Manhattan

Whether a reference to the Latin word meaning “star” or the lesser-known rare gold coin of the late 19th century, Stella Tower is aptly named. JDS Development Group, Property Markets Group, and Starwood Capital Group (the trio behind Chelsea’s Walker Tower) officially opened sales at Ralph Walker’s iconic Art Deco building, although a few sales have already moved forward quietly over the last few weeks.
See what all the fuss is about

May 6, 2014

UES Penthouse with East River Views in Every Room Sells for $14.9 Million to Former Presidential Hopeful

Who knew bloggers could afford $14.9 million apartments? David Alan Stockman, of David Stockman's Contra Corner (and other things discussed after the break), and his wife Jennifer, an art collector and the current president of the Guggenheim Foundation’s board of trustees, have just purchased a 5BR/6.5BA penthouse at 170 East End Avenue through brokers Andrea Wohl Lucas and Bruce Lucas of Corcoran. Though the building itself isn't much to look at, this 4,902-square-foot penthouse makes up for its stark, stacked exterior with a well-thought-out floor plan designed to make the most of the location's natural light and sweeping views of the East River, neighboring Carl Schurz Park, and the cityscape.
Have a look inside

May 6, 2014

Gorgeous Pre-War Upper East Side Apartment Sold

Apartment 7C, a palatial apartment at 911 Park Avenue has been sold. Marsh CEO Peter Zaffino purchased the astounding pre-war pad for $6.75 million. This Upper East Side beauty, represented by brokers Debra LaChance and Denise LaChance, has 10 rooms, with 4 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and marble floors and hardwoods throughout. The high-rise also features a private landing, a library and a great room with a wood-burning fireplace for those cozy nights by the fire. It also contains an enviably large eat-in kitchen and the increasingly elusive formal dining room. The library features wall-to-wall built-ins and the entire apartment boasts coffered ceilings.
Take a look inside this astonishing apartment here

Real Estate Trends

May 6, 2014

Unique East Village Apartment with Retractable Facade Sells for $2.4 Million

Oh, architects and their creativity. One such inventive architect Bill Peterson had a flash of “ahead of our time” genius when he decided to convert the front wall of his East Village apartment into a garage-style retractable facade after purchasing the pad in 2008. We suppose some people actually have too much privacy in New York City and would prefer to connect with the outside world (and terrify people with acrophobia simultaneously?).
Check out the inside of this unique beauty here

May 6, 2014

The Beresford: Old World Charm Meets Modern Day Living in Apartment #2G

What do comedian Jerry Seinfeld, singer Diana Ross, tennis player John McEnroe, actor Tony Randall and publisher Helen Gurley Brown have in common? They have all called 211 Central Park West — better known as The Beresford — home. But The Beresford’s claim to fame isn’t its host of famous residents but rather its three majestic towers, whose design limits the number of apartments on each floor to only two or three. Opened in 1929, architect Emery Roth’s spectacular residential fortress boasts spacious rooms, soaring ceilings, a charming interior courtyard containing a fountain and a garden, and incredible views of Central Park.
Take a sneak peek inside Apartment 2G, listed at $10 Million

Distinctive Homes

May 5, 2014

Links We Love: Happy Birthday to the World’s Oldest Man; Is Graffiti the New Must-Have for Luxury Buildings?

Remembering Architect Frederic Schwartz: The Observer remembers the designer of many 9/11 memorials after he lost his battle to cancer this past week. The New Must-Have For Luxury Buildings: Graffiti: The New Yorker questions this new trend. Real estate apps may lead to segregation: Teke Wiggin asks whether increased knowledge of neighborhood demographics will encourage segregation. Google […]

Uncategorized

May 5, 2014

35XV: Chelsea’s New High-Tech Condo Tower by FXFOWLE Nears Completion

By Carter B. Horsley

East Chelsea's stunning new landmark, the 35XV, is almost complete! We recently stopped by the site to survey the work that's been done over the past few months, and by the looks of things, 35 West 15th Street is just waiting for an outer-skin for its podium. Given the rapid progress that's been made so far, we think it's safe to say that we'll be seeing the transformation very soon.
More photos of the progress that's been made

May 5, 2014

This Gorgeous Apartment at the Mandarin Oriental Gives New Meaning to “Movin’ On Up”

Wouldn't it be nice to live on top of the world? Well, somebody is in luck because a spacious 3BR/3BA apartment just opened up at the Residences at Mandarin Oriental. This luxurious Columbus Circle pad rests on the 71st floor, with gigantic windows that overlook Central Park, as well as both the East River and the Hudson. The 3,168-square-foot apartment has ebonized oak floors and black granite accents. It also features a large eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, a sub-zero refrigerator, and a wine cave. Whoever purchases this impressive, recently renovated home will not only have bragging rights, but access to all of the amenities of the Mandarin Hotel. So yeah, this person will basically be living in a hotel. Jealous yet?
See photos of the lavish pad here

Distinctive Homes

May 5, 2014

Archilier Architecture’s “Chinese Lantern” Inspired Design to Light Up 470 Eleventh Avenue

Rising 720 feet tall from the corner of 11th Avenue and 38th Street, Archilier Architecture's new, unconventional mixed-use tower from developer Black House will bring 51 luxury apartments and 419 hotel rooms across the street from the newly-renovated Jacob K. Javits Center. While the ultra high-end skyscraper is one of many new construction projects in the city, it promises to be unlike anything we’ve seen before on the streets of Manhattan.
-See more of Archilier's beautiful design

Architecture And Design

May 5, 2014

Reed Krakoff Pays $28 Million for an Opulent UES Townhome

It’s a great market for townhomes. 54 East 64th Street has been sold to designer Reed Krakoff and his wife Delphine for $28 million. This news is especially remarkable considering the townhouse’s history. Formerly a Kips Bay Decorator Show House and a one-time home of the New York Observer, this Upper East Side gem was transformed into a luxurious home when it was purchased by real estate investor David Quinlan for $18.74 million back in 2005. After failing to turn the hefty profit he was hoping for, Quinlan sold the townhouse for $20 million in 2011. Last year it was placed back on the market for $20 million; however, broker Dolly Lenz changed that, upping the asking price to $28 million. They don’t call her a superbroker for nothing.
Check out more photos of the townhouse here

Real Estate Trends

May 5, 2014

Wake Up to Stunning 180 Degree Views of the City That Never Sleeps

One look and you may never want to leave this exquisite sun-drenched and spacious home, part of The Residences, a gorgeous new Gwathmey Siegel designed masterpiece developed by Bizzi & Partners. Sitting 60 stories above one of the most desired streets in Manhattan, this 2BR/2.5 bath residence at 400 Fifth Avenue bestows breathtaking panoramic views from just about every room. Every detail, from the hardwood black oak flooring throughout to the ample closet space, ensures no matter where you are in this gracious home, life is better simply by being there. In fact, the residences at 500 Fifth are so beautiful the building even has its own coffee table book, 500 Fifth Avenue: A New Gwathmey Siegel Landmark, coming out this fall!
Take a peek inside this gorgeous residence

May 2, 2014

Coming Soon Summer 2015: The Beekman Hotel

After years of failed attempts by developers, GFI Capital Resources Group is accomplishing what some thought was impossible: They are converting 5 Beekman Street – along with its empty next-door neighbor 115 Nassau Street – into a hotel and condo. The landmark building was one of New York’s original skyscrapers, once towering nine stories. Its distinctive architecture boasts the famous Temple Court, an interior atrium punctuated by a skylight in the shape of a pyramid. It is surrounding this very feature that 287 hotel rooms will be constructed.
Read on for more details here

May 2, 2014

Al Franken Sells His UWS Co-op for Just Over $4 Million

By Jon Dioffa

US senator Alan Stuart "Al" Franken, and his wife Franni, have just sold their 2,600-square-foot co-op at 90 Riverside Drive for $4.05 million. According to the listing held by Warburg Realty, the home features four bedrooms, hardwood floors, three dishwashers, and sunny southern exposures in a turn-of-the-century landmarked town home. From pictures, it looks quite quaint and charming, despite its multi-million dollar locale. City records show that the politico and former SNL star handed the keys to his UWS digs over to James Stone, a managing director at New Mountain Finance, and Lisa Kiell, international director at Jones Lang La Salle.
Peek inside the former Franken pad here

Real Estate Trends

May 2, 2014

Fashion Designer Derek Lam’s Soho Loft Sells for $5.25 Million

After a long stint on the market, designer Derek Lam and his partner Jan-Hendrik Schlottmann are officially parting ways with their Soho loft. The pair put the two-story, 2,117 square-foot space on the market for $6 million last year, and they came in just a little short of their ask. The loft comes complete with a second story devoted entirely to the master suite, huge windows, and translucent panels that allow the home's inhabitants to reconfigure the kitchen and living room spaces as need be. They purchased the 3 BR/3 BA Mercer Greene apartment back in 2011 for $4.65 million. Another fun fact: Rihanna also once lived in the building.
Take a look inside the loft here

May 1, 2014

NYC Condos Designed by Pritzker Prize Winners

The Pritzker Architecture Prize is architecture’s most acclaimed honor. Since 1979, the award has been given away annually to honor one living architect whose built work demonstrates consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment. New York City is home to structures built by 12 of the 36 past winners — ranging from Philip Johnson to I.M. Pei to this year's winner, Shigeru Ban — and currently holds 14 residential examples of their work. One other fascinating tidbit is that condos designed by Pritzker Prize winning architects are selling on average a whopping 44% higher (price/square foot) than those their respective neighborhoods, and 47.5% higher than the Manhattan market average. But are they worth the money? Learn more about them all ahead.
Are these Pritzker Laureate-designed condos worth their markup?

Architecture And Design

April 30, 2014

Modern Dance Legend Joan Miller’s Soho Loft Studio Sells for $1.5 Million

The late modern dance choreographer Joan Miller's Soho loft was just purchased for $1.5 million by film director Chiara Clemente and her partner Tyler John Thompson. The spacious, sun-filled loft is situated in a boutique, prewar, six-story co-op at the corner of Crosby and Grand Streets. The hip locale perfectly suits Clemente and Thompson's M.O. — the duo have been featured in all the coolest mags and sites, from Purple to W magazine to Opening Ceremony. Clemente has even worked with legendary photographer Bruce Weber.
Take a peek inside this stunning studio

Real Estate Trends

April 30, 2014

White Glove Park Avenue Co-op Sells for $6.5 Million

By Jon Dioffa

Vestar Capital founder and co-president Robert Rosner and his interior designer wife have snapped up a 14th floor condo at 1095 Park Avenue. The couple was previously in the former Stanhope Hotel, a 1926 Rosario Candela jewel box at 995 Fifth Avenue opposite the Metropolitan Museum of Art, that was converted into luxury condos. Their new abode features the same modern, streamlined aesthetic of their previous space — a style which Mrs. Rosner has once described as “a chic and sleek downtown sensibility in an iconic uptown setting.” Do you agree?
Get a closer look inside here

Real Estate Trends

April 30, 2014

Tishman-Speyer Pays $438 Million for Multiple Hudson Yards Parcels

Manhattan-based owner/developer Sherwood Equities has sold multiple Hudson Yards parcels to Tishman-Speyer for $200 million, reports Jeffrey Katz, Sherwood president, in a press release today. The sites are situated at the southeast corner of West 34th Street and Hudson Yards Boulevard, and at West 35th Street and Tenth Avenue, and neighbors another parcel purchased by […]

Real Estate Trends

April 29, 2014

Park Avenue Historic District Approved with Major Modifications, Extell’s New Tower May Soon Rise as a Result

By Carter B. Horsley

The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has just approved the creation of the Park Avenue Historic District, but with major modifications that could mean big changes for the neighborhood. The boundaries of the district were proposed to run from 79th to 96th Street, but the final version passed today excludes the blocks north of 94th Street, which encompasses the Morris Ketchum Jr.-designed Hunter College School as well as The Loyola Grammar School at 48 East 84th Street. More importantly, today's ruling would appear to give Extell Development the green light to replace a Park Avenue church rectory with a condominium tower.
Park Ave will soon be afoot with change

April 29, 2014

Demolition Begins at 43 East 22nd to Make Way for Bruce Eichner’s New Supertall Condo

By Ondel Hylton

A new 80-unit condominium tower at 45 East 22nd street will bring the distance between New York’s two preeminent skylines a bit closer. Ian Bruce Eichner’s, Continuum Company has plans to build the loftiest skyscraper between the Empire State Building (1,250 feet) in Midtown and the Woolworth Building (792 feet) in the Financial District. The project designed by the high-rise pros of Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, stretches skyward 60 floors — a whopping 778 feet from an unassuming 50-foot wide lot currently occupied by two row-homes. We recently stopped by the site to see how things are coming along, and it looks like demolition has just started. Check out our survey and snaps of the project ahead.
More photos and renderings here

Architecture And Design

April 28, 2014

Hilarious Infographic of Manhattan Stereotypes is Spot-On

By Annie Doge

Every NYC neighborhood has its archetype, and this infographic by Apartment List perfectly depicts every Manhattan nabe to a tee. While you'll of course find the obvious characterizations like the Goldman Sachs associate who galavants around the Upper East Side, hilarious insights like what Chelsea residents do for fun ("People watching at the High Line, eating a popsicle") will give you a giggle. The infographic also provides useful info like the average cost of one- and two-bedroom apartments, as well as how much cash you can save by sharing — all in terms any New Yorker can understand (ex. in Tribeca you can pocket $1,548/month; a.k.a. 19 pairs of Lullemon pants). And though Apartment List's creation just depicts Manhattan 'hoods right now, given the easy target that lies just across the East River, we're keeping our eyes peeled for their take on Brooklyn.
Check out the full-size version here

Where I Work

April 28, 2014

George Stephanopoulos Snags Another Apartment in His Lennox Hill Co-op for $2.2 Million

According to property records filed with the city in Friday, it appears that George Stephanopoulos is moving on up in his 30 East 72nd Street co-op! The Good Morning America co-anchor and his comedian wife, Alexandra “Ali” Wentworth, purchased a sizeable 2BR/2BA apartment located on the 10th floor of their current building for $2.2 million. The pair already own a 3,300-square-foot, ninth-floor apartment at the same property, purchased for $6.5 million in 2010. Word is that the couple will merge the two apartments into one luxurious home.
More on the deal here

April 25, 2014

Eyeing the Drake: The Macklowe Construction Brings a “Patriotic” Burst of Color to Park Ave

By Carter B. Horsley

One of the city’s noblest professions is “sidewalk superintendent.” These intrepid pedestrians love to peer through holes in the wall to watch large equipment playing the construction game. The more sophisticated of these curiosity-seekers also look for holes in the city’s facades to glimpse the progress of larger-than-normal, future skyline stars. You can imagine the astonishment, therefore, when I noticed, a couple of days ago, that 432 Park Avenue had adopted a “patriotic” stance, and that its fenestration grid now is highlighted, from top down, in red, blue and white, the colors of the American flag, and also the French flag — a stark divergence from the pristine, streamlined design set out by the building's architect, Rafael Vinoly.
For sidewalk superintendents, the former Drake is startlingly colorful

April 24, 2014

Mary-Kate Olsen and Olivier Sarkozy Scoop Up Painter David Deutsch’s Turtle Bay Townhome for $13.5 Million