Manhattan

May 20, 2014

Picture-Perfect Apartment in the Trump International Finds a Buyer

The Donald has no shortage of high-rise real estate accolades, but the Trump International Hotel & Tower, located at 1 Central Park West, is considered by many one of his most successful developments. Adapted from a former office tower in 1997, it soars 44 stories above Columbus Circle with stunning views of Central Park and the Hudson River. The lower 22 floors are occupied by a hotel, while the upper 22 contain 158 modern, sunny private residences that are nothing short of trump-tacular. Unit 23D, which recently sold for $8.55 million through Ido Berniker at Mercer Partners, is no exception to the billionaire-worthy design. The 3BR/3.5BA apartment has 10-foot ceilings, as well as sleek modern finishes that really make the interior shine.
More about the spectacular home this way
May 19, 2014

Observations: Sherpas Not Needed

Some people have great hair that never goes astray. That made me think about buildings with their new-fangled window-washer rigs. They’re not new but the recent “gold rush” of high-end residential condominiums have led some developers to design curious new building forms that would appear to be major obstacle courses for those marvelous skywalkers who brave the elements and have never experienced a tinge of acrophobia. The faint-hearted, of course, prefer sheer city cliffs, but only the bravest descend from the heights over the new often bumpy terrain.
Sherpas not needed
May 19, 2014

Gorgeous Lenox Hill Apartment Redefines Luxury

Whoever coined the term “the lap of luxury” was clearly thinking of The Mayfair’s apartment #2BC at 610 Park Avenue. This opulent residence, with a $20 million price tag, is so lavish you feel elegant just looking at it. The gorgeous marble entrance gallery is a perfect first impression, setting the tone for the rest of the apartment. The Mayfair was originally the Mayfair Regent Hotel, built back in 1925 by Rosario Candela’s famous partner J.E.R. Carpenter. The building was converted to 15 floors of beautiful condos in 1997.
Take a look inside this palatial pad here
May 16, 2014

Greene Street SoHo Loft Will Cast a Spell on You (Sorry, Quirky Fireman Statue Not Included)

Greene Street in SoHo is the kind of block you walk down and can’t help but marvel at its rich collection of cast-iron architecture — arguably part of the most extensive of its type in the world. Close your eyes and you can almost (okay, maybe at 3AM, but work with me here) hear the clip-clop of the horse drawn buggies reminiscent of the year 1880, when this undeniable gem was built. Fortunately, although modern in its amenities (it was converted to loft condos in 2000), 20 Greene Street and the apartments within retain much of their 19th century charm, from the building’s classic facade to unit 2B’s high ceilings with exposed piping and cast iron Corinthian columns.
See why this SoHo loft will cast its spell on you
May 16, 2014

Has Governor Cuomo Found a Way to Fix Pier 40?

Governor Andrew Cuomo has reached a tentative deal with developers that could save Pier 40, according to the New York Times. In the new deal, Governor Cuomo would transfer unused development rights to another site on West Side Highway in exchange for $100 million to repair Pier 40. Restoration would involve gradually demolishing St. John’s Terminal Building and replacing it with residential buildings and shops over a period of 10 years.
Learn more about Governor Cuomo's deal to save Pier 40 here
May 16, 2014

Socialites Buy a Home in the Former Building of One of New York’s Most Infamous

New York socialites Danielle and Jonathan Segal have decided to upgrade from their 2BR/2.5 co-op on 65th Street, to a gorgeous 3BR/3BA apartment… one block away. The daughter of Ilan Cohen, owner of real estate company Elite Management, and her hedge fund husband have just put down $4.77 million on apartment 2B at 133 East 64th Street, with the help of Fox Residential's listing agents Barbara Fox and Brad Loe.
Take a look inside the beautiful home here
May 16, 2014

Contemporary West Houston Street Duplex Loft Finds a Buyer

According to city records, this spacious contemporary duplex apartment at 200 West Houston Street just sold yesterday for $2 million through a listing held by Douglas Elliman's Donald Kemper. Located at the gateway to the Village and Soho, 200 West Houston Street was built in 1869 and today has 29 apartments on four floors. The stunning 2 BR/2 BA modern apartment sits on the top floor and boasts 1,800 square feet of space filled with natural light that pours in from its expansive windows and skylights.
More about the inviting space right this way
May 15, 2014

The Dakota: Extraordinary Views, Architectural Grandeur…and Yoko Ono

Maybe money can’t buy you love but it can buy you this beautifully renovated and carefully restored apartment at 1 West 72nd Street in the legendary Dakota listed at $14.5 million. Designed by Henry J. Hardenbergh and completed in 1884, the Dakota is one of the world’s most renowned residential buildings. Designated as both a New York City Landmark and a National Historic Landmark, its residences boast many of the building’s original 19th-century details including 13-foot ceilings, soaring doorways, plaster moldings, exquisite hand-carved woodwork, hardwood flooring, pocket doors, shutters framing the windows, and wood-burning fireplaces – and at least one interesting 21st century detail: Yoko Ono calls it home.
Imagine what it would be like to live here
May 15, 2014

Snøhetta’s Light-Filled 9/11 Memorial Museum Pavilion at Ground Zero Dedicated Today

It’s amazing when you think about it, the number of people personally touched by the tragedy of 9/11. It seems in the days after the attacks, especially as a New Yorker, you found you had a connection to someone who had perished, either directly or indirectly. It was almost uncanny. And the phrase “Never Forget” became ubiquitous. As if you ever could. To ensure we never do, and that those too young to remember will continue to honor the day that changed the world, the 9/11 Memorial Museum at Ground Zero was dedicated today, in advance of its May 21st opening to the general public. Attendees included President Obama and Governor Chris Christie.
Snøhetta's Light Filled Pavilion greets museum visitors
May 15, 2014

This Belaire Condo in Lenox Hill Will Cure What Ails You

High above the East River, atop the Hospital for Special Surgery, sits this elegantly renovated 3-bedroom, 4-bath Lenox Hill residence in the The Belaire. Designed by Frank William and Partners, and completed in 1988, The Belaire is true to its name, offering sweeping “airy” views of the river below, the bridges that span it, and the skyline of the city it calls home.
Take a look at its magnificent views
May 15, 2014

A Soho Loft That Fits You Like a Glove

Life in Soho should be a perfect blend of comfortable living and lively entertainment. Well, this beautiful 3,167 square foot loft at 104 Wooster Street understands that perfectly. That’s why it’s fully equipped with a spacious great room, currently sectioned off into smaller seating areas. Now, you can have a conversation with a few friends while the kids play safely in another corner of the room. Or maybe you prefer to float freely through a sea of guests at the awesome parties you’ll throw. Either way, apartment #2S is ready to accommodate you.
Take a peek inside this gorgeous loft here
May 15, 2014

This Breathtaking Nolita Penthouse Takes Going Green to Another Level

Not all rooftop gardens are created equal, especially when it's an award-winning green space perched high above Little Italy. A collaboration between Andrew Berman Architect and the sustainable roof designers of Goode Green, the blooming penthouse abode is a serious urban oasis complete with chickens and a bee colony.
More photos of the beautiful garden home ahead
May 15, 2014

Tiptoe Through the Treetops at 25 Central Park West

The phrase “stunning views of Central Park” could have been first uttered for this elegant and meticulously gut-renovated Century Condominium apartment. From nearly every vantage point you feel like you're walking on the treetops of New York City’s renowned oasis of green – a view that has been enjoyed by the inhabitants of #14J since the Century opened in 1932 on the former site of the historic Century Theater. Sharing an Art Deco motif with its sister building The Majestic (on 72nd across from the Dakota), the 32-story Century stands out among its predominantly Beaux-Arts neighbors and became part of the Central Park West historic district in 1985.
See what it feels like to tiptoe through the treetops
May 14, 2014

Carnegie Hill Residents Sell Their Gorgeous Penthouse Apartment for $7.25 Million

Why anyone would want to leave this gorgeous Carnegie Hill penthouse at 1150 5th Avenue will remain a mystery for the ages. For some reason, the penthouse's former owners, Karim Rashid and Tracy Buescher, have decided to sell their beautiful 5th Avenue pad. However, someone just hit the jackpot when they scooped up the 3BR/3.5BA beauty, built in 1924 by J.E.R. Carpenter - the unsung hero of 5th Avenue. The co-op was designed by architect Charles Platt, the award winning designer responsible for Washington D.C’s Freer Gallery of Art.
Take a look inside this gorgeous penthouse here
May 14, 2014

And the Cycle Continues: Stuy Town Ownership to Change Hands Again

It looks like Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village may be headed back to auction. Manhattan’s largest rental community is no stranger to the game of musical chairs that their owners have been inadvertently playing. The complex, comprised of 80 acres, 110 buildings, and 11,231 units between 14th and 23rd Streets, has had an interesting decade. It sold to Tishman Speyer Properties and BlackRock for a record $5.4 billion at the height of the real estate boom in 2006. Despite being accused of trying to push out lower income residents with high prices, they actually defaulted on their loan in 2010. Ownership of the property was transferred to the lenders, represented by CWCapital.
Drama in Stuy Town
May 14, 2014

Studio Gang’s Razor-Edged Glass Tower for the High Line Gets the Green Light

Studio Gang's bold move to open an office in NYC couldn't have come at a better time. The much admired studio led by Jeanne Gang just got the green light for their stunning angular glass structure, which will be sited right along the High Line on 10th Avenue between 13th and 14th streets. Dubbed the 'Solar Carve', the new construction will be designated for office and retail use, housing 10 stories behind a glassy serrated edge and asymmetrical curves. The design, in true Studio Gang fashion, keeps sustainability in mind, and the building's geometric form does follow function. The unique shape mitigates solar gain while taking advantage of the views between the High Line and the Hudson. A planted roof will also help cool the Solar Carve on hot days.
More renderings of Gang's first NYC project here
May 13, 2014

Observations: Changes at the Center of the City (And World)

The city’s most famous plazas straddle Fifth Avenue at 59th Street, and there’s a lot going on. One of the city’s great entrances is the large marquee facing Fifth Avenue at the Plaza Hotel between 58th Street and Central Park South surmounted by five large ”outrigger” flags, at least one of which is the American flag. This past Sunday, there were two American flags, one Canadian flag, the Fairmount Hotels & Resorts flag, and the Plaza Hotel flag. The two American flags, however, were not standard and the “canton” of white stars against a blue background. These had too much blue background at the edge. While pointing this out to the two doorman, Jarret Lazar, the manager of bell services, wandered by and expressed surprise at my observation. He said that the flags need to be changed every two or three weeks because they get ripped apart.
Taking in the changes of our great city
May 12, 2014

Your Daily Link Fix: Scarface Home on the Market for $35 Million; Williamsburg Edges Out Dumbo as Brooklyn’s Most Expensive

Art Project Uses Graffiti to Spruce up Bronx neighborhood: The New York Daily news talks about how the Bronx Park East Community Association partnered with local artists to trade unsightly tagging for beautiful murals. Food Trucks Stuck in Park: Crain’s New York discusses how some of these New York staples are turning to brick and […]

May 12, 2014

Something to Sing About: Metropolitan Opera President Sells His Tribeca Loft for $2.8 Million

Kevin W. Kennedy, The Metropolitan Opera president (and former managing director of Goldman Sachs) and his pediatrician wife Karen have sold their stunning Tribeca loft for $2.8 million. The pair's former residence is 1,641-square-feet, and features 4 rooms, including 1 bedroom and 2 bathrooms. Large windows with wrought-iron Juliet balconies are this building’s signature, illuminating the welcoming space with its wood floors and original exposed brick walls. The deal was closed by Melinda Nix of Sotheby's. 27 Leonard Street, situated between Broadway and Hudson Street, was originally built in 1876 for William B. Lawrence, a New York Stock Exchange board member. In 2003 it was converted to luxury condominiums with a commitment to balancing privacy and entertainment.
Take a look inside the Tribeca loft here
May 12, 2014

A Jean Nouvel Chelsea Stunner Sells for $3.8 Million

When Jean Nouvel won the esteemed Pritzker Prize in 2008, the judges cited his "insatiable urge for creative experimentation."  His design of residential building 100 Eleventh Avenue is no exception to the boundary-pushing modern architecture for which he is celebrated. Completed in 2010, the shimmering masterpiece has the most technologically advanced and highly engineered curtain wall systems in the city. Mr. Nouvel describes it as a "vision machine," and considering its nearly 1,700 panes of glass — some up to 37-feet wide — each a different size and set a different angle, he is justified in doing so. The 21-story LEED-certified condo building, has 72 units each with south- and west-facing views, floor-to-ceiling window walls, and mechanized shade systems. Every apartment has a unique arrangement of powder-coated steel window mullions, which form specific views related to the space's location. Unit 5D, which recently sold for $3.8 million through a listing held by Douglas Elliman, looks west onto the High Line and has a spacious, elegant layout.
See the stunning interior this way
May 9, 2014

A Look Inside Demi Moore’s Much Talked About San Remo Triplex

Demi Moore made news this week when word got out that she would be putting her San Remo triplex up for sale for a whopping $75 million. While no listing or photos of the 7,000-square-foot 145 Central Park West space have surfaced (apparently Moore is quietly showing it), one of 6sqft's reporters did some sleuthing and found these old black and whites from the Museum of the City of New York which pretty much meet the specs: of the two triplexes in San Remo today, one was made combining the only two-story unit in the building and the mechanical space above it. Moore and then hubby Bruce combined a two-story unit with the space above it... Though we're sure the decor has changed since the Spring of 1937 when it was occupied by Theodore C. Wiehe, with a little bit of imagination we bet you can fill in the gaps. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this blast from the past. And if you've got some money to spend, make Ms. Moore an offer. You'll also be granted the record of "the person to have spent the most money on a co-op ever". A win?
Inside the historic apartment
May 9, 2014

Lena Dunham’s Parents Sell Their Tribeca Loft for $6.25 Million

Carroll Dunham and Laurie Simmons, the parents of prodigious millennial Lena Dunham, have sold their Tribeca loft at 16 Desbrosses St, #4S for $6.25 million. The 3,600-square-foot location for the award winning film, Tiny Furniture, was once a textile warehouse. In recent years, the bright, airy space, perfectly suited for artistic inspiration, was re-designed by architect David Bers who was also responsible for designing the couple’s other residence in Cornwall, CT. They also collaborated with interior designer Nick Dine, son of pop artist Jim Dine, and the result was an open, spacious live/work design prepared to accommodate any sudden bursts of inspiration.
See more photos of the Tribeca loft here
May 9, 2014

Rockefeller University Takes Next Step Towards New Research and Conference Space Above FDR Drive

The City Council’s Committee on Land Use gave approval to Rockefeller University’s plan to construct two new buildings over the Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive on Manhattan’s east side. In exchange, the school, which controls air rights over the 4-block stretch starting at East 64th, has agreed to invest $8 million to develop and maintain a portion of the East River Esplanade.
More on the development here