Manhattan

It’s hard to believe this customizable penthouse at 481 Greenwich Street has been having a rough time on the market since January 2013. The striking duplex, asking $10.75 million, is the definition of luxury loft living in one of downtown Manhattan’s hottest new neighborhoods, no less. There are quite a few details that set this loft apart from the rest, but we’ll start with the sheer enormity of its size. We’re talking 4,500 square feet of interior space and an additional 3,000 square feet of multi-level rooftop terrace. Add to that floor-to ceiling windows and Hudson River views and you just might find yourself experiencing love at first sight.
More photos inside

Distinctive Homes

November 7, 2014

Debra Messing Buys $5.5M Upper East Side Apartment

By Annie Doge

Her famous Will & Grace character may have lived on the Upper West Side, but Debra Messing is crossing the park for a new home at 3 East 84th Street. According to city records filed today, the actress purchased a $5.45 million co-op at the building. The four-bedroom unit is just a half block from Central Park and boasts 10-foot ceilings, a wood-burning fireplace, Juliette balcony, and charming country kitchen.
Check out Messing's new digs here

November 7, 2014

Upcoming Condo-Hotel Overlooking Bryant Park Unveils New Dapper Look

By Ondel Hylton

An updated rendering of a ground-up, mixed-use tower along the south side of Bryant Park has been revealed on HFZ Capital Group's website. The storied site at 20 West 40th Street was acquired by HFZ after Fortieth St. Partners defaulted on a $44 million loan back in 2010. According to HFZ's project page, the development will include a 5-star hotel, restaurant and bar, and residential condominiums. Construction permits filed last month specify that the hotel-design experts Stonehill & Taylor are the architects of record.
Additional details on the project

November 7, 2014

Cleverly Designed Noho Loft Is Inspired by the Japanese Bento Box

Making space for all of your things is a constant challenge when living in New York City, and efficient storage is a valuable commodity (any seasoned New Yorker would agree). That's why this cleverly designed Noho loft, inspired by the neatly-packed Japanese bento box, has caught our attention. Koko, the architecture firm responsible for the delicious design, was approached by friends (and now clients) to revamp their 1,400 square foot loft into a space capable providing for the needs of a growing family.
See how everything fits into place

Distinctive Homes

November 7, 2014

Tenement Talks: Learn About Lowline’s Past and the Underground Park That May One Day Fill It

Ever since architects James Ramsey and Dan Barasch announced their plan to turn a forgotten trolley terminal below Delancey Street into an underground park, design enthusiasts, urban planners, locals, celebs, and, well, just about everyone who’s caught wind of it has been waiting in anticipation for what’s to come. The push to make this cool concept […]

November 7, 2014

Masterful Oliver Cope Renovation in Lenox Hill Asks $10 Million

There’s an exquisite new listing at 314 East 69th Street, asking $9.75 million. This remarkable townhome’s owners clearly spared no expense renovating the space, commissioning award-winning architect Oliver Cope for the job. His signature classic style suits this Lenox Hill house beautifully, and the final result is a spectacular home that is likely to impress even the most discerning prospective buyer.
Take a closer look, here

Distinctive Homes

November 6, 2014

Lenox Hill Townhouse Near Andy Warhol’s Last Residence Asks $14.5M

Superstar broker Ryan Serhant has just listed a five-story townhouse at 56 East 66th Street, asking $14.49 million. This multi-family home has a lot going for it with a prime gold coast location, beautiful original details, and the potential to become a colossal 8,032-square-foot single-family conversion. So grab your architect and a little imagination because this prewar pad is just waiting to become somebody’s dream home.
See what else this mega-home has to offer

Distinctive Homes

Fulton Center via Grimshaw Architects

November 6, 2014

Fulton Center Subway Station to Open This Monday with Its Impressive Oculus

It's a busy couple of weeks for the Financial District. On Monday, Condé Nast moved in to One World Trade Center, and this coming Monday, November 10th, at 5:00pm, the Fulton Center subway station will finally open. The new station, which connects ten subway lines, was first conceived in 2002 as part of downtown revitalization efforts following 9/11, but also because the station had needed improvements for decades. It was initially supposed to open in 2007, but funding hurdles and escalating costs delayed the progress. More recently, Hurricane Sandy and systems testing problems pushed back the opening further. But the $1.4 billion transit hub is now ready to welcome commuters and dazzle them with its giant 120-foot-tall oculus.
Take an advance look inside Fulton Center

November 6, 2014

BKSK Proposes an Undulating Glass Topper for the Landmarked Tammany Hall

The landmarked Tammany Hall at 44 Union Square East could be getting a modern makeover in the form of a restored facade, brand new storefront, 27,000 square feet of office space, and, most notably, a two-story glass dome topper that would bring the height of the building up to 85 feet. BKSK Architects presented their plans to gut and revamp the historic building this week to the Community Board 5’s Landmarks Committee. And though no one could argue with the design's glassy allure, board members were otherwise not all that thrilled.
Find out more here

History

November 6, 2014

Lauren Bacall’s Dakota Apartment Will Go for a Jaw-Dropping $26 Million

Since Lauren Bacall passed away this summer, many have been watching the iconic actress’s longtime Dakota home in hopes of catching a glimpse of the interior—and a chance at owning Hollywood history. Now word has it that the residence will hit the market any minute now with Warburg Realty brokering what is expected to be a $26 million listing. […]

November 6, 2014

Carmelo and LaLa Anthony Step Up Penthouse Search and Tour a $48M Tribeca Duplex

By Annie Doge

If you were impressed by the $15 million Chelsea penthouse that Carmelo and LaLa Anthony toured last month, you're definitely going to think their latest real estate interest is a slam dunk. The couple recently toured a $48 million duplex penthouse in Tribeca's Sky Lofts at 145 Hudson Street. James Carpenter, the same architect responsible for 7 World Trade Center, designed the four-bedroom glass house atop an historic Art Deco loft building. And with 7,500 square feet of interior space as well as a 4,500-square-foot wrap-around terrace, the home set a record for highest-priced Manhattan apartment south of Columbus Circle when it was originally purchased for $30 million in 2009 (a record later broken by the $50.9 million sale of the Walker Tower penthouse).
Tour what may be the future house of Carmelo

November 5, 2014

Andrew Franz Transforms an Old Soap Factory into a Tranquil Tribeca Oasis

Architect Andrew Franz is known for his nature-inspired designs, and he has successfully infused his signature aesthetic into the tranquil interior of this Tribeca home. Franz transformed a 19th century Manhattan soap factory into what is now a gorgeous example of adaptive reuse. The designer's goal for this project was to create the feeling of being outdoors when inside the walls of the Romanesque Revival building, while also maintaining as much of the original structure as possible. By combining modern clean lines and open spaces with rustic wooden columns and raw brick walls, Franz creates a visual narrative celebrating the preservation of something old in the creation of something new and beautiful.
READ MORE

November 5, 2014

$3.58M Forsyth Revitalization Project Will Bring an Elevated Park Off the Manhattan Bridge

If you've ever walked or biked across the Manhattan Bridge, or simply tried to make your way past the off-ramp on foot, you know that it can be a heart-thumping jaunt that often requires expert maneuvering to avoid collision. A new design proposed for a triangular section of land beside the Manhattan Bridge along Forsyth Street could bring some much-needed calm to the frenetic energy of this area. Tomorrow, the Department of Design and Construction will present their plan to transform this elevated space into a public green space that's being likened to the High Line Park.
Find out more here

Architecture And Design

November 5, 2014

POLL: Can One World Trade Center Get to 100% Occupancy?

On Monday, anchor tenant Condé Nast moved into One World Trade Center. It was, of course, a significant day for many reasons, but it left a lot of people wondering if they would feel comfortable working in the 104-story tower. And since the building is currently only 58% leased, we want to know if you think One WTC […]

Real Estate Trends

November 5, 2014

Classic Loft with Retractable Door in Historic Tribeca Asks $3.1 Million

Something about this one-bedroom renovated loft at 55 Walker Street seems to define understated character. Of course the floor-through unit has the typical soaring ceilings, oversized windows and exposed brick walls you would expect in a quintessential Tribeca loft. But this special 1,850-square-foot space has a few unexpected features that work together to give it the personality of a larger home, while still maintaining its stylish New York vibe.
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

November 4, 2014

Dennis Mehiel Re-Lists Carhart Mansion Condo Asking $35 Million

Dennis Mehiel, corrugated cardboard magnate who ran against Gov. Cuomo in a 2002 election for lieutenant governor, has put his sprawling 10,350-square-foot duplex at the Carhart Mansion on the market, asking $35.9 million. This, after attempting to claim $35 million for it back in 2008, just a few years after he purchased the pad for only $15 million in 2005--"only" being a relative term, of course. The award-winning condo has a two-story master, an 1,100-square-foot grand salon, and the potential for six more private chambers..
Take a look inside, here

Distinctive Homes

November 4, 2014

How the Historic Apartments and Hotels of the Upper West Side Came to Be

By Michelle Young

It's hard to imagine today that people had to be lured to settle on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, but such was the case at the turn of the 20th century when the first New York City subway line opened. The Interborough Rapid Transit Line (IRT) started at City Hall, with the most epic of subway stations (now closed off to the public except on official Transit Museum tours). The Astors and other enterprising investors owned the land uptown, purchased in a speculative property boom. Now, the question was how to brand the area.
The history behind the opulent doors of the Upper West Side

Architecture And Design

November 4, 2014

See How Top Architects Build Sculptures from 100,000 Cans of Food to Help the Hungry

Food drives and can collections are not uncommon as we approach the holidays. And with Thanksgiving right around the corner, Canstruction is back again for its 22nd year with a brand new exhibit that invites New Yorkers to not only think about food in a whole new way, but to take part in a good cause. This year's event has invited 32 teams made up of NYC's top architecture and engineering design firms to turn 100,000 cans of food into spectacular sculptures at Brookfield Place. To give you a taste of what's to come when the exhibit opens this Thursday, some of last year's participants included big names like Skanska, Perkins Eastman, CetraRuddy, Ennead Architects, Arup, and Dattner Architects. Yes, these are more than just a bunch of stacked cans.
More on the new exhibit

November 4, 2014

Designer Loft in the New Museum Building Listed for $10.5 Million

Recognized as one of Lower Manhattan's most sought after addresses, this gorgeous condo at 158 Mercer Street has a lot to live up to. However, with 4,200 square feet to work with, this three-bedroom loft might be up for the challenge. The sophisticated sun-blasted space features high ceilings, dark wood floors and stately columns. Plus, the interior was meticulously designed by de la Torre design studio—a talented team once named one of Elle Decor's top 25 designers. The property was recently put on the market and the current listing price is $10.5 million.
Tour the interior with us

Distinctive Homes

November 4, 2014

Midtown Site of the Iconic Lutèce Restaurant Sells for $17M – Will It Be Demolished?

These three townhouses may not look like much to you, but they've for decades been making appearances in pop culture, from the penned to motion pictures, including The Prince of Tides, Wall Street, Crossing Delancey, and most recently, Mad Men. Located at 249-253 East 50th Street, this site once housed the world-renowned Lutèce restaurant. Though today the structures can be described as dilapidated at best, that hasn't stopped a group of Chinatown investors from scooping up the properties for $17 million from East 50th Development LLC. Now in new hands, what's up next for this famed locale?
More details here

November 3, 2014

This 16-Room Upper East Side Penthouse with Conservatory is Back for $4M Less

Real estate in NYC has its own special 'wow' factor that many of us have become accustomed to. However, every now and again you come across a property of truly epic proportions, and this seven-bedroom, 16-room penthouse located at 52 East 72nd Street on the Upper East Side is just that. The massive space spans approximately 6,300 square feet and includes 1,200 square feet of elegantly landscaped terraces. The listing price for this beauty is $17.95 million—and yep, if you've been following it, it has indeed returned to the market for $4 million less than its April listing price.
Take a peek inside

Distinctive Homes

Trinity Church Will Build First Residential Developments in Hudson Square

A map of Trinity’s current real estate holdings in Hudson Square

November 3, 2014

Trinity Church Will Build First Residential Developments in Hudson Square

Trinity Real Estate, the property arm of Trinity Church, oversees 5.5 million square feet of office space in buildings that it owns in the city, a $3 billion portfolio. But now the Episcopal church is looking to branch out into residential development for the first time since it received 215 acres of land in downtown Manhattan from Britain's Queen Anne over three centuries ago. Led by Jason Pizer, Trinity Real Estate will build four luxury residential towers in Hudson Square and a part-residential tower near Wall Street, amounting to over 1 million square feet of residential space.
More on Trinity's plans here

New Developments

November 3, 2014

Today’s the Day: Condé Nast Moves into One World Trade Center

More than nine years after ground broke at One World Trade Center, the tower's first and largest tenant, Condé Nast, is moving in. Though the media company will not complete its move until January, the relocation actually began last weekend when 2,800 orange crates full of files, photos, and books were carted downtown from the media company's Times Square office. Today, 175 employees will start their days at One WTC, the first wave of the 3,400 employees at 18 magazines. And as the New York Times notes, the scene they're encountering is much different than when construction began nearly a decade ago. As the number of financial institutions has declined, tech firms, advertising agencies, and media companies have made the Financial District their new home, along with a residential population of 61,000.
More on the big move here

November 3, 2014

Brighten Your Mood with this $4M Colorful Maria Brito-Designed Co-op