantic urban happily ever after. This home, originally built in 1893 by A. B. Ogden and Son, is located at 5 East 93rd Street, a stone's throw away from 5th Avenue and Central Park. Within the last few years the entire property was completely restored, and the elaborate detailing that went into the design of this home is immaculate. The listing price for this property is $17.95 million—and yep, if you’ve been following, it's dropped almost $2 million from its February listing price.
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<b>Home and Away: Is Airbnb a Threat to the Affordable Housing Market?</b>

Photo courtesy of Airbnb via Facebook.

November 10, 2014

Home and Away: Is Airbnb a Threat to the Affordable Housing Market?

By Michelle Cohen

Controversial room-sharing startup Airbnb, one of the most visible players in what is being called the “sharing economy,” has recently awakened the innovation vs. regulation argument in all the usual ways–and a few new ones, including the accusation that these short-term rentals are depleting the already-scarce affordable housing stock in pricey metro areas like San Francisco and New York City.
What the latest data reveals–and what's being done about it

November 10, 2014

Architect Steven Harris Builds a Floating Staircase to Heaven in This Tribeca Loft Renovation

Made possible by handiwork from the firm Steven Harris Architects, the design and luxury of this Tribeca loft renovation are magnificent. The entirety of the project included the renovation of a huge penthouse located in a converted 1930s office building into a dream home for one family with three teenagers and no budget constraints. What emerged was this multi-level unit that occupies the 27th and 28th floors with nearly 8,000 square feet of living space. The property features a self-contained guest house, a new glass and teak beam rooftop (which also doubles as a recreation room), and fabulous views of Manhattan and Brooklyn. However, within all of this architectural glory our favorite detail is the elegant floating staircase that climbs up the living room wall and almost into the clouds.
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November 10, 2014

Warby Parker Creates Upper East Side Literary Map