Manhattan

With its conversion completed only a few months ago, and dubbed “Vaux Mansion”, a nod to Calvert Vaux who designed the russet neo-Gothic structure that is part of the property, the eclectic mix of exteriors at 215 Sullivan Street make a stately presence in its Greenwich Village neighborhood. And in a city filled with multimillion dollars homes, this 39’ wide townhouse sits at the head of the class. We’ve taken a peek inside many a gorgeous residence, but this one is truly lovely. The interior of this six-bedroom, seven-bath home is everything you would expect – 6,861 square feet of soaring vaulted ceilings, rift-sawn wide plank white oak flooring, and exquisite finishes.
See why this home is not just another multimillion dollar listing

Distinctive Homes

June 13, 2014

Infamous Greenwich Townhouse with ‘Explosive’ Past for Sale Again, Now $13.5M

Lovers of NYC landmarks rejoiced just last week when it was announced that Justin Korsant of Long Light Capital would be keeping the frontage of his recent Greenwich Village buy intact. But even with plans in the works to gut the interior and start fresh, Long has no intention of living in the home at 18 West 11th. The soon-to-be-updated pad and was just listed for $13.5 million over at Urban Compass. Long originally paid $9.25 million for the property. Downtown flip, anyone?
See the new floorplan and renderings here

June 13, 2014

The Unveiling of 101 Tribeca Is Better Than Expected

If you didn’t like the renderings revealed earlier this year for the much-anticipated tower at 101 Murray Street, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to know that they were incorrect. New renderings – the right renderings- have been released to New York YIMBY… and she’s a beauty. 101 Tribeca, as she’ll be called, is being developed by Fisher Brothers and The Witkoff Group, and designed by Kohn Pederson Fox. The building is set to soar over Tribeca at roughly 950 feet tall with a sleek, slender design that elegantly bevels out at the top. The 63-story structure will house 129 condominiums, totaling 433,800 square feet. Its tall ceilings, coupled with its sheer height, promises to deliver unobstructed views that will stretch as far as New Jersey and Long Island.
Find out more about this record-breaking structure here

NYC Trying to Preserve Low Rents in Stuy Town, Asks CWCapital Asset Management to Hold Off on Sale

Photo via Wiki Commons

June 13, 2014

NYC Trying to Preserve Low Rents in Stuy Town, Asks CWCapital Asset Management to Hold Off on Sale

Photo via Wiki Commons Here we go again. Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village on Manhattan’s east side have a long history of being an affordable option for middle-income workers. But these days its hold on that place in the city’s housing landscape appears tenuous at best. Though rent-stabilizations laws have been in effect for many units and about half are below-market rates, the remainder is comprised of luxury apartments, with one-bedroom units fetching as much as $2,900 a month, more than double the rate in 2006 when nearly ¾ of the units were below market. And with the property poised to sell for billions of dollars, the trend towards more luxury rentals seems likely.
More on the city's plan to keep rents low

Uncategorized

June 13, 2014

Downtown Flips: Four of the Biggest Moneymakers of All Time

At any given hour when you turn on a home design television channel you have about a 50% chance of landing on a realty show about flipping houses. In real life, though, it's not all hunky property brothers and fairy tale endings; trying to flip a house is a gamble, which is why oftentimes the most successful flippers are those on the inside, like real estate developers and seasoned brokers. For anyone looking to make a flip, New York is ripe with opportunity thanks to low inventory and a constant race to be bigger and better. Within the city, Downtown Manhattan is the ripest fruit on the vine. Full of highly desirable, trendy neighborhoods, it's a hot bed for investors. There's no textbook definition of a flip, but it's generally thought of as a three-year turnover. Downtown there have been 58 apartment swaps within the past three years. We take a look at some of the greatest hits.
This way for all the triumphant flips

Real Estate Trends

June 12, 2014

This Narrow Greenwich Loft Makes Up for Its Slim Lines with Dramatic 16-Foot Ceilings

Most New Yorkers are used to squeezing into small quarters, but few of those spaces boast dramatic ceilings like this beautiful little home at 67 East 11th Street in Greenwich Village. Measuring approximately 950-square-feet, this duplex loft is perfect for a single or for a no fuss no muss couple that wants to live minimally. And unlike the other tiny spaces of Manhattan, this loft is a light-filled abode with 10-foot tall windows and southern exposures that ensure every day will be a sunny one in the village.
Take a peek inside the Greenwich digs here

Distinctive Homes

June 12, 2014

Walmart Heiress Alice Walton Buys a $25 Million Park Avenue Pad

Walmart heiress, philanthropist, and the 14th richest person in the world, Alice Walton, will be moving into a $25 million duplex condo at 515 Park Avenue. The Post reports that the Walton claimed the 30th and 31st floors of the Lenox Hill co-op building — a unit with 6,346 square feet of space hosting five bedrooms, six bathrooms, a grand staircase, and 52 windows that offer up panoramic views of the city. 515 Park also has its own exclusive kitchen and caterer, Chef Daniel Boulud, and 15 private, climate-controlled wine cellars.
Take a look inside here

June 12, 2014

The Beautiful Condos at Naftali Group’s Brand-New Gramercy Tower Have Hit the Market

By Patty Lee

Do you think too many of the new buildings coming up nowadays look like glassy, reflective eyesores? Then you'll be happy to set your eyes on this brand-new tower located at 234 East 23rd Street developed by the Naftali Group. With floor-to-ceiling casement windows, the facade is plenty modern, but the building is most striking because of its red brick nod to the Gramercy neighborhood it calls home. The units in the building just were just listed today, and you can get your first peek of the interiors right here.
Your first look inside the new building right this way

Distinctive Homes

June 12, 2014

Chelsea Modern’s Angular Exterior Contrasts Fine Lines of $9.85M Penthouse

No two ways about it. The blue tinted exterior of the Chelsea Modern, sitting quite majestically at 447 West 18th Street, certainly gets your attention. All angles and edges, with windows that open outward parallel to the façade, it’s not quite like anything else in an area fast becoming known for its interesting and celebrated architecture. The same could be said for this ridiculously sumptuous penthouse duplex. The exterior of this home will grab your attention in a very different way – namely, three beautifully landscaped terraces seamlessly connecting you to sweeping river views to the south and breathtaking city views to the north. And with elegant touches such as a formal dining area, a luxurious daybed, intimate seating area and an outdoor kitchen, the terrace space is literally a home unto itself. But we think the interior of this spectacular residence has plenty to bring you inside every now and again (well, we know the New York winters will!).
See why this stunning penthouse will grab your attention

Distinctive Homes

June 12, 2014

Airy $12 Million Soho Penthouse Offers Up a Premier Indoor/Outdoor Living Experience

If you’re wondering what to do with that extra $12 million, consider the stunning penthouse triplex at 111 Mercer Street. This condo offers more than gorgeous city views, it practically invites the city in for coffee. If you’re reading this we’re going to assume we don’t have to tell you this penthouse is flooded with light… unless, of course, you’re blinded by it. The main floor of the 3,500-square-foot ultra chic condo is framed in all glass NanaWalls that open to its expansive terraces, creating the ultimate indoor/outdoor living experience. The living room and dining area opens up to a 1,200-square-foot terrace — or let’s be honest — it’s an outdoor living room. Meanwhile the kitchen has its own terrace complete with an outdoor dining space… and a fireplace… and west facing sunset-ready views… of the Freedom Tower. Want more?
We've got more...

Distinctive Homes

June 12, 2014

Up Up and Away: Manhattan Rents Highest in Five Years

If you’re looking for a Manhattan rental you may want to act quickly as rents are trending upwards in the recently sluggish rental market. According to Douglas Elliman’s May 2014 Rental Report the median rent of an apartment in Manhattan will set you back $3,300, an increase of 3.1% over the same period last year […]

Real Estate Trends

June 12, 2014

Tribeca Loft That Wouldn’t Sell Will Be Just as Happy as a $45K/Month Rental

When the going gets tough...put your massive Tribeca condo on the rental market for $45,000/month. Well, at least that's what the owners of Apartment 1 at 16 Jay Street recently did after trying to sell the pad since April 2011. Available immediately, the space can come furnished or unfurnished. Known in the design community for its sweeping cast-iron and mahogany staircase that was welded together inside the home in the shape of a double ellipsis, this floor-through apartment occupies the entire 4,200 square feet of 16 Jay Street's first floor. It has 3BR/3BA and a 900-square-foot patio that contains a 25-foot-high sculpture and heated limestone flooring.
The interior excitement continues here

June 11, 2014

Would You Cook Here? $1.65M Chelsea Loft’s Kitchen Is a Work of Art

Situated in the heart of Chelsea’s gallery district it’s hard to imagine that this open and airy loft at 420 West 25th Street only measures 1,200 square feet. Its twelve-foot ceilings, Nordic Ash floors, and oversized windows give the impression of a much larger space with a chic and sophisticated feel.
Grab your pet and come take a look

Distinctive Homes

June 11, 2014

Silvershore Investors Attempt a Flip for the Record Books on a Sutton Place Townhouse

Last month, Jason Silverstein and David Shorenstein of Silvershore Properties along with investor Norman P. Rappaport purchased a $7.8 million Sutton Place townhouse. And just like that, they’re flipping it with an asking price of… wait for it… $19.95 million. We’re not sure what rabbit Brown Harris Stevens listing agent Paula Del Nunzio plans to pull out of the hat but achieving a flip that big would be nothing short of spectacular. However, according to her webpage, she already has a few record-breaking sales under her belt.
More photos of the townhouse here

June 10, 2014

LOT-EK’s Shipping Container Townhouse Brings a Modern Sustainable Edge to Greenwich Village

By Patty Lee

At first glance, there's nothing particularly unique about the facade of this white brick townhouse, but take a second look and you'll see that there's more to the building than meets the eye. Upon closer inspection, you'll notice that the protruding bay windows aren't made from ordinary frames, but from sections of stainless steel truck bodies. The recycled windows are a signature of LOT-EK, the studio that owners Lawrence and Alice Weiner hired to re-do their Greenwich Village townhouse. Founded in 1993 by Columbia University grads Ada Tolla and Giuseppe Liganano, the New York and Naples-based firm has become known for its sustainable approach to construction and architecture, namely the use of upcycled steel containers.
More photos of the inside here

June 10, 2014

NYC’s Oldest Buildings: What Are They and Where Are They? Test Your Knowledge

By Jason Carpenter

New York has a lot of old buildings. Perhaps surprisingly, many of those buildings are actually houses (yes, like real houses). These remnants of the early Dutch farming days can be spotted throughout the five boroughs, as can churches, apartments and "skyscrapers" from earlier times. We've rounded up some of the city’s oldest structures. Test your knowledge and see how many you're familiar with ahead. And while you're at it, make plans to visit one of these historic landmarks the next time you're out and about.
Your blast from the past this way

Architecture And Design

June 10, 2014

Quirky Soho Loft With Honey-Comb Skylight Sells for $2.15 Million After 6 Months on the Market

After more than half a year on the market, the Broome Street co-op with an interesting honey-comb skylight has finally sold for $2.155 million. There’s no doubt 428 Broome Street #1R is an interesting unit, even for a building constructed in 1879. The Soho loft has all the tell-tale signs of an older reconstruction with exposed brick walls, 16’ ceilings and an open floor plan - one that features 1,765 square feet of open floor space. However, the cast iron Corinthian columns and the honey-comb skylight give the loft an almost medieval vibe. The result is an interesting contrast to Soho’s typical industrial architecture.
More inside this interesting loft this way

June 10, 2014

Philip Johnson-Designed Sony Building to Get 96 Luxury Condos by Chetrit Group

The Philip Johnson-designed Sony Tower at 550 Madison Avenue, one of the most notable postmodern office towers in New York City, is set to be partially converted to high-end condos, as states planes filed by developer Chetrit Group. It's not known which of the building's 37 floors the residential units will occupy, but Chetrit, led by Joseph Chetrit, has said in the past that it will convert the upper floors and either keep the lower floors as offices or turn them into a luxury hotel. Construction likely won't begin for at least one to two years since Sony still leases office space. When the developer purchased the building from Sony in 2013 for $1.1 billion at auction, Sony committed to remaining in the offices for around three years until moving to a new space near Madison Square. Chetrit outbid 21 rivals and paid $685 million more for the building than Sony did in 2002.
Find out more about the development here

June 10, 2014

“Limited Edition” Penthouse in the Ultra Posh Puck Building Closes for $28 Million

And it's official: After going into contract December of last year, Penthouse IV in the illustrious Puck Penthouses at 295 Lafayette has closed for $28 million, according to city records filed yesterday afternoon. The penthouse is the second largest in the penthouse-only building (there are six overall), with more than 5,900 square feet of space, 3BR/5.5BA, and a whopping 2,000 square feet of terraces overlooking a garden. Four of the Puck's five other penthouses have yet to be listed, but they are anticipated to sell for between $21 million and $60 million. The Puck is one of burgeoning real estate tycoon Jared Kushner's many luxury residential undertakings, and this particular project transforms the interior of a landmarked building into what the Puck official site has dubbed as "limited edition" properties.
Images of the puck penthouses this way

June 9, 2014

Infamous Greenwich Village Townhouse with an Explosive Past (and Funny Facade) to be Reconstructed by New Owner

At a glance, the quirky notched and jutting façade of the townhouse at 18 West 11th Street in Greenwich Village seems to be the only remarkable thing about the building. But dig a little deeper and the address’s rich history tells the tale of a city brimming with wealth and culture – and once even something a bit sinister. Justin Korsant of Long Light Capital recently purchased the home for $9.25 million and has plans to reconstruct it. But will the renovation of this building wipe out its incredible past?
Learn about this townhouse's unique history and new future

Architecture And Design

June 9, 2014

Moby Sells Off His ‘Tiny’ But Charming Mott Street Penthouse for a Cool $2 Million

By Annie Doge

Electronic music maker Moby has just sold off his "tiny" penthouse at 262 Mott Street in Nolita. Moby bought the home for a mere $215,750 back in 1996 and managed to make quite a bit of money with the recent sale, turning a profit of about $1.5 million after taxes (we guess the artist is now eating crow). The 950-square-foot, 1BR/1BA home is covered with large vaulted skylights and also boasts exposed brick walls, a sleeper mezzanine loft and a private 875-square-foot garden terrace. The listing was held by Corcoran's Julie Pham.
Check out the interiors here

June 9, 2014

$11.5 Million Residence at The Rushmore is Presidential in Its Own Right

Though perhaps a tad less striking than the famous monument sharing its name, the twin towers of The Rushmore rise elegantly above their counterparts along Riverside Boulevard. The Costas Kondylis and Partners designed building actually dwarfs the heads of the Mount Rushmore sculpture by nearly 400 feet, which translates into breathtaking river and city views for the lucky inhabitants.
Check out why this gorgeous home is presidential in its own right

Distinctive Homes

June 9, 2014

Antonio Lobon’s Zen Loft Finally Sells for $6.3 Million

After nearly four years on the market, international businessman Antonio Lobon took his $7 million Tribeca loft off the market. Earlier this year, the Hudson Street condo made its triumphant return to the market with new representation in Douglas Elliman agents Nicole Krinick and Frances Katzen, new photos, and a lower asking price of $6.5 million. It worked. 195 Hudson Street #6B officially closed for just $200 thousand below asking, and the new owners are none other than the previous owners of this gorgeous, recently sold apartment at the historic Worth Building.
Find your center with more photos of this Zen loft here

June 9, 2014

Country-Chic Apartment in Village Townhouse Finds a Buyer for $1.8M

No, we didn't get these pictures from the pages of Country Living magazine, but this stylish home most certainly could grace its cover. The 3BR/2BA apartment in a Greenwich Village Greek Revival townhouse recently sold for $1.795 million through a listing held by Corcoran. Apartment 3FR at 288 West 12th Street is a 950-square-foot, floor-through unit that has been thoughtfully restored to emphasize the home's pre-war character. Original details include three wood-burning fireplaces, wide-plank yellow pine floors, and leaded-glass windows.
Right this way for more design details

June 6, 2014

Egypt’s Richest Man Scoops Up the City’s Most Expensive Co-op for $70 Million

David Geffen has been dethroned as the person to have spent the most on a co-op in NYC, ever. Egyptian billionaire, a.k.a. the richest man in Egypt, Nassef Sawiris closed on the pad at 960 Fifth Avenue this afternoon through a listing held by Brown Harris Stevens. The penthouse apartment was originally going for $65 million earlier this spring, but power brokers Mary Rutherfurd and Leslie Coleman of Brown Harris Stevens managed to squeeze an extra $5 million out of Sawiris in a bidding war. Funnily enough, 960 has been cited as one of the city's 'A-plus' buildings, and in 1997 a New York Times article wrote that most residents in the building "are worth over $100 million" and that apartments cost about $15 million — my how times have changed!
Take a look inside the opulent apartment here

June 6, 2014

Greenwich Village Star Asks $6.95 Million