Upper East Side

June 5, 2020

My 3,000sqft: Architect Wid Chapman renovated his Upper East Side home using color and openness

Wid Chapman's parents were profound modernists, his father an architect who worked for Marcel Breuer, and his mother an artist who studied with Josef Albers. The career that Wid has built for himself as an architect and interior designer who specializes in hospitality design is uniquely his own but showcases the influences of his parents. When it came time to design his personal apartment on the Upper East Side, it was his own family who influenced the renovation. "Providing space intimate enough for our small immediate family but room for an extended one, the project reconfigures and reshapes extant spaces to defer to the apartment’s sweeping Central Park views," said Wid, adding that "color and materiality" were also central to the project. Ahead, take a full tour of this one-of-a-kind apartment and hear from Wid about his background and career and the specifics of the renovation.
Take the tour here
May 7, 2020

After three years, developer Joseph Chetrit unloads UES townhouse with an indoor pool for $25M

The townhouse might've sold for $14 million under its asking price, but it's still one of the biggest sales to come through since the coronavirus crisis hit NYC. Owner and big-time real estate developer Joseph Chetrit first listed the double-wide home at 118 East 76th back in 2017 for $39 million. The Wall Street Journal, who learned of the sale from a source close to the deal, notes that the Upper East Side home went into contract "for a significantly larger amount" but "was renegotiated due to the market tumult caused by the pandemic." The lavish home boasts a top-floor indoor pool with a glass-enclosed gym that overlooks it, an elevator that stops at all six floors, a cigar bar, and a patio with an outdoor kitchen and living area. 
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May 5, 2020

Garden-level two-bedroom on the Upper East Side is a perfect all-year oasis for $12,950/month

Feeling good at home is more important now than ever, which is why we're so smitten' over this two-bedroom Upper East Side rental. The interior is warm and cozy for those chillier days, while the outdoor garden is a magical summertime oasis. Located at 14 East 64th Street and listed for $12,950 a month, the home is even more enticing for the fact that it can come fully furnished. In addition to the super stylish decor and custom-designed furniture, you'll get three bathrooms, a sky-lit kitchen, and a large lower-level bonus room.
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April 24, 2020

Upper East Side apartment has a funky Murphy bed and a futuristic white-box design for just $350K

Perhaps the pandemic lifestyle has inspired you to go more minimalist. If so, this alcove studio on the Upper East Side may be pretty appealing. Located at 205 East 63rd Street, just east of Third Avenue, the legal one-bedroom has a futuristic vibe with stark white walls, porcelain floors, and furniture, save for the strategically placed pops of lime green. For just $350,000, there's a foyer, full kitchen, large living room (currently outfitted with a modern Murphy bed to free up even more space), and a whopping six closets.
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April 22, 2020

LPC approves design for condo conversion at 120-year-old Hotel Wales

The Landmarks Preservation Commission on Tuesday approved plans to retrofit Carnegie Hill's historic Hotel Wales, which is set to be converted into luxury condominiums. The proposal from Form4 Design Studio and Higgins Quasebarth & Partners retains the hotel's Beaux-Arts facade, terra cotta elements, and scroll-bracketed balconies, as CityRealty reported. But the biggest alteration planned for the Carnegie Hill Historic District building is the new cornice and rooftop addition, the design of which the LPC on Tuesday said needs to be modified.
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April 16, 2020

This $8M Upper East Side townhouse feels like an Italian Chateau

Let's talk about these ceilings--soaring 21 feet with dramatic archways, they are undoubtedly the highlight of this $7,995,000 Upper East Side Townhouse. Add in architectural details like wrought iron railings, etched glass windows, ornate moldings, and carved marble fireplaces, and it feels like you've stepped into an Italian Chateau. In reality, the four-bedroom house is located at 234 East 61st Street, part of the exclusive, two-block Treadwell Farm Historic District.
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March 23, 2020

Rich colors and a classic reno define this $2.9M Upper East Side co-op

Located just off Park Avenue at 114 East 90th Street, a classic pre-war co-op, this three-bedroom apartment has all the elegance of a 1920s classic-seven, but it's received a modern renovation that has updated the layout for 21st-century living and added rich colors and patterns throughout. Plus it's prime Carnegie Hill location puts it right near both the 86th and 96th Street subway stations, as well as Central Park and the Guggenheim.
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March 19, 2020

Get Park Avenue elegance for just $625K at this Upper East side co-op

Located just off Park Avenue at 115 East 90th Street, this one-bedroom co-op has all the uptown elegance at a fraction of the price. Asking 625,000, the Upper East Side gem has tons of pre-war charm in the form of picture moldings, large windows, and an efficient layout. There's also a surprising amount of closet space and a brand new kitchen and bathroom.
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March 19, 2020

Waitlist opens for affordable units at luxury Yorkville rental, from $728/month

Applications are currently being accepted to replenish the waitlist for affordable apartments in a luxury Yorkville building. Located at 1775 York Avenue, the building, known as The Brittany, is a high-rise located on the East River waterfront. Apartments--set aside for New Yorkers earning 40 percent of the area median income--include one- and two-bedroom apartments for $728/month and $868/month, respectively.
How to apply
March 17, 2020

Apply for 35 affordable apartments in new Upper East Side passive house, from $747/month

Photo of Carl Schurz Park by CityRealty In 2017, Sky Management filed plans to build a 22-story Passive House rental building at 515 East 86th Street, just off York Avenue near Carl Schurz Park and the East River. Designed by Arquitectonica with EP Engineering, the environmentally friendly building has tons of amenities, some of which include a pet spa, dog run, co-working space, fitness center, and yoga studio. In terms of outdoor space, there's a grilling terrace, landscaped interior courtyard, and roof deck. The 35 affordable units in the building are available to those earning 40, 60, 80, and 130 percent of the area median income and range from $747/month studios to $3,123 two-bedrooms.
Find out if you qualify here
March 10, 2020

Sonja Morgan of ‘Real Housewives of New York’ hopes to unload UES townhouse for $10.75M

Could $10,750,000 be the lucky number for Real Housewives of New York star Sonja Morgan? The socialite bought the townhouse at 162 East 63rd Street in 1998 for $9.1 million with her ex-husband John Adams Morgan (grandson to the J.P. Morgan). After divorcing in 2008, Sonja first listed the home for $12 million in 2009, with three separate listings over the next six years fluctuating between $7 and $9 million. In 2018, she began renting the home for $32,000/month. And as of this past November, Sonja switched the listing to Corcoran and listed it as both a rental and a sale.
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March 6, 2020

Well-known author sells Upper East Side carriage house with an artist’s studio for $11M

Fans of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" series will love getting a look inside author Ann Brashares's gorgeous Upper East Side carriage house, which she just sold for $11 million, reports the Post. Brashare and her husband, painter Jacob Collins, bought the 7,200-square-foot home at 167 East 69th Street in 2001 for $3.65 million from the Sculpture Center. They first listed it in 2018 for $18.95 million, with a price chop to $15 million this past July. Not only does the home have beautiful interior architecture, but it boasts a huge artist's studio and a garage with a curb cut.
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February 26, 2020

See the approved plans for Trader Joe’s new Upper East Side store under the Queensboro Bridge

In a public hearing on Tuesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission reviewed and approved an application to open a Trader Joe’s in the city-owned space underneath the Queensboro Bridge on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The cavernous space, known as Bridgemarket, is regarded for its 5,000-square-foot Guastavino-tiled arcade as well as its unique location. Former tenant Food Emporium moved out in 2015. The bridge and the space beneath it were designated a city landmark in 1974. The LPC applauded the proposal's "sensitive approach" to the space.
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February 26, 2020

The Met reveals new commissions for summer roof garden and facade niches

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has announced two new sculpture commissions to be installed in the museum's facade niches and the Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Roof Garden later this year. Mexican artist Héctor Zamora will create a site-specific intervention on the roof titled Lattice Detour that's set to open on April 21. On September 9, American artist Carol Bove will unveil new sculptures in the building's Fifth Avenue facade niches, becoming only the second artist to activate the building's exterior in this way. The works are still in progress but Sheena Wagstaff, the Met's Leonard A. Lauder Chairman of Modern and Contemporary Art, hinted that Zamora's piece will "invite us to reconsider the panoramic view of the city skyline" and Bove's installation will feature "colorful stylized abstractions."
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February 25, 2020

Gracie Mansion’s largest art exhibition explores social justice and inclusion

A new art exhibition is open at Gracie Mansion, the fourth and final installation of Mayor Bill de Blasio and First Lady Chirlane McCray's tenure. Catalyst: Art and Social Justice, which will also be the largest ever hosted at the historic home in Yorkville, features more than 75 works created by over 50 artists since the 1960s. With a focus on inclusion, the exhibit explores the connection between art, justice, and the social change movements behind it all.
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February 25, 2020

‘Versailles’ on the Upper East Side hits the market as a $55M townhouse with rental income

We bet your home doesn't have 24-carat gilded gold moldings... but if you feel like upgrading to such a regal residence, this $55 million Upper East Side townhouse is just the ticket. Located at 10 East 62nd Street, just off Central Park, the landmarked Beaux-Arts building is currently configured as a triplex, two duplexes, and a common penthouse, all of which are currently being rented out. The triplex has been on and off the rental market for years, going for as much as $60,000 a month. In addition to the gold details, it's dripping with marble, hand-painted murals, and wrought-iron staircases.
See it to believe it
February 21, 2020

For $7.5M, George S. Kaufman’s one-time ‘European’ townhouse on the Upper East Side

Celebrated playwright George S. Kaufman lived at 158 East 63rd Street in the 1920s, when he was part of the Algonquin Round Table circle of New York artists. As such, a young Moss Hart visited him at his Upper East Side home and later described seeing the home for the first time as an "illuminating and expensive moment" in his autobiography "Act One." The townhouse is now on the market again for $7.5 million, and its show-stopping features--a deep garden, European-style architecture, and a handsome library--are all still intact.
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February 18, 2020

Trader Joe’s looks to open UES store in former Food Emporium space under Queensboro Bridge

Trader Joe's footprint in New York City is growing again. The popular grocery chain will likely open a new store on the Upper East Side in a space beneath the Queensboro Bridge. Formerly occupied by Food Emporium, the space features a 5,000-square-foot Guastavino-tiled arcade and was landmarked by the city in 1974 as part of the bridge's designation. Last month, Trader Joe's opened a new location in the East Village, its 10th store in the city, with possible plans to move to a condo tower in Long Island City.
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February 14, 2020

All Barneys New York stores to close by end of the month

It's the end of an era. Once an icon in the luxury fashion world, Barneys New York is officially closing its doors this month. All stores will shutter on Feb. 23, the New York Post reported on Thursday, with 719 employees losing their jobs at the retailer's flagship location at 660 Madison Avenue, its store in Chelsea at 101 Seventh Avenue, an outlet in Central Valley, and its corporate offices at 575 Fifth Avenue. Barneys California stores in Beverly Hills and San Francisco will also close Feb. 23.
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February 12, 2020

LPC approves Rafael Viñoly’s revamp of National Academy building, but without rooftop addition

The plan to restore a historic Upper East Side townhouse and transform it into a new art gallery was partially approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission Tuesday. The neo-Renaissance townhouse at 3 East 89th Street in the expanded Carnegie Hill Historic District, as well as two connecting buildings, was formerly home to the National Academy Museum. Salon 94 owner Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn purchased the property last summer with the intention of consolidating her three art galleries at the property. Led by Rafael Viñoly Architects, the revamp includes a facade rehabilitation, new central gallery space, and a restoration of the original porte-cochere from 1915. While there was overwhelming support for the new gallery space, the LPC rejected the project's proposed sixth-floor rooftop addition, with most commissioners having issues with its bulk and visibility.
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February 5, 2020

For $588K this Upper East Side co-op is chic, efficient and totally New York City

It's easy to overcomplicate things when it comes to real estate, but this Upper East Side co-op at 333 East 66th Street keeps things simple. It's basically an alcove studio, but custom-designed built-in storage makes great use of every inch of space. A recent designer renovation makes it easy on the eyes, and a high floor means light and city views.
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January 22, 2020

Preservationists suggest the Frick should buy Jeffrey Epstein’s Upper East Side mansion

Preservationists who have long fought against the Frick Collection's planned expansion are proposing a rather unique solution: the museum could take over Jeffrey Epstein's "cursed mansion" across the street instead. "The fact that it’s so convenient to the museum means that the Frick could potentially lay Jeffrey Epstein’s name to rest by purchasing it and changing the function," architect Theodore Grunewald, who runs preservationist group Save The Frick, told the Daily News. "It could essentially be cleansing the house."
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January 9, 2020

Luxurious Upper East Side mansion with a pool, movie theatre, and library is back for $79M

The palatial Upper East Side home that almost became the most expensive townhouse ever sold in New York City two years ago is back on the market. The seven-bedroom mansion was first listed in 2013 for a whopping $114 million and then for $98 million in 2014. It was most recently available in 2018 for $88 million and just received another price cut to (a still very formidable) $79 million. The 40-foot wide property at 12 East 69th Street sprawls over 20,000 square feet on six levels and comes with a movie theatre, saltwater pool, double-height library, and a 2,650 square-foot roof terrace overlooking Central Park.
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December 19, 2019

Artist Kent Monkman’s new murals at The Met reexamine Manhattan’s colonial past

Two new paintings by Canadian Cree artist Kent Monkman are now on view in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Great Hall. As part of a new series in which the museum invites contemporary artists to make work in response to the Met collection, Monkman reappropriated motifs from Western artists such as Emanuel Leutze and Eugéne Delacroix to tell a different narrative that foregrounds themes of arrival, migration, displacement, and the Indigenous experience.
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December 3, 2019

For $10M, an Upper East Side townhouse with downtown loft style

Located on the corner of Third Avenue, this five-story townhouse at 182 East 94th Street brings downtown loft living to the Upper East Side. With over 5,800 square feet of interior space, the residence comes with a roof terrace, separate studio apartment on the ground floor, private parking, and nearly 4,500 square feet of unused development rights. The sprawling pad was constructed in 2012 and has yet to change ownership. The property listed last week for $9.975 million and is also available on the rental market for $30,000/month.
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