Manhattan

Massive Two Bridges projects can move forward without City Council approval

Rendering: SHoP Architects

August 27, 2020

Massive Two Bridges projects can move forward without City Council approval

Three projects that include the construction of four towers and the creation of nearly 3,000 housing units in Two Bridges meet all zoning requirements and can move forward without City Council approval, an appeals court ruled Thursday. The Appellate Division of State Supreme Court reversed a lower court's ruling that had stopped the Manhattan megaproject from going ahead.
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August 27, 2020

The best NYC apartments for sale under $500K

By Devin Gannon

Like New York City, the real estate market is slowly starting to recover, with hundreds of new apartment listings posted each day. With some industry experts calling it a buyer's market due to an increase in inventory citywide, we're taking a look at some of the best deals for apartments on the market that are listed for under $500,000. From a spacious two-bedroom with a balcony and an outdoor pool in Riverdale to a charming studio with unique architectural details in Prospect Heights, find out what $500,000 can get you in NYC right now.
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Distinctive Homes

$2.3M West Village studio is a ‘zen cocoon’ designed for fashion lovers

Photo credit: RISE Media, courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 26, 2020

$2.3M West Village studio is a ‘zen cocoon’ designed for fashion lovers

By Dana Schulz

This cool West Village home is not your average studio apartment. For one, the interior has been designed as what the listing describes as a "zen suite," complete with carved wooden doors from Bali, grasscloth and leather walls, and a flat-screen TV that ascends from the foot of the bed. Secondly, the bedroom alcove has been transformed into a custom dressing room/closet fit for a fashionista. Located at 400 West 12th Street, the famous Superior Ink condo, the 943-square-foot home is asking $2.3 million.
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Distinctive Homes

Central Park’s first statue of historical women unveiled

Photo by Emily Dombroff

August 26, 2020

Central Park’s first statue of historical women unveiled

By Devin Gannon

The "bronze ceiling" has officially been broken in New York City's most famous park. A new statue depicting women's rights activists Sojourner Truth, Susan B. Anthony, and Elizabeth Cady Stanton was unveiled in Central Park on Wednesday, becoming the park's first monument of real-life women. The new statue comes on the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment, which granted some women the right to vote.
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Events & Things To Do

Krispy Kreme unveils new Times Square flagship

All photos courtesy of Krispy Kreme

August 26, 2020

Krispy Kreme unveils new Times Square flagship

By Dana Schulz

Just like their doughnuts, Krispy Kreme says its new 24-hour Times Square flagship will be "fresh and one-of-a-kind." Opening on September 15, the massive, immersive new shop will feature the world's largest glaze waterfall, a doughnut-making theater, and the ability to produce 4,560 doughnuts an hour.
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Food & Dining

There’s a giant gorilla sculpture in Hudson Yards

Photos by Tina Sokolovskaya

August 26, 2020

There’s a giant gorilla sculpture in Hudson Yards

By Dana Schulz

To raise awareness and funds for the critically endangered gorilla species, public artists Gillie and Marc Schattner have created a massive sculpture of the animal that arrived this week in Hudson Yards' Bella Abzug Park. Titled King Nyani, Swahili for gorilla, it's the world's largest bronze gorilla sculpture and can fit two to three humans just in its hands.
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Events & Things To Do

Inside the stunning, abandoned City Hall subway station

Photo © James and Karla Murray

August 25, 2020

Inside the stunning, abandoned City Hall subway station

By Dana Schulz

When the New York City subway opened on October 27th, 1904, it was the magnificent City Hall station that served as the backdrop for the festivities, with its arched Guastavino-tiled ceiling and skylights. But by 1945, the newer, longer subway cars could no longer fit on the station's curved tracks, so it was closed. Today, the New York City Transit Museum occasionally offers tours of the abandoned station, which is how photographers James and Karla Murray were able to capture these beautiful photos. Ahead, see more of the station and learn all about its history.
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Inside a new luxury Upper West Side condo located on a hidden cul-de-sac

Model residence at 350 West 71st Street; photos courtesy of MW Studio/ Nina Poon

August 24, 2020

Inside a new luxury Upper West Side condo located on a hidden cul-de-sac

By Devin Gannon

The condo building at 350 West 71st Street manages to maintain its historic allure while providing residents all of the perks of modern living. Designed by DXA Studio, the seven-story development on the Upper West Side measures just 75,000 square feet, but still packs in an impressive amenity package, including a library, fitness center, playroom, and large landscaped rooftop with grill and lounge areas. The boutique building sits within the West 71st Historic District, designated 30 years ago for its uniqueness as a tree-lined cul-de-sac and the distinct Beaux-Arts architecture found across the properties.
Take the tour

New condo at East Village gas explosion site launches sales from $1.35M

All renderings by VUW

August 24, 2020

New condo at East Village gas explosion site launches sales from $1.35M

By Dana Schulz

It's been five-and-a-half years since the buildings at 119, 121, and 123 Second Avenue were destroyed in a deadly gas explosion caused by an illegal tap into the gas main. The corner site at 45 East 7th Street now has a new life as a boutique condo by architect Morris Adjmi who, in his firm's trademark, designed a building sympathetic to its surroundings. Dubbed No45e7, the 21-unit East Village building just launched sales, which range from $1.35 million one-bedrooms to $4 million two- and three-bedrooms, along with an $8.3 million penthouse. A major perk of the project is that each apartment has its own private terrace.
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Tiffany & Co. reveals plans for a glass addition to Fifth Avenue flagship

Rendering: OMA/Bloomimages.de

August 24, 2020

Tiffany & Co. reveals plans for a glass addition to Fifth Avenue flagship

By Dana Schulz

At the beginning of the year, Tiffany & Company moved after 80 years from its Fifth Avenue flagship to a temporary spot next door while the original location at 727 Fifth Avenue began a renovation. Today, the iconic jewelry company revealed the three-story glass addition that will top their reimagined home, designed by Rem Koolhaas' Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA).
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Uncategorized

Listing photos courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 24, 2020

$1.3M West Village co-op feels like a ‘Hollywood bungalow’

By Dana Schulz

The graceful arches, dark floors mixed with painted ceilings, and natural light from three exposures make this West Village co-op feel like a "Hollywood bungalow," as the listing says. Listed for $1,320,000, the one-bedroom home is located at 75 Bank Street. The Art Deco building is known as Abingdon Court and is right across from both Bleecker Playground and Abingdon Square Park.
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Distinctive Homes

The Met reveals facade banners designed by Yoko Ono

Yoko Ono (b. 1933, Japan), DREAM TOGETHER, 2020, installed at The Metropolitan Museum of Art © Yoko Ono. Image credit: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Photo by Anna-Marie Kellen.

August 21, 2020

The Met reveals facade banners designed by Yoko Ono

By Dana Schulz

For the first time, the Metropolitan Museum of Art is displaying artist-designed banners on its Fifth Avenue facade, and they're from none other than Yoko Ono. Titled DREAM TOGETHER, the 24' x 26' banners read "DREAM" and "TOGETHER," and were revealed in anticipation of the museum's reopening on August 29th. Ono created the piece in response to the global COVID-19 crisis, offering "a powerful message of hope and unity to the world," according to the Met.
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Events & Things To Do

Courtesy of WATG

August 19, 2020

This is what a landscaped ‘green block’ would look like in the Flatiron District

By Devin Gannon

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic in New York City, fewer cars were on the road, leading to cleaner air and less noise pollution. And with nearly everything temporarily shut down, New Yorkers sought solace in open green spaces, parks, and open streets closed to cars. As the city is in the midst of reopening, WATG, a global multidisciplinary design firm, has proposed a plan to make the streets of New York greener while helping small businesses recover in the process.
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Amazon will hire 2,000 NYC employees at new Lord & Taylor building location

Photo courtesy of Lord & Taylor

August 19, 2020

Amazon will hire 2,000 NYC employees at new Lord & Taylor building location

By Dana Schulz

Despite a national shift towards working from home, Amazon announced a $1.4 billion plan to hire 3,500 employees across six major U.S. cities, a 10-percent expansion of its current corporate workforce of 35,000, according to the New York Times. This includes 2,000 employees in New York City, who will work from the e-commerce behemoth's newly acquired location at the historic Lord & Taylor building on Fifth Avenue. WeWork bought the landmarked building in 2017 for $850 million, but after a troubling few years, they sold it to Amazon in March for a reported $1.15 billion.
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Uncategorized

Chelsea Market opens massive outdoor dining experience

Photo by Colin Miller

August 18, 2020

Chelsea Market opens massive outdoor dining experience

By Devin Gannon

One of New York City's first food halls moved outside this week, offering one of the largest outdoor dining spots in the city. Chelsea Market on Monday launched a block-long dining experience on 15th and 16th Streets with more than 115 socially-distanced tables and food and beverage options from more than a dozen vendors.
Get the details

Food & Dining

Inside the graffiti-covered 191st Street tunnel, NYC’s deepest subway and only underground ‘street’

All photos and video © James and Karla Murray

August 17, 2020

Inside the graffiti-covered 191st Street tunnel, NYC’s deepest subway and only underground ‘street’

By Dana Schulz

The deepest subway station in New York City lies 173 feet below ground (18 stories!) at the 191st Street stop of the 1 train. This stop is also known for the 1,000-foot-long tunnel that connects its station at St. Nicholas Avenue to an entrance on Broadway. Called "Tunnel Street," this is technically the only underground street in the city. For years, however, it was a dark and dingy passageway that troubled locals, so about six years ago, the city commissioned six artists to paint the tunnel with colorful murals. Ahead, photographers James and Karla Murray give us a video tour of the tunnel, along with the insanely deep subway station.
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You can rent a rare carriage house on MacDougal Alley for $10K/month

Photos by Andrew Kiracofe for Sotheby’s International Realty

August 17, 2020

You can rent a rare carriage house on MacDougal Alley for $10K/month

By Dana Schulz

New York City has several hidden mews sprinkled across its mostly gridded landscape, including MacDougal Alley in Greenwich Village. Located just north of Washington Square Park, the gated half-block cul-de-sac was constructed as a stretch of carriage houses to serve the townhouses that lined ritzy Washington Square North. Today, these charming carriage houses remain, and many of them have been transformed into private residences, like this one at number 6 Macdougal Alley. For the first time in 25 years, the nearly 1,800-square-foot red brick home is up for rent, asking $10,000 a month.
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After Cuomo provides health personnel, 9/11 Tribute in Light is back on

Image by David Z from Pixabay

August 17, 2020

After Cuomo provides health personnel, 9/11 Tribute in Light is back on

By Dana Schulz

It takes nearly 40 stagehands and electricians more than a week to produce the annual Tribute in Light display that marks the 9/11 anniversary each year, according to the New York Times. And because they must work in close contact, the National September 11 Memorial & Museum decided last week to cancel this year's memorial. Upon hearing the news, Governor Cuomo, however, stepped in and said he'd provide the medical personnel necessary to make the event happen safely.
More details here

Events & Things To Do

Noho’s Bleecker Street Bar is closing for good this month

Photo by Village Preservation on Flickr

August 14, 2020

Noho’s Bleecker Street Bar is closing for good this month

By Devin Gannon

After 30 years in Noho, Bleecker Street Bar will be closing permanently at the end of the month. As first spotted by EV Grieve, the neighborhood bar, located on the corner of Bleecker and Crosby, announced on social media that they were unable to reach a lease extension with their landlord and will close on Sunday, August 30.
Get the details

Food & Dining

This $8M penthouse near the UN has some killer views

Photo credit: Sean Hemmerle

August 14, 2020

This $8M penthouse near the UN has some killer views

By Dana Schulz

Not only does this penthouse at One United Nations Park have the title "United Nations" in its address, but the sprawling duplex residence has incredible views of the landmark, along with those of Queens, Brooklyn, Midtown Manhattan, the East River, and more. Located at 695 First Avenue, between East 39th and East 40th Streets, the four-bedroom home is nearly 3,000 square feet, with a wrap-around terrace amounting to another 460 square feet.
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Distinctive Homes

August 14, 2020

You can help choose the High Line’s next public art installation

By Devin Gannon

Banu Cennetoğlu, "right?" The High Line is reviewing proposals for its next two art installations and is asking the public for feedback. The Plinth, part of the elevated park's newest section, the Spur, which opened last year, is dedicated space for public art, visible from the street at 30th Street and 10th Avenue. Eighty nominated artists have submitted proposals to be considered for the third and fourth Plinth commissions and now you can provide comments for each on the park's website.
See the proposals

Events & Things To Do

Listing images courtesy of The Corcoran Group

August 14, 2020

There’s 8 closets and room to sleep 3 at this $495K Midtown studio

By Dana Schulz

This Midtown East studio may be compact, but it certainly has a lot of storage space and room for guests (if you don't mind getting a little cozy). Located at 235 East 49th Street, just a stone's throw from the UN, the co-op was designed by award-winning architect Robert Garneau, who specializes in small-space layouts. Not only are there a whopping eight closets, but a Murphy bed plus sleeping loft means that three people can spend the night. Other perks include a gas fireplace and pocket doors for added privacy.
A lot more to see in this little place

Distinctive Homes

Brooklyn-based farmer proposes turning parts of Central Park into a community farm

Photo by Si B on Flickr

August 13, 2020

Brooklyn-based farmer proposes turning parts of Central Park into a community farm

By Devin Gannon

A farmer based in Brooklyn has come up with an idea that not only honors a historic black community but also gives back to present ones. Amber Tamm, a horticulturist and urban farmer who works at the Brooklyn Grange rooftop farm, told Fast Company about her proposal to convert 14 acres of Central Park into a farm that would feed Manhattanites in need.
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Uncategorized

Opulent Beekman Place mansion closes for $38M less than original listing price

Photo credit: Rise Media, Courtesy of Compass

August 12, 2020

Opulent Beekman Place mansion closes for $38M less than original listing price

By Dana Schulz

More than six years ago, this opulent, eight-story mansion at 29 Beekman Place listed for $49.9 million. Just one year later, it dropped to $37.5 million, with another major price chop this April to $11.45 million. First spotted by Crain's, city property records show that the controversial home near the UN has finally closed for $11.5 million. Crain's explains that it was owned by the former princess of Iran, and was the center of a legal battle involving her sister since 2016. It also went into contract three times and fell through.
See the whole place

Real Estate Trends

New interactive map tells the story of women’s suffrage in Greenwich Village

Screenshot of the 19th Amendment Centennial StoryMap, courtesy of Village Preservation

August 12, 2020

New interactive map tells the story of women’s suffrage in Greenwich Village

By Dana Schulz

Next week, on August 18th, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Though the fight to give women the right to vote was a national effort, much of the movement had roots in New York City. And like most 20th-century advocacy efforts, a lot of that action was centered downtown. To mark this momentous occasion, Village Preservation has created an interactive 19th Amendment Centennial StoryMap that showcases the remarkable number of people and places in Greenwich Village, the East Village, and Noho that played a key role in the women’s suffrage movement.
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History

Target to open at major mixed-use development in Harlem

BRP Companies

August 12, 2020

Target to open at major mixed-use development in Harlem

By Devin Gannon

A deal to bring the National Urban League back to Harlem was reached last month as part of a mixed-use development project planned for 125th Street. In addition to affordable housing, office space for nonprofits, and the city's first museum dedicated to civil rights, the $242 million project, known as the Urban League Empowerment Center, includes a new 44,000-square-foot Target, as the New York Post first reported.
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One Domino Square

8 South 4th Street

Williamsburg

Spectacular living on the Williamsburg waterfront

1 beds starting at $1,925,000
2 beds starting at $2,055,000
3 beds starting at $3,030,000

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