Upper West Side

The hilly terrain of the Upper West Side's Riverside park is becoming overgrown with invasive plant species, poison ivy included; but the green hordes will be no match for 24 goats that the park plans to unleash on the hard-to-reach patches human gardeners have had a hard time taming. The goats are being brought out of a cushy retirement upstate to graze on a fenced-in area between 119th and 125th Streets, I Love the Upper West Side blog reports.
'Goatham' returns, this way

City Living

Manhattan intersection is permanently renamed to honor 50th anniversary of ‘Sesame Street’

Image credit: Paige Polk/Mayoral Photography Office

May 2, 2019

Manhattan intersection is permanently renamed to honor 50th anniversary of ‘Sesame Street’

The city has officially renamed the intersection of West 63rd Street and Broadway in Manhattan "Sesame Street," to honor the beloved educational program's 50th anniversary. As part of a year-long celebration, Mayor Bill de Blasio was joined by Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Oscar, Elmo and other members of the "Sesame" crew at a renaming ceremony at the bustling West Side corner–the location of the Sesame Workshop offices. "We’re here because we believe in what Sesame Street means today and what it’s meant for half-a-century, what it’s done for our children."
de Blasio and Big Bird: separated at birth?

City Living

April 19, 2019

Barbra Streisand’s former Central Park West penthouse hits the market for $11.25M

By Devin Gannon

Barbra Streisand's former penthouse at an Emery Roth-designed building on the Upper West Side is asking $11.25 million. Found at 320 Central Park West in the Ardsley, one of the city's most notable Art Deco residential towers, the duplex includes four bedrooms, three and a half baths, and 2,500 square feet of terraces. The "EGOT" winner moved to the building in 1963 and remained there for over 30 years, according to the New York Times.
See inside

April 11, 2019

Extell’s Upper West Side tower going forward despite city’s amendment on mechanical voids

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios/ Snøhetta Following a revised design and review by the FDNY, developer Extell has been granted permission to proceed with plans for the Snøhetta-designed tower at 50 West 66th Street, Gothamist reports. This comes a few months after the Department of Buildings threatened to pull the building’s permits over concerns that the project was misusing mechanical voids in order to boost the overall height of units in the building. The DOB approved Extell's revised plans last Thursday, allowing the project to go forward despite a 12-to-1 City Planning Commission vote yesterday to crack down on the mechanical void loophole.
More info

$1.4M Hotel des Artistes co-op has a secretive past of forbidden love

Listing images by Andrew Kiracofe for Compass

April 10, 2019

$1.4M Hotel des Artistes co-op has a secretive past of forbidden love

This Hotel des Artistes apartment has a surprising claim to fame: it was the home of Italian actor Rudolph Valentino’s mistress, while Valentino—who was known as the "Great Lover" of the 1920s for his roles in romantic dramas—lived next door. To facilitate their liaisons, a secret passage linking the two apartments was created, though it’s not clear from the listing if current residents will have access to it. There’s still plenty to love about the one-bedroom co-op at 1 West 67th Street, which features a double-height living room, original oak floors, and an upstairs bedroom with a Juliette balcony overlooking the living area. The Central Park West unit just hit the market seeking $1,425,000.
Take a look inside

Construction progresses on $10M retail project with a roof terrace at 70 West 93rd Street

Rendering courtesy of Beyer Blinder Belle

April 8, 2019

Construction progresses on $10M retail project with a roof terrace at 70 West 93rd Street

It's been in the works since 2015, but the 15,000-square-foot glass-enclosed retail addition fronting the apartment tower at 70 West 93rd Street is quickly coming together, I Love the Upper West Side neighborhood blog reports. The new retail addition, designed by Beyer Blinder Belle, is replacing the outdoor plaza that surrounded the rental building.
More renderings, this way

New Developments

Sample the wares and see what’s new at NYC’s top flea and food markets

Image courtesy of Brooklyn Flea; photo credit: Scott Lynch

April 5, 2019

Sample the wares and see what’s new at NYC’s top flea and food markets

The city's local flea and food markets set up shop in springtime, bringing irresistible edibles and covetable goods to a neighborhood near you. Though dates and locations vary and favorite vendors come and go, the mighty market phenomenon keeps growing. The shop-and-nosh mecca Brooklyn Flea again changes locations (hello, WTC!), a favorite night market returns in Queens, and the Manhattan classics are back to offer more of what you didn't know you couldn't live without. Some of the best fairs are the most fleeting, and one-offs like the annual Renegade Arts and Crafts Fair are always worth the trip. The list below rounds up the city's top food and flea picks. Let the hunting and gathering begin!
Plan your market strategy

Events & Things To Do

April 4, 2019

My 3,000sqft: Power broker Louise Phillips Forbes shows her family-friendly Upper West Side home

Louise Phillips Forbes moved to NYC from Nashville to further her dance career on Broadway when she was in her 20s. When an injury forced her to change her plans, she fell into real estate, quickly realizing that not only had she found her home in New York, but also her true passion. For close to three decades now, Forbes has been a powerhouse in the real estate field; in fact, her sales team is the number one at Halstead with more than $3.5 billion in career sales. But Louise has the highly coveted ability to truly balance her work and personal lives. At home, everything is about her husband and two sons and their time together. And when she renovated her Upper West Side apartment, this comfortable, welcoming feel was her number one priority. When she's not closing sales or watching her sons' hockey games, Louise can be found at her local Soul Cycle or serving on the board of Change for Kids, as well as the advisory committees for several non-profit arts organizations. To get a glimpse into how she does it all, 6sqft recently visited Louise, took a tour of her home, and got to know her a little better.
Take the tour and meet Louise

March 29, 2019

Upper West Side duplex with plenty of pre-war charm and a serene terrace asks $1.1M

On a quintessential Upper West Side block—just two blocks away from both Riverside and Central Parks—this one-bedroom duplex at 141 West 85th Street packs a lot of pre-war Manhattan charm. Exposed brick and wood beams, a wood-burning fireplace, a spiral staircase—check, check, and check. Best of all, the top-floor residence comes with a patch of private outdoor space in the form of a lovely landscaped terrace off the bedroom. It’s now on the market for $1,075,000 after selling in 2017 for $915,000.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

Listing photo courtesy of Douglas Elliman; photo of Jennifer Hudson via Wiki Commons

March 28, 2019

Jennifer Hudson’s former Apthorp apartment is back on the market for $8M

The apartment that was home to "Dreamgirls" Oscar winner and singer Jennifer Hudson from 2015 to 2016 just hit the market for $7.9 million, the Post reports. The 3,000 square-foot 11th floor unit in the elegant Upper West Side residence at 2211 Broadway was on the rental market in 2016 for a suitably diva-esque $21,000 a month, as 6sqft reported. The gut-renovated four-bedroom condo has plenty of star power on its own, starting with a marble entryway, a formal dining room and multiple fireplaces.
See what's new

These Upper West Side buildings stick out like sore thumbs

Google Street View of 249 West End Avenue

March 27, 2019

These Upper West Side buildings stick out like sore thumbs

By Mike Mishkin

From brownstones to art-deco co-ops to glassy towers, the Upper West Side is home to an incredibly diverse mix of architectural styles. And this contrast is seen in its most abundant light when these different styles are located on a single street! Ahead, we've rounded up five buildings that really stick out like sore thumbs among their neighbors.
See them all here

Architecture And Design

Ahead of summer opening, Waterline Square reveals first look at Italian food hall

The Cipriani food market, courtesy of Waterline Square

March 26, 2019

Ahead of summer opening, Waterline Square reveals first look at Italian food hall

Earlier this year, we got the first taste of what's to come at Waterline Square's Cipriani-branded Italian food hall, including a pizza bar, pastry shop, and full-service restaurant. And now, we've got the first look. The vision of hospitality designer Martin Brudnizki, the 28,000-square-foot “experiential food market” appears to have a retro-glam vibe, complete with old-school banquettes, wood paneling, architectural light fixtures, and, as any true Italian food market would have, a display of hanging cured meats.
More details and another look

For $1.4M, this Upper West Side two-bedroom blends old-world charm with sleek, modern lines

Listing photos by Travis Mark

March 22, 2019

For $1.4M, this Upper West Side two-bedroom blends old-world charm with sleek, modern lines

This floor-through two-bedroom on the Upper West Side melds the old and the new in one of the city's most coveted neighborhoods. Located in a boutique townhouse at 121 West 80th Street, the $1,395,000 co-op was recently renovated and decked out with marble accents and top-of-the-line amenities to bring modern comforts into the home. But its old-world charm still comes through in the restored moldings and millwork.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

Lou Reed archive opens at New York Public Library, complete with special edition library card

Image courtesy of NYPL.

March 18, 2019

Lou Reed archive opens at New York Public Library, complete with special edition library card

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, located in Lincoln Center, has just announced that the Lou Reed Archive is open to the public. The archive documents the life and history of the musician, composer, poet, writer, photographer and tai-chi student through his own extensive collection of papers, photographs, recordings and other materials that span Reed's creative life starting with his 1958 Freeport High School band, the Shades, right up to his last performances in 2013. In addition, the archive's opening is being celebrated with a special edition library card as well as a display of items in the collection and more events.
Find out more

Rendering of 200 Amsterdam Avenue via SJP Properties/ Elkus Manfredi

March 15, 2019

Court rules against the 668-foot tower already rising at 200 Amsterdam Avenue

A state Supreme Court ruling on Thursday overruled the city’s decision to allow a permit for 200 Amsterdam Avenue, the controversial Upper West Side condo project that has been challenged by community groups and elected officials because of its oddly-shaped, gerrymandered lot. As Crain’s reports, the Board of Standards and Appeals, which approved the project last year, has been ordered to go back to the drawing board and re-evaluate the permit for the project led by developers SJP Properties and Mitsui Fudosan, who have already started construction at the 69th Street site.
More info

February 27, 2019

This classic Upper West Side one-bedroom is a steal for $595K

Half a block from the American Museum of Natural History, this classic one-bedroom offers a prime Upper West Side location on a tree-lined block in the midst of the bustling Broadway Corridor, where you'll find some of the area's best cultural institutions, restaurants, and shops. It boasts high ceilings, a decorative fireplace, and a fully renovated kitchen and bathroom. Best of all, this cozy co-op at 155 West 80th Street is asking just $595,000.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

February 22, 2019

Waterline Square’s Italian food hall will open on the Upper West Side this summer

If getting to 23rd Street is tricky for you (or you'd just rather not deal with the Eataly tourists), another Italian food mecca will be opening on the Upper West Side this July or August. As 6sqft previously reported, GID Development Group tapped the Cipriani family to create a 28,000-square-foot "experiential food market" for their Waterline Square mega-development. After attending a recent Community Board 7 meeting, West Side Rag got more details about what the food hall will offer, including a full-service restaurant, pasta lab, bellini bar, and, of course, cheese shop.
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Another Manhattan condominium building tries to dump Trump name

Photo via Nick Normal’s Flickr

February 22, 2019

Another Manhattan condominium building tries to dump Trump name

The condominium board at 120 Riverside Boulevard announced Thursday that they had voted to remove the "Trump Place" sign from their building's facade, the Washington Post reports. The vote follows a decision last October to remove the Trump Place sign from the nearby condo at 200 Riverside Boulevard. Since Trump was elected president, five New York City buildings have opted to remove the Trump stamp in an expression of displeasure with the former reality show host who got his start here.
Hey, we didn't vote for the guy

Uncategorized

10 things you might not know about Riverside Park

Irma and Paul Milstein Division of United States History, Local History and Genealogy, The New York Public Library. (1887 – 1964). Parks – Riverside Park – West 122nd Street; Via NYPL Digital Collections

February 12, 2019

10 things you might not know about Riverside Park

By Lucie Levine

Riverside Park is the place to be whether you want to bask in the sun at the 79th Street Boat Basin, pay respects at Grant's Tomb, or do your best T. Rex at Dinosaur Playground. Did you know that the park's history is as varied as its charms? From yachts to goats to cowboys, check out 10 things you might not know about Riverside Park!
Get all the details!

History

February 12, 2019

Mariska Hargitay finds a buyer for her $9.75M Upper West Side brownstone

The "Law & Order: SVU" star and her husband, actor Peter Hermann, who bought the stunning Upper West Side brownstone for $10.7 million in 2012, had hoped to make it a $10.75 million brownstone when they put it on the market last fall. After a price cut to an unprofitable $9.75 million, the six-story, 6,000+ square-foot home at 45 West 84th Street is in contract, the New York Post reports. The couple reportedly decided to sell because their family needs have changed, though they've said they plan on staying in their beloved neighborhood.
Get a last look

The hidden loft buildings of the Upper West Side

Via Wiki Commons

February 11, 2019

The hidden loft buildings of the Upper West Side

By Mike Mishkin

When most of us think of “lofts” in relation to Upper West Side apartments, our first thought is probably the commonplace storage or sleeping loft found in converted brownstones and townhouses. While we tend to associate actual loft apartments with downtown neighborhoods like Tribeca and Soho, there are a handful of Upper West Side condos and co-ops where you can find the same soaring ceilings and open floor plans. Ahead, we've rounded up the five loftiest options you'll find north of Columbus Circle.
Learn all about them

Architecture And Design

February 8, 2019

For $4M, a former Upper West Side sculptor’s studio is now an art-filled haven

The centerpiece of this Upper West Side co-op at 2 West 67th Street is a stunning double-height living room with a 16-foot, north-facing window that spreads light throughout the apartment. Originally a sculptor’s studio, the prewar three-bedroom recently underwent a complete renovation by architect Andrew B. Ballard, who curated the residence with custom furniture—including spectacular oak bookcases—rugs, and sculptures that honor its artistic past. Just listed for $4,150,000, the home is steps away from Lincoln Center and Central Park West.
Take a look inside

Distinctive Homes

49-square-foot Upper West Side ‘studio’ might actually be a prison cell for $510/month

Listing photo courtesy of Citi Habitats

January 30, 2019

49-square-foot Upper West Side ‘studio’ might actually be a prison cell for $510/month

For some reason, the Upper West Side is a hotbed for ridiculously small and semi-uninhabitable apartments, but this "studio" at 276 West 71st Street by far takes the cake (h/t Reddit). At first glance, the SRO could easily be mistaken for a prison cell, but in fact, the 49-square-foot (yes, you read that right) apartment is asking $510/month plus a 15 percent broker's fee. Beware of the sticky NYC summers, though; as the listing generously divulges, "No Air conditioners are allowed. You can only use a fan."
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Distinctive Homes

City pulls permits for Extell’s controversial Upper West Side tower

Rendering courtesy of Binyan Studios/Snøhetta

January 17, 2019

City pulls permits for Extell’s controversial Upper West Side tower

Less than two months after rejecting a challenge against the tallest tower planned for the Upper West Side, the Department of Buildings has decided to pull permits for Extell Development’s 775-foot tower at 50 West 66th Street, as NY1 first reported. In December, opponents argued that the Snøhetta-designed structure was misusing structural voids—where a building’s mechanical equipment is stored—to add height without increasing square footage. They said the 160-foot mechanical spaces were designed not out of necessity, but presumably to boost the overall height of the apartments—and their price tags. Now, the DOB has made a surprise reversal, ruling that these spaces do not meet the current standards of the New York City Zoning Resolution.
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Make way for the Women’s March on NYC: Street closings, maps and more

2017 Women’s March on NYC; image: mathiaswasik via Flickr.

January 17, 2019

Make way for the Women’s March on NYC: Street closings, maps and more

The streets of NYC will fill once again this Saturday, January 19 for the third annual Women's March on New York City. The first march took place in 2017, as a demonstration in support of women's rights and in resistance to a growing list of gender-related injustices during the inauguration of President Donald Trump. Last year's march drew an estimated 200,000 participants. As with any jubilant mass display of human resilience, there will be street closings. Read on for info on where to march, how to avoid traffic snarls and what makes this year's march different.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

Campaign to save Westsider Books raises $27,000 in just one day

Via Google Street View

January 17, 2019

Campaign to save Westsider Books raises $27,000 in just one day

Editor's Note 1/22/19: Westsider Books has been saved after over 800 people contributed to the campaign, raising more than $52,000 in just four days. The campaign's organizer, Bobby Panza, told 6sqft: "It's beautiful to see the community, at large, come together like this. Sometimes you don't know what you have until the precipice of losing it. Most times you can't go back and do anything, but here we could. And we did. Thank you to everyone involved. I hope we cherish the great things we love, like Westsider Books and patronize them to keep them in business." News broke earlier this week that the beloved Westsider Books, the Upper West Side's last used book store, would be shutting its doors next month after 35 years at its home on Broadway between 80th and 81st Streets. Co-owner Dorian Thornley had told UWS blog West Side Rag that he would consider staying open if he could raise $50,000. And now a group of locals are trying to do just that, starting a Go Fund Me campaign and raising more than $27,000 in just one day! A tipster tells 6sqft that after hearing the news, a stunned Dorian said, "This renews my faith in humanity."
Get the whole scoop

Uncategorized

Upper West Side’s last used bookstore will close after 35 years

Inside Westsider Books, via Google Street View

January 15, 2019

Upper West Side’s last used bookstore will close after 35 years