Manhattan

Manhattan's Lower East Side is enjoying a true 21st-century glow-up; this three-bedroom penthouse atop 196 Orchard Street embodies the layers of luxury that now define the storied neighborhood. The 1,925-square-foot condo offers an iconic city perch surrounded by 18-foot ceilings and views of downtown Manhattan through bronze-edged casement windows.
downtown penthouse living, this way

Distinctive Homes

Rubin Museum to close its doors after two decades

Photo by David de Armas, courtesy of the Rubin Museum of Art

February 1, 2024

Rubin Museum to close its doors after two decades

Known for its Himalayan art, New York City's Rubin Museum will close this fall after 20 years. The Rubin Museum of Art on Wednesday announced the museum will evolve into a global institution "without walls" and close its Chelsea building on October 6 after its final exhibition. After selling its building on West 17th Street, the Rubin will become an organization that processes long-term loans, hosts traveling exhibitions, and helps with research inquiries and fundraising, according to the New York Times.
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Events & Things To Do

Play with giant light-up dominos in the Financial District

All photos courtesy of Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Alliance for Downtown New York

February 1, 2024

Play with giant light-up dominos in the Financial District

A new interactive public art installation in the Financial District is injecting vibrant color and sound into New York City's dreary winter. Created by Montreal-based design studio Ingrid Ingrid, "Domino Effect" features 120 giant dominos scattered across 12 tables in Fosun Plaza, with each domino giving off a unique sound and color. Presented by the Downtown Alliance in partnership with Quartier des Spectacles International, the installation is on view at Fosun Plaza in front of 28 Liberty Street through March 6.
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Events & Things To Do

One of the earliest maps of Manhattan will be on display at the New-York Historical Society

The Castello Plan. Photo via WikiCommons

January 31, 2024

One of the earliest maps of Manhattan will be on display at the New-York Historical Society

A new installation opening at the New-York Historical Society provides a look at everyday life in New Amsterdam at the peak of its settlement. Marking the 400th anniversary of the Dutch colony's founding, the installation "New York Before New York: The Castello Plan of New Amsterdam" centers around the Castello Plan, a historic map depicting New Amsterdam in 1660 right before the English took control. On view from March 15 through July 14, the installation also features rare documents and objects that explore the lives of settlers, Indigenous people, and enslaved Africans who resided in the colony.
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January 31, 2024

$72.5M Greenwich Village townhouse sale is priciest in downtown Manhattan

An unnamed buyer paid $72.5 million for a townhouse in Greenwich Village, setting a new record for the property type in downtown Manhattan. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the home at 138-140 West 11th Street is a combination of two four-story 19th-century homes. The seller was Dexter Goi, the former CEO of Altice USA, according to the Journal.
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Real Estate Trends

Major mixed-use development Manhattan West is officially complete

Photo © Tayler Crothers of CTC Studio / Courtesy of Brookfield Properties

January 31, 2024

Major mixed-use development Manhattan West is officially complete

After several decades in the making, the mixed-use campus Manhattan West is officially complete. Brookfield Properties and Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) on Tuesday announced the opening of Two Manhattan West, a 58-story skyscraper with two million square feet of office space. Located on the corner of Ninth Avenue and West 31st Street, Two Manhattan West is the final piece of the seven-million-square-foot Manhattan West, marking the completion of the new neighborhood.
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Architecture And Design

NYC unveils plan to develop 570 affordable homes on Inwood parking lot

All images courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

January 30, 2024

NYC unveils plan to develop 570 affordable homes on Inwood parking lot

New York City is moving forward with an ambitious plan to advance two dozen affordable housing projects on public land this year. The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) on Monday began the public outreach process for the redevelopment of an unused city-owned parking lot in Inwood with roughly 570 affordable homes, public green space, and a STEM facility. The Inwood Waterfront project falls under Mayor Eric Adams' "24 in 24" plan, which pushes for 24 affordable housing developments on 24 publicly-owned sites to ultimately create or preserve more than 12,000 housing units.
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This $9.75M East Village duplex has Cape Cod-style charm topped by a rooftop cottage

Aerial photo: DroneHub Media

January 29, 2024

This $9.75M East Village duplex has Cape Cod-style charm topped by a rooftop cottage

As one of Manhattan's coveted properties with quaint rooftop cottages and cabins, the duplex condo at 72 East 1st Street isn't merely a quirky curiosity. The two-floor-plus-studio apartment has all of the perks of penthouse living. The thoroughly renovated home, asking $9,750,000, has the feel of an English country manor throughout, while offering modern style and convenience in its details and construction. At its apex, a Cape Cod-style shingled cottage and terrace provide a unique outdoor experience, in a neighborhood that's as urban as it gets.
Get a closer look at this rare NYC refuge

Distinctive Homes

Rico Gatson’s colorful geometric art brings sense of peace to Penn Station

Photos by David Plakke courtesy of Amtrak

January 29, 2024

Rico Gatson’s colorful geometric art brings sense of peace to Penn Station

Penn Station's Amtrak concourse has been transformed with colorful geometric designs. Created by New York City-based artist Rico Gatson, the installation "Untitled (Collective Light Transfer)" covers the Amtrak concourse at New York Penn Station with captivating geometric compositions that fill the otherwise bland space with a "pulsating energy," representing the rhythm of constant movement as travelers bustle through the station. The art installation will be on view in the upper-level rotunda between the 8th Avenue Amtrak departure concourse and the 7th Avenue NJ Transit concourse through the summer.
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Enjoy a short commute to the office in this $2.85M Nomad loft

Photo credit: Eitan Gamliely for Sotheby’s International Realty

January 26, 2024

Enjoy a short commute to the office in this $2.85M Nomad loft

This three-bedroom loft at 130 West 24th Street is perfect for both work and play. In addition to its four bedrooms, the classic Manhattan co-op, asking $2,850,000, comes with an office space across the hall. The top-floor apartment has loft details like high ceilings, wood beams, restored original hardwood flooring, painted brick walls, and tin ceilings; arched windows join metal skylights to keep the space light-filled. There's plenty of space for entertaining in addition to the abundant private workspace.
loft living, this way

Distinctive Homes

Roberta’s new location next to Penn Station will open this spring

Photos © 6sqft

January 26, 2024

Roberta’s new location next to Penn Station will open this spring

Roberta's, one of New York's most well-known pizzerias, will finally open its new location next to Madison Square Garden this year. As first reported by Eater New York, the Bushwick-born restaurant signed a lease in November 2022 for a 5,200-square-foot space within the Vornado Realty Trust-developed Penn District, a new mixed-use campus around Penn Station, with plans to open last fall. New signage on the building, located at Penn 1 East between 33rd and 34th Streets says Roberta's will now open this spring.
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Food & Dining

Chinatown’s Kimlau Square to receive $56M revamp

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

January 25, 2024

Chinatown’s Kimlau Square to receive $56M revamp

Chinatown's chaotic Kimlau Square is set to receive a $55.8 million redesign, as first reported by amNewYork. During his State of the City address on Wednesday, Mayor Eric Adams announced Kimlau Square will be renovated in three phases: an expansion of the square into a pedestrian plaza with shortened street crossings, the beautification of Park Row between the plaza and the Brooklyn Bridge, and the creation of an archway that welcomes people into the neighborhood. The project aims to straighten out the confusing six-way intersection that surrounds the plaza and increase the size of the space from 12,000 to 20,000 square feet.
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Longtime UES home of Barbara Walters back on the market for $17M after deal falls through

Photo credit: Evan Joseph

January 25, 2024

Longtime UES home of Barbara Walters back on the market for $17M after deal falls through

The Upper East Side home of late journalist Barbara Walters is back on the market after the buyer backed out of a deal signed last year, the New York Post reported. The apartment at 944 Fifth Avenue was first listed in April 2023 for $19,750,000 before dropping in price to $17,750,000 and entering contract in November.
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Distinctive Homes

Modern architectural details make this $2.75M West Village co-op a turnkey urban refuge

Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

January 25, 2024

Modern architectural details make this $2.75M West Village co-op a turnkey urban refuge

This exceptional corner loft at 2 Jane Street is blessed with a combination of form and function rarely found in a city apartment, especially in the covetable West Village neighborhood. The architect-designed co-op, asking $2,750,000, features an open layout that confers privacy, light, and living space as well as a wealth of custom finishes and modern conveniences.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Marine science-themed playground with giant climbable fish opens in Hudson River Park

All photos courtesy of Hudson River Park.

January 24, 2024

Marine science-themed playground with giant climbable fish opens in Hudson River Park

A new marine science-inspired playground opened in Hudson River Park this week. Designed by OLIN, the Pier 26 Science Playground features large-scale structures in the shape of two endangered sturgeon species native to the Hudson River, the Atlantic sturgeon and the shortnose sturgeon, climbing nets, and other nature-inspired equipment. Located on North Moore Street, the 4,000-square-foot play area also aims to educate New Yorkers about the ecological importance of the Hudson River.
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Architecture And Design

Beneath 16-foot ceilings, this $4M Tribeca loft condo has unexpected Gothic details

All photos courtesy of Oleg Davidoff

January 23, 2024

Beneath 16-foot ceilings, this $4M Tribeca loft condo has unexpected Gothic details

This three-bedroom condo at The Tribeca Lofts at 79 Worth Street, asking $3,995,000, is, at first look, everything we love about authentic loft living, with ceilings of over 16 feet, exposed brick and columns and more than 3,400 square feet of interior space. Beyond the raw industrial feel of most lofts in the neighborhood, this home contains a collection of details that range from modern design to vintage gothic.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

January 22, 2024

MTA installs new subway platform barriers at 191st Street station

Commuters should now feel more secure waiting for the 1 train at the 191st Street subway station. This weekend, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority installed new barriers on the edge of the platform at the Washington Heights station, as part of a pilot program aimed at improving safety and preventing people from falling onto the tracks. The station is the first of four to get the barriers under the program.
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You can get married in Times Square this Valentine’s Day

Photos courtesy of Liz Ligon for the Times Square Alliance

January 19, 2024

You can get married in Times Square this Valentine’s Day

What's more romantic than Times Square? As part of the Time Square Alliance's annual "Love in Times Square," couples can propose, tie the knot, and renew their vows at the Crossroads of the World on Valentine's Day. Registration for a chance to participate in Love in Times Square is now open.
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Events & Things To Do

Central Park Tower penthouse last listed for $149.5M finds buyer

Image courtesy of Extell

January 18, 2024

Central Park Tower penthouse last listed for $149.5M finds buyer

Only two weeks into 2024 and New York City is already seeing record real estate deals. A 12,557-square-foot penthouse in Central Park Tower at 217 West 57th Street has entered contract, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal. The duplex condo at the Billionaires’ Row tower, considered the tallest residential building in the Western Hemisphere, was first listed in March for $175 million and most recently asked $149.5 million, according to CityRealty. The final deal turned out to be closer to $115 million, according to the Journal. The buyer has not been named.
details this way

Real Estate Trends

Colorful tulle sculptures in Madison Square Park brighten the winter cityscape

“To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa” (2024) in Madison Square Park, for “To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa.” Photo credit: Rashmi Gill.

January 18, 2024

Colorful tulle sculptures in Madison Square Park brighten the winter cityscape

New vibrant sculptures made of tulle are adding brightness to the city's bleak winter landscape. On display in Madison Square Park through March, artist Ana María Hernando's exhibition, titled "To Let the Sky Know/Dejar que el cielo sepa," includes a series of large-scale atmospheric clouds and one cascading waterfall, all made of flowing, colorful tulle. The exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of the Madison Square Park Conservancy's public art program.
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This $3.5M Harlem townhouse has stylish new interiors, outdoor space, and lots of options

Photo courtesy of Brown Harris Stevens

January 12, 2024

This $3.5M Harlem townhouse has stylish new interiors, outdoor space, and lots of options

Among the stately brownstones and historic buildings that line this Harlem block, the 19-foot-wide home at 23 East 127th Street holds its own. Within the classic 3,460-square-foot two-family townhouse are sparkling new interiors and luxurious finishes combined with original details. Set up as a triplex over a garden unit, the home, asking $3,475,000, offers coveted outdoor spaces that include a deck and a landscaped back garden.
Take the townhouse tour

Distinctive Homes

Central Park’s Bow Bridge reopens with new wood decking

All photos courtesy of Central Park Conservancy

January 11, 2024

Central Park’s Bow Bridge reopens with new wood decking

The iconic Bow Bridge in Central Park reopened this week after a two-month-long renovation project. Led by the Central Park Conservancy, the project replaced the decking with new, more durable wood and bolstered several beams under the deck to stabilize them and prevent future corrosion. The Conservancy researched historic photographs of the bridge, originally constructed in 1862, to identify the number of planks and the decking size of the bridge floor.
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Architecture And Design

Photo credit: Russ Ross for Compass

January 11, 2024

$3.65M Soho loft has a just-right layout, with two bedrooms, a den, and closets everywhere

Every bit the classic Soho loft, this 2,500-square-foot co-op at 438 Broome Street has none of the raw space drawbacks that often come with industrial charm. The pre-war property, asking $3,650,000, starts with private elevator service and turns the key on a renovated and updated home with 11-foot ceilings and flexible spaces that include two bedrooms, two baths, and a den/lounge room.
21st century loft living ahead

Distinctive Homes

Hochul wants to extend the Second Avenue Subway west into Harlem

The 96th Street subway station on Second Avenue Subway when it opened in 2017. Photo by Charley Lhasa on Flickr.

January 9, 2024

Hochul wants to extend the Second Avenue Subway west into Harlem

The Q train may go even further. During her State of the State address Tuesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul backed a plan to extend the Second Avenue Subway west along 125th Street with three new stops at Lenox Avenue, St. Nicholas Avenue, and Broadway. The announcement comes as construction prepares to kick off on the second phase of the line, bringing the Q line up to 125th Street in East Harlem.
details here

Photo credit: Nina Poon for The Corcoran Group

January 8, 2024

This $3.4M Village co-op feels like a sky garden with a solarium and a terrace

Located on a high floor of the Brevoort East, a classic postwar terraced building at 20 East 9th Street, this two-bedroom co-op offers indoor-outdoor living in the heart of Greenwich Village near Washington Square Park. Asking $3,370,000, this designer-renovated home offers iconic Manhattan views from within. A glass-enclosed solarium and a spacious terrace offer unique spaces for enjoying those views and a big dose of daily sunlight.
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Distinctive Homes

Photo by James Russiello on Wikimedia

January 8, 2024

Plans to demolish landmarked West-Park Presbyterian Church on hold