Manhattan

Billionaire Daniel Och has sold his penthouse at 220 Central Park South for an astounding $190 million, nearly double the amount he paid for the home in 2019. As first reported by the Wall Street Journal, the sale marks one of the most expensive deals ever in New York. The buyer has not been disclosed.
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Real Estate Trends

All images courtesy of DBOX

January 14, 2022

A one-bedroom at Robert A.M. Stern’s new luxury Upper East Side tower asks $2M

Here's an opportunity to live in a new residential building designed by famed architect Robert A.M. Stern. Located on the Upper East Side, 200 East 83rd Street is a 35-story tower with a jaw-dropping amenity package (like a 17th-floor pool room with Central Park views). A spacious one-bedroom apartment at the building is up for sale, priced at $2,050,000. Developed by Naftali Group and the Rockefeller Group, the condo building made headlines last November when a six-room penthouse sold for a record-breaking $27 million.
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Distinctive Homes

Historic Palace Theater begins 30-foot rise over Times Square for $2.5B TSX Broadway hotel

Image courtesy of TSX Broadway

January 12, 2022

Historic Palace Theater begins 30-foot rise over Times Square for $2.5B TSX Broadway hotel

One of the most city's most iconic Broadway theaters, the Palace Theater, began its rise last week to a spot 30 feet over Times Square. The 105-year-old theater is being lifted three stories as part of a $2.5 billion mixed-use development project, TSX Broadway, set to rise at 1568 Broadway. It will take six to eight weeks for the theater to achieve its final height of 30 feet.
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Architecture And Design

Justin Timberlake sells Tribeca penthouse for $29M

443 Greenwich; Photo by Jim.henderson on Wikimedia

January 11, 2022

Justin Timberlake sells Tribeca penthouse for $29M

According to city records, Justin Timberlake has sold his 5,400-square-foot condo at 443 Greenwich Street for $29 million in an off-market sale at the end of December, the Wall Street Journal reports. Timberlake and wife Jessica Biel purchased the unit atop the celebrity-packed building in 2017 for $20.2 million.
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New art exhibit lets you walk through a glowing tunnel in the Garment District

Image courtesy of Alexandre Ayer / @DiversityPics for the Garment District Alliance

January 11, 2022

New art exhibit lets you walk through a glowing tunnel in the Garment District

A small section of Broadway in the Garment District has been transformed into a glowing tunnel. The Garment District Alliance today revealed Passage, an art installation consisting of 20 illuminated circles that form a tunnel for pedestrians to walk through. The art piece is interactive, with each ring radiating light and emitting sound as participants pass by them. Located on Broadway between 39th and 40th Streets, the free immersive art experience will be open to the public until February 13.
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For $7.5M, history, architecture, and smart design fill a compact 1897 urban cottage in the Village

Photos provided by Sotheby’s International Realty

January 11, 2022

For $7.5M, history, architecture, and smart design fill a compact 1897 urban cottage in the Village

On the market for the first time in 22 years, the pair of townhouses at 183 and 185 West 4th Street in Greenwich Village has as much historic cachet as its many charming neighbors. Built in 1897, the property was home to industrialist and art collector Armand Hammer in the 1920s. Today it retains more of its original beauty than most. A painstaking renovation by the renowned architectural firm of Fairfax & Sammons has not only combined and updated the homes for modern living, but given well-deserved attention to every inch of the diminutive jewel-box townhouses–complete with magical patio and garden. The property is asking $7,500,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Donald Trump’s niece Mary Trump buys $7M condo at 565 Broome in Soho

Photo by Adrian Gaut /Edge Reps

January 10, 2022

Donald Trump’s niece Mary Trump buys $7M condo at 565 Broome in Soho

Mary Trump, Donald Trump's niece and author of the memoir “Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man,” recently bought a 2,250-square-foot three-bedroom unit at the Renzo Piano-designed condominium building at 565 Broome Street for $7 million, as the Wall Street Journal reports. The 2020 book, which delves into the Trump family's background, has sold more than a million copies.
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For $1.8M, a co-op in a Lenox Hill landmark has two exposures and five-star hotel service

Photos courtesy of Douglas Elliman

January 7, 2022

For $1.8M, a co-op in a Lenox Hill landmark has two exposures and five-star hotel service

A perfectly proportioned two-bedroom co-op next to Central Park is now available. The home sits in the iconic Sherry Netherland, a 38-story cooperative residential hotel at 781 Fifth Avenue built in the 1920s. Now asking $1,795,000, the residence boasts East and West exposures, pouring light into the home through its incredible 12 windows.
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Distinctive Homes

Photo credit: David Paler for The Corcoran Group

January 7, 2022

This $8.975M Soho penthouse is a private garden retreat with a hot tub and an outdoor kitchen

Surrounded by a 1,344-square-foot network of lushly landscaped terraces–including a rooftop with a hot tub, outdoor kitchen, shower, and pergola–this duplex penthouse at 15 Renwick Street in Hudson Square feels like a garden in the sky. Asking $8,975,000, the 2,859-square-foot duplex has floor-to-ceiling windows and a windowed kitchen to gaze at the greenery.
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Famed NYC bar Dante opens winter-themed pop-up at the Seaport

Image courtesy of Dante

January 6, 2022

Famed NYC bar Dante opens winter-themed pop-up at the Seaport

North America’s number one bar returns to the Seaport to serve award-winning food and drink in its seasonal pop-up at Pier 17’s Pearl Alley. Guests can enjoy their food and drink alongside live music in a warm, winter-themed setting. The Greenwich Village staple will offer guests signature cocktails and negronis, as well as espresso, coffee, and pastries.
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$850M South Street Seaport project gets final approval

Photo credit: The Howard Hughes Corporation/SOM

January 5, 2022

$850M South Street Seaport project gets final approval

The Howard Hughes Corporation last week got the official go-ahead from the city to build a mixed-use tower on a parking lot in the South Street Seaport. Originally proposed as a 1,000-foot-tall tower, the plan for 250 Water Street has changed many times over the last few years due to feedback from community groups and local officials, with the final result being a 324-foot-tall tower with roughly 270 apartments. The $850 million project is expected to break ground this year following remediation of the site.
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Photo by Daniel Lee on Unsplash

January 4, 2022

Manhattan housing market makes record rebound to close out 2021

New York City real estate made a major comeback to close out 2021, experts say. According to a new report from Compass, condo and co-op sales volume hit $7 billion in the last quarter of the year, the highest of any fourth quarter on record. More than 3,400 apartments were sold in this quarter, between October 1 and December 31, up 79 percent from the previous year and the highest total in a Q4 since 2013. After Covid crippled much of the market in 2020, 2021 saw an impressive turnaround in Manhattan, particularly with the sales of luxury properties, new development condos, and townhouses.
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See NYC’s sweeping master plan that promises climate resilience for Lower Manhattan

Image credit: NYCEDC

January 4, 2022

See NYC’s sweeping master plan that promises climate resilience for Lower Manhattan

New York City has taken an important step toward protecting one of the country’s largest central business districts from the costly and destructive effects of climate change. The city's Economic Development Corporation and the Mayor's Office of Climate Resiliency recently released the Financial District and Seaport Climate Resilience Master Plan. At a projected cost of up to $7 billion, this environmental blueprint for the Lower Manhattan shoreline imagines a resilient waterfront that can withstand severe storms and rising sea levels.
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The 2007 Times Square Ball during construction. Image courtesy of Focus Lighting.

December 30, 2021

How the Times Square Ball is made

By Dana Schulz

When midnight hits this New Year's Eve, the Times Square Ball will dazzle people just the same from five feet away or on their television. Making this magic happen is no easy feat, though. To learn a bit more about how the nearly 12,000-pound ball was created, we chatted with principal designer Christine Hope of Focus Lighting, the architectural lighting design firm that conceptualized the current ball more than 10 years ago. From engineering a new system to make all 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles sparkle to dreaming up the magical light show that plays leading up to the ball drop, Focus Lighting shares the inside scoop on this world-famous tradition.
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Lottery opens for 324 units at world’s largest affordable Passive House, from $388/month

Rendering courtesy of the NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development

December 29, 2021

Lottery opens for 324 units at world’s largest affordable Passive House, from $388/month

A housing lottery opened this week for more than 300 apartments at the world's largest fully affordable Passive House. Sendero Verde is a mixed-use project currently under construction in East Harlem that includes affordable housing, community space, retail, outdoor gardens, and a school. As part of phase one, the 100 percent affordable building designed by Handel Architects is now accepting applications for 324 mixed-income units. New Yorkers earning 30, 40, 50, 60, 80, and 110 percent of the area median income can apply for the apartments, which range from $388/month studios to $2,524/month three bedrooms.
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Affordable Housing

Photos courtesy of Warburg Realty

December 28, 2021

A terrace and high-floor views make this $4.6M pre-war classic six the perfect Park Avenue pad

Asking $4,575,000, this two-bedroom co-op at 1095 Park Avenue is the epitome of a classic Upper East Side co-op with six rooms, pre-war details, and lots of living space. Not every "sky-townhouse" has a terrace, but this one does.
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Distinctive Homes

Announcing 6sqft’s 2021 Building of the Year!

Photo credits, clockwise: Colin Miller, Related Companies, Colin Miller, Related Companies

December 27, 2021

Announcing 6sqft’s 2021 Building of the Year!

By 6sqft

The votes are in. The 2021 Building of the Year title belongs to Lantern House, the pair of bubbled towers on the High Line. The Chelsea condo project edged out the competition with 618 votes, or 23.9 percent of the 2,587 votes cast. Developed by Related and designed by Heatherwick Studio with SLCE Architects, Lantern House contains a mix of 181 one- to four-bedroom units split between the two towers, one which rises 10 stories and the other, 22 stories. This year's contest was a photo finish, with The Brooklyn Tower in a close second place with 615 votes, or 23.8 percent of the total votes.
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New Developments

New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square to be scaled back because of Covid

Image by Anthony Quintano via Flickr

December 27, 2021

New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square to be scaled back because of Covid

After announcing last month that this year's Times Square New Year's Eve celebration will return to maximum capacity, Mayor Bill de Blasio broke the news on Thursday that the celebration will be scaled back to protect attendees from the Omicron variant. Usually hosting 58,000 guests, the celebratory event will be reduced to 15,000 attendees and include additional safety measures like the use of masks. Those planning on taking part in the celebration must provide full proof of vaccination with photo identification.
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Events & Things To Do

On the Upper West Side, an Emery Roth-designed co-op overlooking Central Park asks $7.4M

All photos: Compass/ Michael J. Franco

December 22, 2021

On the Upper West Side, an Emery Roth-designed co-op overlooking Central Park asks $7.4M

A pre-war Upper West Side co-op designed by an influential architect with views of Central Park? It doesn't get much more classic New York City living than that. A stunning eight-room duplex at 15 West 81st Street is now on the market for $7,350,000. Stretching across floors 12 and 13, the spacious apartment not only benefits from a prime address, but also pre-war features, like herringbone floors, original banister, and moldings.
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Distinctive Homes

‘2022’ numerals arrive in Times Square after cross-country trip

Image courtesy of Times Square Alliance

December 22, 2021

‘2022’ numerals arrive in Times Square after cross-country trip

The New Year has arrived in New York. The iconic seven-foot-tall numerals that sit beneath the New Year's Eve crystal ball arrived in Times Square on Monday. The numbers are available for viewing at Times Square Plaza between 46th and 47th Street until noon on December 23 until they take their place on top of One Times Square.
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Events & Things To Do

East Village duplex with a dreamy garden and balcony asks $3.5M

All photos by Rise Media

December 21, 2021

East Village duplex with a dreamy garden and balcony asks $3.5M

For many homebuyers in New York City, outdoor space is a must-have amenity. While most will settle for any slice of green space or sliver of a balcony, this available East Village duplex offers both. The two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath condo at 62 East 1st Street offers a dreamy 1,000-square-foot backyard garden and patio, with a spacious balcony above it. The home is now on the market for $3,488,000.
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Distinctive Homes

New $18.3M sustainable playground opens at the Battery

Image courtesy of Diane Bondareff/AP Images for The Battery Conservancy

December 20, 2021

New $18.3M sustainable playground opens at the Battery

One of New York City's largest sustainable parks officially opened last week. Following a 25-year initiative, the Battery Conservancy on Thursday opened the Battery Playscape, a 1.5-acre playground that triples the size of the former park and aims to reinforce sustainable practices in its users through its eco-friendly design and features.
Details here

NYC Council approves plan to rezone Soho and Noho, which will add 900 affordable units

A rendering of West Broadway in Soho, looking downtown; courtesy of City Planning Commission

December 16, 2021

NYC Council approves plan to rezone Soho and Noho, which will add 900 affordable units

The New York City Council on Wednesday voted to approve the plan to rezone Soho and Noho, a major policy win for Mayor Bill de Blasio in his final days in office. The rezoning aims to bring about 3,000 new homes, with roughly 900 of them permanently affordable, to the Lower Manhattan neighborhoods, which are two of the wealthiest in the city.
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Photo credit: Brown Harris Stevens

December 16, 2021

This $2.6M classic Soho loft is a collector’s dream

This loft co-op at 421 West Broadway has the covetable loft bones that exemplify the Soho neighborhood: 11-foot-high wood-beamed ceilings, tall windows, big, open rooms, and wood floors. Anyone with a serious collection should take note: This particular loft, asking $2,600,000, belongs to an artist and collector, and while the space is the perfect home for loft lovers, it doubles as a fascinating gallery.
Step into the collectors' loft

Distinctive Homes

City Council approves massive Grand Hyatt redevelopment project at 175 Park Avenue

Rendering by Ekoomedia, Inc. / Courtesy of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

December 16, 2021

City Council approves massive Grand Hyatt redevelopment project at 175 Park Avenue

The New York City Council voted on Wednesday to allow the proposed development at the site currently occupied by the Grand Hyatt Hotel at 175 Park Avenue. New Greater East Midtown zoning rules permit developers to construct supersized towers if they are accompanied by hefty contributions to transit and public amenities. In addition to the construction of a 2.1-million-square-foot, 1,575-foot-high building with retail and office space, a new 500-room hotel, a sky lobby, a lounge, and a restaurant, the site will include 25,000 square feet of elevated, publicly accessible terraces that will host cultural and arts events. The project also promises to bring hundreds of millions of dollars in transit improvements.
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Ring in the New Year hanging 1,271 feet above NYC

Image courtesy of Edge

December 16, 2021

Ring in the New Year hanging 1,271 feet above NYC