Manhattan

The impressive penthouse at 1185 Park Avenue is back on the market. The palatial estate was listed last year, asking $27.5 million. However, buyers apparently felt that price was too expensive for a sprawling five-bedroom duplex with an astounding 2,850-square-foot wrap-around terrace. So, the Carnegie Hill prewar pad has returned with a $2.5 million discount and high hopes that history won’t repeat itself.
Take a look inside the pristine pad, here

Distinctive Homes

September 9, 2014

REVEALED: $210 Million Upgrade for Grand Central’s Subway Station As Part of One Vanderbilt Tower

As part of a five-year, $210 million plan to significantly upgrade Grand Central's subway station, developer SL Green hopes to install new staircases to the train platforms, two new street-level entrances and a refurbished mezzanine level, and a 4,000-square-foot ground-level commuter waiting area. The improvements were conceived in conjunction with the MTA and the de Blasio administration earlier this year as the first component of the Midtown East Rezoning project. The transit upgrades must all be completed before tenants can occupy One Vanderbilt (planned for completion in January 2020), SL Green's new 65-story office tower planned for the entire block west of Grand Central and north of East 42nd Street. Designed by Kohn Pederson Fox, the tower will be the second-tallest building in the city when completed.
More on the upgrades ahead

September 8, 2014

Cliffs Notes on New York’s Most Famous Storied Residential Buildings

By Lauren Price

The newest apartment houses, be it now or some 150 years ago has always been of great interest to New York buyers and renters. And like today, their appeal make sell-outs as easy as pie. From Manhattan's very first apartment building to those that followed a decade or so later, those initial projects continue to remain the city's most coveted digs—not to mention the city’s most expensive. But what stands out among these famous buildings as the years passed was the introduction of not-yet-available services—ranging from running water and elevators to electricity and communal amenities. Whether we are talking about the Dakota or the luxurious the Osborne Flats, learn why these century-plus-old buildings continue to enchant the rich, the famous, and the rest of us.
Click here for Cliffs Notes on NYC's most historic homes

September 8, 2014

Rare Full-Floor Loft in Tribeca is a Work of Art by Famed Norwegian Architectural Firm Tupelo

Artists seem to find inspiration everywhere, often taking even the simplest of ideas and turning them into striking masterpieces. Well, whoever winds up living in this rare full-floor artists loft at 144 Franklin Street in Tribeca will hit the inspiration jackpot. Norwegian architectural firm Tupelo has indeed turned its simple industrial form replete with massive cast iron columns, beamed ceilings, hand-oiled maple floors, and custom oversized double-glazed windows into a beautiful work of art. This stunning, 3,000-square-foot, three-bedroom loft was created for-and-by artists, which is evident the moment you step from the key-locked elevator through the original factory door and witness the seamless combination of spectacular modern design with Tribeca’s industrial history.
Get inspired by more of this masterpiece here

Distinctive Homes

September 8, 2014

Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick’s Greenwich Village Townhouse Back on the Market for $22M

By Annie Doge

Everybody's favorite Sex and the City star and her hubby just put their Greenwich Village townhouse back on the market for $22 million. After a brief disappearance in April, a new listing, held by none other than Million Dollar Listing's Frederik Eklund and John Gomes, has emerged with a small price chop, down $3 million from its previous ask. The beautiful five-bedroom home at 20 East 10th Street is certainly fit for a star, measuring 6,800 square feet and boasting seven fireplaces, a private garden with a Juliet balcony, two oversized skylights, 50' long bookcases, and a full floor master bedroom with terrace—amongst many, many other luxuries. The townhouse, of course, also comes with two Carrie-worthy walk-in closets, which are worth a peek just to see what SJP has stored away.
Take a tour of the incredible home here

September 8, 2014

REVEALED: New Skyline Renderings for Nordstrom Tower at 217 West 57th Street

Back in July, we learned that Extell's Nordstrom Tower will rise 1,775 feet–just one foot shorter than One World Trade Center, making it the tallest residential building in the world. Now, New York YIMBY has released renderings of how the 92-story supertall will look against the rest of the skyline. Though official images from Extell haven't been released, these preliminary sneak peeks are pretty impressive.
More on the new development here

September 8, 2014

This Art-Filled West Village Penthouse Also Features an Unbelievable Rooftop Terrace

It looks like the penthouse at 221 West 13th Street had a bit of trouble selling back in 2011, which is good news for some lucky prospective renters because the beautifully decorated West Village duplex is now available, fully furnished, for $25,000 per month. We’re pretty sure there’s a saying for that: one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity. Apparently, the space was originally designed as two separate residences, which may have had something to do with its trouble finding a new owner… well, that and the fact that price kept increasing. Whatever the case, this three-bedroom townhouse has quite a few surprises up its sleeve.
Take a look inside here

Distinctive Homes

September 5, 2014

Gorgeous Upper East Side Townhouse is Looking for Its Forever Owner

With all the hubbub over Common Core these days (have you seen the NEW math?), it’s nice to know that some things simply add up the way they should – like this incredible 4,125-square-foot single-family townhouse located at 506 East 87th Street. Situated on a tree-lined street near Carl Schurz Park, this beautifully renovated residence built in 1899 was purchased in April 2013 for $7.99 million, but then sold in January 2014 for $6.85 million, a pretty steep drop for just eight months. It's now back on the market for $7.75 million, so here’s hoping the third time’s the charm and the new owners will spend many years enjoying all that this home has to offer.
Take a peek inside this incredible home

Distinctive Homes

September 5, 2014

Jimmy Fallon Buys a Fifth Apartment in His Gramercy Park Building

By Annie Doge

The Fallon family's collection of 34 Gramercy Park East apartments continues to grow. According to the Wall Street Journal, Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon just purchased a cozy, top-floor studio in the famed residence for $725,000. The small space neighbors his four-bedroom apartment, which he also recently bought for $1.35 million back in April. No word on whether the units will be combined, but either way, the petite pad is pretty nice as is.
Take a look inside here

How to Turn Two Distinct Spaces Into One Unique Terrace to Rival the High Line

Image credit: Blondie’s Treehouse

September 5, 2014

How to Turn Two Distinct Spaces Into One Unique Terrace to Rival the High Line

By Alyssa Alimurung

You would think creating an outdoor space right by the High Line would be counterproductive, but after you see this beautiful creation Blondie’s Treehouse built for clients in the Meatpacking District, you’ll think otherwise. Working with 3,000 square feet of contiguous exterior space, Blondie’s designers, Tina Dituri and Charles Casanova were tasked with combining the two distinct areas into […]

Architecture And Design

September 5, 2014

Massive Midtown West Artists’ Loft Combo Comes Complete with a Darkroom

Artists looking for a place to work and play will love this two-loft combo at 361 West 36th Street. The industrial chic apartment is the ideal live/work setup with 4,800 square feet of space. It’s a full-floor flexible combination of two units and comes complete with a darkroom and more than enough legroom to get your creative juices flowing. And with so many possibilities, this loft is the perfect canvas for a creative person looking to put their personal stamp on a premier pad.
Take a look inside this spacious pad, here

Distinctive Homes

September 4, 2014

Frank Gehry’s Decade-Old Design for the WTC Performing Arts Center Gets Dumped by Officials

By Diane Pham

Frank Gehry continues to fall out of favor with New Yorkers as execs of the Performing Arts Center at the World Trade Center have officially shelved the starchitect's design planned for Ground Zero. Gehry drew up plans for the art center over a decade ago and very few moves were made to bring the project to fruition—in part due to stalled fund-raising and delays to the construction of the transit hub which sits under site. The snub, which actually wasn't communicated to the architect directly, seems to not have affected him much, but he had some choice words directed towards the board's president, Maggie Boepple.
More on the drama here

Architecture And Design

September 4, 2014

$1.2M Picture Perfect Penthouse on the Upper West Side Features Two Private Rooftop Terraces

Did you ever see a piece of art and feel immediately drawn to it? Well, that’s exactly how we felt the first time we laid eyes on this turn-of-the-century townhouse at 134 West 88th Street. From its beautiful cornice and decorative façade to the lovely planters overflowing with greenery that adorn each window, it sits majestically among its peers on one of the Upper West Side’s most beautiful tree-lined blocks. And this picture perfect one-bedroom penthouse situated on the building’s top two floors is everything you’d expect – and more. While there’s certainly an abundance of charm in the original exposed brick, wood beamed ceilings, and top-nailed, wide-plank hardwood floors, the home exudes a decidedly modern rustic appeal.
See what makes this home so breathtaking

Distinctive Homes

September 4, 2014

Katz’s Deli Co-Owner Jake Dell Nabs $1.9 Million Greenwich Village Pad

The Lower East Side's iconic Katz's Deli was the talk of the town recently when it came to light that the neighborhood institution had sold its air rights. It's speculated that a parcel of adjacent buildings will be demolished to make way for a new cantilevered building. Jake Dell, the third-generation co-owner of the 126-year-old pastrami mainstay, has been quoted as saying that the sale will not affect the deli in any way, though he didn't cite specifics of the deal. But regardless of the details, it looks like Dell made out pretty well for himself, as he's just scooped up a $1,899,000 apartment at 808 Broadway in the heart of Greenwich Village. Just a short walk from Katz's, his new pad is described as a "Park Avenue-inspired home."
Take a look inside the pastrami king's new digs

September 4, 2014

Real Estate Wire: Inside The Shops at Hudson Yards; Park Avenue Pad Sells for Record-Breaking $71.3M

By Diane Pham

A 740 Park Avenue pad just traded hands for $71.3M, making it the most expensive NYC co-op ever sold. The apartment was originally listed for $48M. [Curbed] Forest City Ratner wants to take over producing the modular units for the stalled B2 tower at Pacific Park next to the Barclays Center. The developer is currently embroiled in a […]

Real Estate Trends

September 4, 2014

Archdiocese of New York Sells off St. Patrick’s School in Little Italy for $32M, Makes Way for Condos

By Diane Pham

On Christmas Eve 2013, the cash-strapped Archdiocese of New York put St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral School on the market for $29 million. Now it looks like Time Equities has purchased the Little Italy property, throwing down $32 million, according to city records filed today (233 Mott and 32 Prince). Plans to turn the school into condos have been in the works since October 2013, when it was reported that the building was in the process of being sold off to Hamlin Ventures, with re-vamps provided by Marvel Architects. Though records show Time as the buyer, the two developers are joining forces to turn the sprawling 14,925-square-foot former orphanage/convent/school into two single-family homes and eight luxury condos.
READ MORE

September 4, 2014

Penthouse Perfection: Peeking into Manhattan’s Top Sky-High Listings

The penthouse craze began in the early 20th century thanks to media tycoon William Randolph Hearst. He took up residence in a three-floor apartment at the Clarendon at 137 Riverside Drive and, when his landlord refused to let him expand further, Hearst bought the entire building, adding two new floors to the top of his mansion, crowned by a new copper mansard roof. Now, 100 years later, the rich and famous are still making headlines with their pricey penthouse purchases. Fellow media mogul Rupert Murdoch recently purchased a $57.25 million triplex penthouse, along with an additional full-floor unit (because why stop at just three?) at One Madison. His bachelor pad totals more than 10,000 square feet of interior space, wrapped in floor-to-ceiling glass. Is this the new standard for penthouse living? We're taking a look at some of the top sky-high listings in Manhattan to find out.
Don't miss these incredible penthouse stunners

Coffee Culture: Are Neighborhood Cafes the First Sign of Gentrification?

Photo: Cafe Grumpy in Greenpoint by Premshree Pillai cc

September 3, 2014

Coffee Culture: Are Neighborhood Cafes the First Sign of Gentrification?

By Michelle Cohen

From “coffices” to lab-like minimalist gourmet coffee meccas to cozy neighborhood hangouts, neighborhood cafes are a fine example of the essential “third place” mentioned in discussions of community dynamics: that place, neither work nor home, where regulars gather and everyone’s welcome. Along with yoga studios, art galleries, community gardens, vintage clothing shops, restaurants with pedigreed owners and adventurous menus and, some say, a change in the offerings on local grocery shelves, cafes are often the earliest sign of neighborhood change. The neighborhood cafe serves as a testing ground for community cohesiveness while adventurous entrepreneurs test the still-unfamiliar waters around them. Beyond the literal gesture of offering sustenance, cafes provide a place where you can actually see who your neighbors are and appreciate the fact that at least some of them are willing to make an investment locally.
Get a fleeting glimpse of old New York City cafe culture in the West Village, meet the future of coffee distribution in Red Hook.

September 3, 2014

Fashion Wunderkind Kira Plastinina Buys $2.5 Million Chelsea Apartment

You may remember Kira Plastinina making headlines back in 2008, when she, all at the age of 16, launched her namesake fashion line, opened a dozen US stores, and later that same year closed them all and filed for bankruptcy. Originally from Moscow, Kira has now launched a new high-end fashion line called Lublu in Dallas, Texas, but it looks like she might also be planning to make some moves in the Big Apple. According to city records, she purchased apartment 3A at the Slate Condominium at 163 West 18th Street for $2.45 million.
Take a look inside here

September 3, 2014

REVEALED: SHoP-Designed Condos by Anbau on the Upper East Side

Looks like the Upper East Side will be adding another luxury condo project to its roster--but this time it's an "affordable luxury" building. Located at 1711 First Avenue at East 89th Street, the 34-story building is being designed by SHoP Architects for Anbau Enterprises, who has shared renderings of the project with New York YIMBY. The building will have a bluestone base with a small cantilever over the 89th Street entrance. The rest of the façade will be brick and glass, offering floor-to-ceiling windows without the total curtain wall appearance. The western façade will be slightly glassier than the rest of the building.
More details here

September 3, 2014

Historic Renwick Triangle Townhouse in the East Village Asks $7.5 Million

Situated in the St. Mark’s Historic District, 114 East 10th Street and the surrounding Anglo-Italianate houses make up what many consider the most beautiful street in the East Village. Prominent architect James Renwick Jr. designed the original home as part of the distinguished Renwick Triangle back in 1861—some of the last single-family dwellings built in the neighborhood. This gut-renovated, historic townhouse didn’t have the best of luck when it sold for $5 million cash after several price drops from its initial $7 million asking. However, after four years, the six-story townhouse has emerged bright, fresh, and asking $7.5 million.
Take a look inside, here

September 3, 2014

Prodigy Network Closes on $85 Million FiDi Site for Their ‘Cotel’ Crowdfunded Hotel

Back in June, we took a look at the winning designs for Prodigy Network's 17John 'Cotel' (collaborative + hotel = cotel), the city's first crowdsourced hotel and the world's first collaborative hotel. Now, the real estate crowdfunding startup has closed on the 15-story rental building at 17 John Street for $85.3 million, $25 million of which came from crowdfunded equity. Additional financing came from Deutsche Bank and another institutional investor. The property will be transformed into a 23-story, 191-unit extended-stay hotel, designed for the next generation of business traveler.
More on the first-of-its-kind project in NYC

September 2, 2014

An Endless Spiral Staircase Ties This Spacious David Hotson-Designed Soho Loft Together

Anyone who incorporates an 80-foot multi-floor slide into a home and repurposes a riveted steel column into a 50-foot-tall climbing wall in the living room knows how to make the most out of a space in our book. When we saw what architect David Hotson did in the penthouse in FiDi, we were more than happy to check out another Hotson-designed residence: this stunning Soho loft featuring an incredible spiral staircase that winds though the entire home.
What does White and Bright and Stunning Look Like? Read on

September 2, 2014

INTERVIEW: Andrew Berman, Executive Director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

There's been a lot of controversy around preservation in New York City as of late, and through it all, the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation (GVSHP) seems to always make its voice heard. From debunking myths about affordable housing and historic districts to advocating for the Village's next great landmark, GVSHP remains on the front lines of the field. Founded in 1980 to preserve the architectural heritage and cultural history of the Village, the organization now includes the East Village, South Village, Far West Village, Noho, and Meatpacking District in its purview. Part of the reason for GVSHP's expansion stems from the tireless efforts of its longtime Executive Director, Andrew Berman. Since 2002, he has overseen the research, educational programming, and advocacy of one of the city's leading preservation nonprofits. We recently sat down with Andrew to learn more about his views on the current state of preservation in the city and where he hopes to take GVSHP in the future.
Read our full interview here

September 2, 2014

Daily Link Fix: The East Village 30 Years Ago Compared to Now; Interactive Map Shows You the Best Place to Hail Cabs

By Alyssa Alimurung

The East Village 30 Years Ago – Laughing Squid featured photographer Daniel Roots’s collection of photos comparing the ones he took in the 80s to the ones he took this year. See how much the nabe has changed in just 30 years. What It Means To Be “Local” – Mashable sent one of its writers to follow […]

Events & Things To Do

September 2, 2014

REVEALED: 125 Greenwich Street Will Rival One WTC and Become Downtown’s Tallest Residential Tower