6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

After two years as a rental and seven months on the market, the infamous Grey Gardens Estate has gone into contract for the first time in 40 years. The 28-room mansion was last listed for $18 million, but according to the Washington Post, the exact sales price and buyer haven't yet been revealed. Though now a stunning Hamptons home, as 6sqft previously explained, it gained notoriety as a "decrepit, crumbling, cat-infested, overgrown horror," after its isolated residents, Edith wing Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith Bouvier Beale (the aunt and cousin to Jackie O), were featured in the 1975 documentary "Grey Gardens."
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Comptroller wants on-time rent payments to count towards credit scores

Photo via Wikimedia

October 23, 2017

Comptroller wants on-time rent payments to count towards credit scores

City Comptroller Scott Stringer unveiled a plan on Monday that would allow renters in New York City to count on-time, monthly payments toward their credit score. While homeowners who punctually pay a mortgage can boost their credit, renters currently cannot count on-time payments in the same way. Those without credit or bad credit often pay higher interest rates on loans and other monthly bills, like utilities or cell phone payments. As the New York Times reported, Stringer’s office looked at a sampling of tenants who pay less than $2,000 per month and found that 76 percent of them would improve their credit scores if rent payments were reported. Stringer told the Times that his plan "could create a powerful credit history that could lift you out of poverty."
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NYC trick-or-treat: The best neighborhoods for sweets and scares

Screen capture of ‘Hocus Pocus’

October 23, 2017

NYC trick-or-treat: The best neighborhoods for sweets and scares

By Susan Cohen

Halloween is a lot like real estate; both the holiday and the industry place a premium on size and neighborhood, it's not unheard of to hear phrases like "tons of it" and "prime location" used to describe trick-or-treating or a new listing, and when it comes down to it, apartment hunters and trick-or-treaters want the same things: the best block, thoughtful exteriors, attention to details, and most importantly, value. Ahead, 6sqft has put together a list of some of the best blocks across the five boroughs to score sweets and scares. Just remember to bring along your broker parent and to count the square feet pieces of candy.
Where to spend Halloween this year

October 23, 2017

J.P. Morgan’s 120-year-old ‘Great Camp Uncas’ in the Adirondacks finally sells

A new owner has claimed the stately Great Camp Uncas compound, nestled among the Adirondack forest and lakefront. The secluded property was built in 1895 by Brooklynite William West Durant, credited with perfecting the style of the Adirondack Great Camps of the Gilded Age. This particular camp—at 1,500 acres—was impressive enough for financier J.P. Morgan to purchase it in 1897. It was used as a vacation home for him and his family the next 50 years. Since then the property has traded hands several times, and a parcel of it last hit the market in 2015 for $3.25 million. An unsuccessful sales run caused a price drop, in 2016, to $2.7 million. According to the brokerage firm Franklin Ruttan, one lucky owner has snapped it up.
Learn more about the camp's history

Prospect Park will go permanently car-free starting January 2, 2018!

Image Prospect Park Alliance

October 23, 2017

Prospect Park will go permanently car-free starting January 2, 2018!

For walkers, joggers, and cyclists, Prospect Park will soon be a completely car-free refuge. Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Monday that the park will permanently become car-free, beginning January 2, 2018. Currently, Prospect Park’s East Drive is still open to cars during morning rush hour. Prospect Park previously went car-free this past summer. From […]

Uncategorized

MTA’s new cardless fare system will be rolled out by 2020

Image: Phil Hollenback via Flickr.

October 23, 2017

MTA’s new cardless fare system will be rolled out by 2020

6sqft previously reported on the launch of testing on a mobile device scanning and fare payment system with the goal of eventually phasing out the use of MetroCards in the New York City subway system. New turnstiles have already been installed in the Bowling Green and Wall Street Stations, where riders can make the transfer using scanners that allow them to swipe their phones. According to the New York Times, a rollout of the new fare system citywide is not far off: The new readers will hit 500 subway turnstiles and 600 bus fare boxes starting in late 2018; the remainder of subway stations and buses will have them by late 2020.
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De Blasio unveils five-point plan to reduce congestion on NYC’s busiest streets

Photo via Lucas Klappas on Flickr

October 23, 2017

De Blasio unveils five-point plan to reduce congestion on NYC’s busiest streets

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Sunday a five-point plan designed to ease congestion in the city’s busiest neighborhoods. The program, called “Clear Lanes,” includes a series of initiatives like creating new moving lanes in Midtown, clearing curbs during rush hour and expanding NYPD enforcement of block-the-box violations. Beginning in January, in addition to the heavily congested Midtown, rush-hour deliveries will be banned during a six-month test run on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens and Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn (h/t New York Times).
Find out more

October 23, 2017

For $3,500 a month, this Bed-Stuy brownstone rental has charm, personality, and a private backyard

In a sea of cookie-cutter rentals, there are a rare few that look like home–or even like an interesting place to live. Located at 481 Greene Avenue in what seems to be the new neighborhood of choice for the city's interior design professionals, this two-bedroom brownstone apartment goes far beyond the average Bed-Stuy rental when it comes to good looks. The gut-renovated 1,100-square-foot first floor unit is one of only six, and it comes with the rare bonus of a private back yard.
Have a look around

Distinctive Homes

7,000-square-foot 'wellness loft' in the West Village asks $25.8M, working phone booth included

A 70-foot brick smokestack anchors a private garden at this $2.1M Williamsburg loft

For $5.65M, a ballet legend's former UWS studio is now a three-bedroom home

Park Avenue penthouse with enormous terrace owned by Maurice Tempelsman lists for $5.5M

For $2.75M, this West Village co-op exemplifies timeless, sophisticated design

An artist's mural in this $1.4M Hit Factory condo will remind you of its colorful past

$15M penthouse in a gold cupola high above Fifth Avenue heads to auction this month

Steven Van Zandt's Village penthouse in a converted church asks $15M

An elevator makes this $4.2M Greenpoint townhouse a timeless forever home

This $12M home in a Chelsea Deco icon has a terrace and room for an extra bedroom

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Images (L to R): LEFRAK CITY, 4720 CENTER BOULEVARD, 200 WATER STREET and PERCH HARLEM

October 21, 2017

This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

By Ondel Hylton

Images (L to R): LEFRAK CITY, 4720 CENTER BOULEVARD, 200 WATER STREET and PERCH HARLEM At LeFrak City, New Amenities Unveiled After $70 Million Renovation; Rentals from $1,485/Month [link] Luxury on the East River at View 34; No Fee Rentals with up to Three Bedrooms [link] Leasing Continues at Perch Harlem, Built to Meet Passive […]

Real Estate Trends

October 20, 2017

A never-built transit plan would have shuttled New Yorkers through elevated tubes

6sqft has marveled at the 1951 proposal by Goodyear Tires for a giant conveyor belt to carry people between Times Square and Grand Central and Alfred Ely Beach's underground pneumatic tube system. The New York Public Library's Science, Industry and Business Library (SIBL) fills in the blanks on an early idea for an elevated rail system that was ahead of its time. In 1870, Appleton's Journal of Literature, Science and Art introduced an article with a lament about the state of New York City public transportation that sounds uncannily familiar even in the 21st century: "the present means of travel are not only inadequate in extent, but are far too slow and cumbersome." The anonymous author then tells of the futuristic vision of one Rufus Henry Gilbert, a New York-born surgeon, Civil War veteran and inventor.
Find out more

October 20, 2017

Newark opens Grammy Museum Experience to honor the city’s musical heritage

When most people think about America’s great musical cities, Newark likely isn’t on the list—but that’s about to change now that the Grammy Museum Experience has opened at the Prudential Center. Just eight months after announcing that the first East Coast outpost of Los Angeles’ Grammy Museum would open in Newark, the interactive, multimedia Experience […]

Uncategorized

October 20, 2017

$8M Soho loft is a bachelor’s bunker for the man who has everything

From the mother-of-pearl shower with aromatic steam to the vaulted mahogany master closet, this dark and luxurious lair is stocked from stem to stern with custom perks that go way beyond the $7.9 million loft's private key-locked elevator and smart home system. Located in a classic pre-war Soho loft building at 459 West Broadway, the 3,150-square-foot space is even outfitted with a secret home gym hidden behind a moving bookcase.
Come in for a peek

Distinctive Homes

After four years, TF Cornerstone files plans for 1,200-unit building at Hunters Point South

Updated rendering of parcel c for Hunters Point South, courtesy of ODA Architecture

October 20, 2017

After four years, TF Cornerstone files plans for 1,200-unit building at Hunters Point South

TF Cornerstone on Thursday filed its first permits for a 1,200-unit apartment building as the second phase of the city’s Hunters Point South redevelopment, a project that first began in 2013. The plan for the waterfront neighborhood in Long Island City, Queens called for a mixed-use, affordable housing development that would hold up to 5,000 units, with 60 percent of them affordable. Selected for phase two of the ambitious project by Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration, TF Cornerstone’s original proposal was delayed for four years after local, state and federal authorities forced the developer to rethink its design (h/t Crain's).
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How an 1894 Hangover Created an Eggs Benedict Controversy in New York City

Image via Wiki Commons

October 20, 2017

How an 1894 Hangover Created an Eggs Benedict Controversy in New York City

Brunch is inarguably one of New Yorkers' favorite pastimes, and if there's one dish that represents the lazy, and perhaps boozy, Sunday afternoon meal it's Eggs Benedict -- poached eggs and Canadian bacon on an English muffin, topped with hollandaise sauce. Which is why it's not surprising to learn that the egg creation originated right in our fine city. There is however, a bit of controversy over just who gets the credit for inventing it. Was it the Wall Street bigwig who was looking for a hangover cure at the Waldorf Hotel? Or was it Charles Ranhofer, the legendary Delmonico’s chef who published a recipe for it in his cookbook "The Epicurean?"
The mysterious case of Eggs Benedict unfolds this way

A massive Japanese-themed food hall is coming to Sunset Park’s Industry City

Courtyard at Industry City, photo courtesy of Industry City

October 20, 2017

A massive Japanese-themed food hall is coming to Sunset Park’s Industry City

A 20,000 square foot Japanese food market will open in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn next year, adding to New York City's growing infatuation with food halls. The market, called Japan Village, will set up shop in Industry City, a sprawling 16-building, 6.5 million-square-foot complex of creative office space. In addition to the food hall serving up authentic dining options, Japan Village will include an izakaya restaurant, a sake store and a specialty grocery store.
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Real Estate Trends

October 20, 2017

Pretty Park Slope co-op with a hammock under the window asks $895K

This two-bedroom cooperative, at 401 8th Avenue in Park Slope, is pretty as can be. After last selling in 2011 for $480,000, the pad got a full renovation to make the interior "magazine worthy cool," as the listing puts it. It'd be hard to argue with that, considering they've hung a hammock underneath the living room window, added open wood shelving, and lined the walls with interesting artwork. All the while, original details like moldings and parquet floors were kept. It all makes for an appealing property now on the market for $895,000.
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Distinctive Homes

Horse stable turned loft with 10-foot tin ceilings asks $2.8M in Chelsea

136 West 24th Street was originally built as horse stables in the 1890s for patrons of the historic Ladies Mile shopping district. Today it's quite the stunning loft apartment, boasting thick wooden beams, 10-foot-high tin ceilings, three bedrooms, and three full bathrooms. And its Chelsea locale is right in the heart of the neighborhood, an easy walk to both Madison Square Park and the Highline. After the co-op last sold in 2011 for $2.45 million to the playwright Martha Pichey (mother to actor Rafi Gavron), it has hit the market for $2.8 million.
See the historic interior

Distinctive Homes

New York ranks #1 in energy efficiency, says new study

Image via Pexels

October 19, 2017

New York ranks #1 in energy efficiency, says new study

Image via Pexels Congratulations New York! You rank #1 in energy efficiency, according to a new study. You might be rolling your eyes at this news because of MTA issues, Penn Station problems, and other mass transportation debacles, but the state of New York ranked first overall—#1 for auto efficiency and #4 for energy efficiency […]

City Living

October 19, 2017

$30M Hamptons estate where Jackie O summered as a child goes into contract

The childhood homes of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis are quickly being snatched up. Just three months after her one-time Upper East Side residence sold for $25 million, the equally impressive Hamptons estate where she summered has gone into contract, reports the Post. The 100-year-old, Arts and Crafts-style mansion is known as Lasata (a Native American word for "place of peace") and is currently owned by fashion designer and former Coach executive Reed Krakoff. He bought it for $20 million back in 2007 and first listed the 7-acre property for $40 million a year ago, then reducing the price to $30 million.
See the whole property

October 19, 2017

City officially pitches four neighborhoods for Amazon’s HQ2

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

Mayor Bill de Blasio and the New York City Economic Development Corporation released their official pitch for Amazon's second headquarters on Wednesday, one day before the deadline. Boasting the city's talented tech workforce, the de Blasio administration has pitched Midtown West, Long Island City, the Brooklyn Tech Triangle (DUMBO, Downtown Brooklyn and the Navy Yard), and Lower Manhattan as the four best spots for Amazon to call home. The tech giant's nationwide competition, announced in September, set out to find their next headquarters, called HQ2. The company promises the headquarters will bring 50,000 new jobs and $5 billion in initial city investment.
Find out more

Policy

October 19, 2017

Off the grid: The little Flatiron Buildings of the Village

The Flatiron Building is one of the city’s most iconic and beloved landmarks. Since 1902 it’s been a symbol of New York, though ironically its acute angle formed by the intersection of Broadway and Fifth Avenue makes it an unusual sight in our otherwise orthogonal city on a grid. But while the Flatiron Building may be the most famous product of quirky street angles, it’s far from the only one. In fact, the "off-the-grid" streets of Greenwich Village and the East Village contain scores of them, most of which pre-date the 23rd Street landmark.
Take a tour of the little Flatirons

October 19, 2017

LAST CHANCE! Win 2 tickets to the Municipal Art Society’s architectural tour of Gowanus

By 6sqft

With cleanup efforts underway along the notoriously polluted Canal and a slew of new developments rising, Gowanus is undoubtedly one of the top neighborhoods to watch. But we can't talk about its future without also looking back at its history. On October 28th, the Municipal Art Society is hosting a walking tour of Gowanus led by architectural historian Matt Postal that will explore the area's past as an industrial shipping center and its transformation into a trendy, artistic enclave. Not only will the two-hour tour take you to the city's oldest concrete structure and oldest retractile bridge, but it'll make stops at the new residential and commercial spaces. Interested in attending for free? MAS is giving away two tickets to "Gowanus Grows in Brooklyn," but today is the last day to enter!
Find out how to enter here

Events & Things To Do

October 19, 2017

Katie Couric lists Park Avenue pad for $8.25M after buying a condo nearby

By Annie Doge

Last year, Katie Couric and her husband of nearly two years, financier John Molner purchased a five-bedroom full-floor apartment at the Peter Pennover-designed 151 East 78th Street, paying $12,168,087. Now, the New York Post reports that the celebrated news anchor's longtime home at 1155 Park Avenue is for sale. The 10-room co-op, listed for $8.25 million, has five bedrooms and high ceilings, large windows, original parquet flooring and treetop views over Park Avenue's famous tulip gardens. The classic Upper East Side full-service building offers a 24-hour doorman and a fitness center among its perks.
Take a look

The 50 most expensive neighborhoods in New York City

The Flatiron District, photo via Pixbay

October 19, 2017

The 50 most expensive neighborhoods in New York City

Taking the top spot from Tribeca for the first time in a long time, the Flatiron District now ranks as the most expensive neighborhood in New York City, according to data compiled by Property Shark. In its latest report looking at the residential market during the third quarter of 2017, the group lists the 50 priciest neighborhoods in the city, with the usual upscale 'hoods like TriBeCa, Central Park South and Hudson Square rounding out the top tier (h/t Time Out NY). In another plot twist, Red Hook has become Brooklyn’s most expensive neighborhood this quarter--overthrowing DUMBO--with a median sale price of $1.92 million in Q3.
See the full list

Real Estate Trends

October 19, 2017

After a colorful makeover and price chops, Judy Garland’s former Dakota co-op finds a $10M buyer

Snag the Greenest Seat in Town: Gufram's 1972 Pratone Chair is Shaped Like a Patch of Grass

Since it arrived on the market in 2016 for $16.75 million, 6sqft has admired this three-bedroom co-op in the iconic Dakota for its history as the (alleged) onetime home of the equally iconic Judy Garland as well as for its colorful makeover by trendy young designer Sasha Bikoff. Now the apartment, which was owned by the designer's late mother, former pianist, ballerina, and Studio 54 denizen Jacqueline Bikoff, has reportedly entered contract at its recent asking price of $10 million, according to Mansion Global. Bikoff bought the elegant Upper West Side pad in 2010 for $13 million from renowned bridge players Roy Welland and Christal Henner.
Take one last tour

THE 6SQFT SHOP

The 6 best furniture rental companies in NYC

8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

The best websites for buying and selling used furniture in NYC

Everything you need to know about using a guarantor in NYC

15 quintessential NYC gifts for the New Yorker in your life

Raising chickens in NYC: Laws, tips, and everything else you need to know

50 places to shop locally in NYC for that perfect gift

Everything you need to know about affordable housing: applying, getting in, and staying put

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

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October 18, 2017

$17M Tribeca penthouse received a mod, wood-paneled makeover

Not all luxury living in 21st century downtown Manhattan is a glass-clad cliche, and this sprawling, light-filled Tribeca penthouse is proof. On the highest floors of a five-story 1920s building at 142 Duane Street, this is a triplex to be reckoned with at 7,200 square feet plus two private outdoor terraces. Part of what makes this $16.95 million condop (a co-op with less stringent condo-like rules) so special is a showstopping contemporary gut renovation by architecture firm Triarch in 2005, with natural wood paneling inspired by modernist architects like Jean Michel Frank, Adolf Loos and Bruno Paul.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

Rendering of the Hunters Point South project, courtesy of NYCEDC

October 18, 2017

Prime Long Island City site could be the perfect spot for Amazon’s HQ2

An eight-acre, 1.6 million-square-foot residential site next to Hunters Point South is for sale, a piece of land owned by a family for generations. According to the New York Post, the site could potentially bring in $480 million if targeted to market-rate condominiums since land in Long Island City sells for roughly $300 per square foot. The triangle-shaped plot of land found at 55-01 Second Street and bounded by 54th Avenue and Vernon Boulevard, sits on Newtown Creek, an estuary that forms part of the border between Brooklyn and Queens. The site might make the perfect spot for Amazon’s second headquarters as the tech giant seeks 500,000 square feet for their HQ2 by 2019.
Find out more

October 18, 2017

Construction kicks off on Trinity Church’s Pelli Clarke Pelli-designed community center and office tower

One year ago, Trinity Church Wall Street revealed plans for a $300 million mixed-use tower designed by Pelli Clarke Pelli that would link to the historic Neo-Gothic church by a footbridge over Trinity Place. Earlier plans for luxury condos were squashed by the community, so Trinity decided instead to build an office tower and community space that will "allow the church to continue to shape the area and advocate for the community in the future," as the Rector, Rev. Dr. William Lupfer, explained. And it looks like the future is now; according to CityRealty, the Department of Buildings approved plans for the 26-story building and construction is underway.
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Ranking the top 50 ‘rattiest’ cities in the U.S.

Image via Wiki Commons

October 18, 2017

Ranking the top 50 ‘rattiest’ cities in the U.S.

Image via Wiki Commons Autumn is many people’s favorite season, but fall isn’t just all about picturesque pumpkin patches, apple cider, and cozy sweaters—it’s also a time for rat infestations. With the change in temperature comes an increase in vermin invasions, according to Orkin. The pest control company recently released a report detailing in which cities […]

Uncategorized

October 18, 2017

Where I Work: Inside the plaster and mural studios at Evergreene Architectural Arts

6sqft’s new series “Where I Work” takes us into the studios, offices, and off-beat workspaces of New Yorkers across the city. In this installment, we’re touring the Industry City space of Evergreene Architectural Arts, one of the nation's foremost restoration and conservation firms. On Monday evening, the Historic Districts Council will present their 29th annual Landmarks Lion Award to Jeff Greene of EverGreene Architectural Arts, one of the nation's foremost experts in specialty contracting for both traditional and new, innovative techniques for restoring and conserving murals, ornamental plaster, and decorative finishes. "Jeff has been pivotal in restoring some of New York City’s most beloved landmarks to their proper glory," said HDC’s executive director Simeon Bankoff. And indeed, this is true; their commissions include the recent restoration of the New York Public Library’s Rose Reading Room, Brooklyn's Loew’s Kings Theater, the Eldridge Street Synagogue, and the McKim, Mead and White-designed University Club, where the event will be held, and this only scratches the surface of their hundreds of projects throughout the country. In anticipation of Jeff's recognition, 6sqft was given a behind-the-scenes tour of EverGreene's new office and studios in Industry City, where the firm's master artisans were hard at work painting murals, casting plaster moldings, and researching the history of several upcoming projects. We also spoke with Jeff himself about what inspired him to get into the field ("I ate the crayons before marking the walls," he says), how preservation has changed since he started the firm in 1978, and what some of his favorite projects have been.
Hear from Jeff and take a tour of EverGreene's incredible space

Eateries and entertainment venues proposed for Governors Island

Photo of Governors Island via simplethrill on Flickr

October 18, 2017

Eateries and entertainment venues proposed for Governors Island

Since Governors Island first opened in 2005, transforming the 172-acre piece of land in the New York Harbor into a public space has been slow. However, after a 40-acre park with a playground opened last year the ball has officially started rolling. According to Crain’s, the Trust for Governors Island recently released two requests for proposals aimed at making the waterfront location a destination for entertainment and cultural activities. The trust is offering licenses for up to three years during the island's season, which runs from May 1 through October 31.
Find out more

October 18, 2017

Asking $2.5M, ‘this old house’ on the Upper West Side belonged to Bob Villa

Fans of the renovation show "This Old House" will appreciate this Upper West Side townhouse at 21 West 75th Street. Bob Vila, the host of the show for 10 years, owned the home with his son, Chris. Built in 1909 by John C. Umberfield and designed by architect George Walgrove, the historic townhouse inspired many episodes of the show. And in the show's spirit, it was more recently renovated and restored before being divided into five condos. This condo, asking $2.5 million, occupies the full third floor of the property.
See the original details still in place

October 18, 2017

For $125M, you can own this 46-acre North Shore island compound

For the third time in a 100-year history, this island compound off the North Shore of Long Island is looking for a buyer. Anybody willing to spend $125 million can own what's known as Dosoris Island--which includes 46 acres of land, 10 acres of underwater rights and a 28-acre pond. On top of that, the island is home to a compound built by Junius Morgan, a J.P. Morgan scion, with six homes, landscaping by Frederick Law Olmsted, and all sorts of other perks. A pool, private dock, and horse stables--it's all included in this magnificent private island package listed by Sotheby's.
Get a closer look

Bjarke Ingels’ curvy East Harlem tower tops out

Rendering of E126 courtesy of Bjarke Ingels Group

October 18, 2017

Bjarke Ingels’ curvy East Harlem tower tops out

The concrete, t-shaped residential tower designed by starchitect, Bjarke Ingels and his firm BIG, topped out over the weekend, adding diversity to Upper Manhattan’s usual upright architecture. The East Harlem project at 158 East 126th Street, known as E126, uniquely slopes inward as it rises upward, allowing more sunlight to hit the street. As CityRealty learned, the unusual configuration will provide residents incredible views of the East River and Central Park from a rooftop garden.
Check it out

Architecture And Design

New RPA report is ‘a wake up call’ on rising sea levels and growing flood risk

Density of population and infrastructure in the projected 2050 floodplain. Image: RPA.

October 18, 2017

New RPA report is ‘a wake up call’ on rising sea levels and growing flood risk

Hurricane season is impossible to ignore, and as the October 29th anniversary date of Superstorm Sandy approaches, the Regional Plan Association (RPA) has released a report titled "Coastal Adaptation: A Framework for Governance and Funding to Address Climate Change" that warns of the imminent threat of rising sea levels and outlines a strategy to protect the many vulnerable stretches of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. According to the report, 59 percent of the region's energy capacity, four major airports, 21 percent of public housing units, and 12 percent of hospital beds will be in areas at risk of flooding over the next 30 years. RPA research found that even in light of these projections, the region’s climate change planning tends to be reactive and local rather than pro-active and regional–and it's not nearly enough.
Find out more about who's at risk and what can be done

Policy

A Beaux-Arts style building will rise on the Upper East Side’s 79th Street, the block’s first condo

27 East 79th Street, renderings courtesy of Adellco

October 17, 2017

A Beaux-Arts style building will rise on the Upper East Side’s 79th Street, the block’s first condo

The Upper East Side's 79th Street, stretching between Madison and Fifth Avenues, remains known for its architecturally beautiful 19th and early 20th-century homes. Now, as CityRealty learned, the stretch of street will soon gain its first condominium at 27 East 79th Street, also the block's first new building in 40 years. The Parisian-inspired, 15-story building will have interiors designed by Cabinet Albert Pinto, whose trademark style mixes old-world luxury with modern design. The firm's previous clients include the French President and royal families of Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Albert Pinto's team, run by Linda Pinto, will be working with local firm, HTO Architects.
See inside

Architecture And Design

October 17, 2017

Bay Ridge Avenue R subway stop reopens with a modernized station

The Bay Ridge Avenue train station that was once a dark and dreary stop along the R line has completed its six-month renovations, the MTA announced Friday. The 102-year-old station was closed in April so the agency could bring it into the modern age with countdown clocks at all three entrances, Wi-Fi, digital displays, USB ports […]

Transit

October 17, 2017

$388K for a classic prewar co-op in the Jackson Heights Historic District

Jackson Heights, Queens, is an affordable neighborhood with lots going for it. There's a central transit hub, great restaurants, and loads of beautiful pre-war buildings. This co-op, at 35-27 80th Street, is well known in the neighborhood as the Greystones, an early 1900s building that's part of the Jackson Heights Historic District. This one-bedroom apartment for sale, asking $388,500, is a classic pre-war pad with some modern details like open shelving and a renovated eat-in kitchen. The apartment last sold in 2010 for $260,000.
Take the tour

Distinctive Homes

General Motors will bring self-driving cars to Manhattan in 2018

A self-driving vehicle, photo via GM

October 17, 2017

General Motors will bring self-driving cars to Manhattan in 2018

General Motors will bring a fleet of self-driving cars to a 5-square-mile section of lower Manhattan early next year, becoming the first company to deploy autonomous cars in New York City. As the Wall Street Journal learned, in partnership with driverless-car developer Cruise Automation, GM's testing will include an engineer in the driver's seat to monitor the performance and a second person in the passenger seat. In May, Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state began accepting applications from companies interested in autonomous technologies in New York. GM and Cruise's planned testing will become the first time Level 4 autonomous vehicles will be tested in NYC, getting a head start on making the Big Apple a hub for self-driving cars.
More this way

My 865sqft: A treehouse bedroom grows inside the Williamsburg loft of two creatives

6sqft’s series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Our latest interior adventure brings us to the Williamsburg apartment of designer Gregoire Abrial and marketing creative Hang Pham. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

October 17, 2017

My 865sqft: A treehouse bedroom grows inside the Williamsburg loft of two creatives

By Diane Pham

Raw, industrial loft spaces are increasingly difficult to come by these days in NYC, so when you walk into one that's been custom outfitted by its tenants to a tee, the experience is truly unique. Found inside none other than Williamsburg's infamous artists bunker, 475 Kent, is the 865-square-foot loft of French furniture designer Gregoire Abrial and Vietnamese-born marketing creative Hang Pham. Ahead the international duo offer up a tour of their inimitable Brooklyn space (that upon move-in seven years ago had nothing more than a bathtub, toilet, and kitchen sink) which they've outfitted with "slow designs" by Gregoire (more on that ahead), items bartered with neighbors, refuse found on the street, tchotchkes and treasures from family, friends and travels, and, of course, a pretty amazing DIY treehouse bedroom.
go inside their creative home

David Adjaye reveals designs for an interactive spy museum in Midtown

Renderings courtesy Adjaye Associates

October 17, 2017

David Adjaye reveals designs for an interactive spy museum in Midtown

One of the reasons for Ghanaian British architect David Adjaye's rise to international fame is his work on renowned museums, from Washington D.C.'s National Museum of African American History and Culture to Denver's Museum of Contemporary Art to the recently released plans for the Studio Museum in Harlem. And he'll now add to that list, again in NYC, but this time the project is a bit on the lighter side. The Architect's Newspaper reveals Adjaye Associates' renderings for SPYSCAPE, a spy museum and interactive experience that will open at 250 West 55th Street on February 16th. Spread over two floors in the office building, the exhibitions will be divided among individually designed pavilions, each one exploring one of the seven themes of spying. This format, according to the firm's Associate Director Lucy Tilley, allowed them to "challenge the traditional museum typology with a design that straddles the physical and digital worlds."
More details and renderings ahead

Architecture And Design

What happens if Amazon’s HQ2 doesn’t land in New York?

Photo courtesy of Robert Scoble on Flickr

October 17, 2017

What happens if Amazon’s HQ2 doesn’t land in New York?

Amazon’s nationwide competition to find a home for its second headquarters draws to a close this week, with pitches from stakeholders due Thursday. While New York City meets most of the requirements the tech giant listed for its HQ2-- a population of at least 1 million people, proximity to an international airport, mass transit access and talented workforce--business costs in the city would be sky-high. However, as Crain’s reported, even if Amazon does not set up shop in NYC, politicians and developers have been preparing for a comparably-sized company to move in for over a decade. The failure of the city to win the 2012 Olympics bid back in 2005 actually turned into a success, allowing apartments to rise in Brooklyn where sports stadiums never did.
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October 17, 2017

MAS’ new ‘Accidental Skyline’ report offers 10-point plan to keep supertalls in check

6sqft has reported previously on the increasing alarm caused by New York City's future skyline and its growing army of skyscrapers-to-be, with community groups expressing deep concern about the shadows cast across the city's parks by the tall towers. The Municipal Art Society (MAS) has been leading the pack when it comes to thorough analysis of the issue, which they see as having its roots not only in the sheer height of the new buildings but in a lack of regulation of how and where they rise in the larger context of the city. This "accidental skyline" effect reflects the fact that New York City currently has no restrictions on the shadows a tower may cast–the city doesn’t limit height, it only regulates FAR (floor area ratio). At this week's MAS Summit for New York City, the organization released its third Accidental Skyline report, calling for immediate reform in light of an unprecedented boom in as-of-right–and seemingly out-of-scale–development. MAS president Elizabeth Goldstein said, “New York doesn’t have to settle for an ‘accidental skyline.’”
See more future NYC skyscrapers, mapped

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Beyer Blinder Belle overseeing $50M restoration of FiDi’s iconic Equitable Building

Rendering via MAQE

October 17, 2017

Beyer Blinder Belle overseeing $50M restoration of FiDi’s iconic Equitable Building

One of New York's best-known office buildings will get a major restoration. According to Curbed, Equitable Building owner Silverstein Properties plans to spend $50 million to return the Financial District building to its former glory, restoring many design elements that were on display when it first opened in 1915. Beyer Blinder Belle will oversee the reno, which includes the restoration of the entrance, a new lighting system with hanging bronze fixtures, a new reception desk, and a granite accent wall. For those unfamiliar with the Equitable Building, it actually played a huge role in the city's current zoning laws. The H-shaped tower, which takes up the entire block on Broadway between Pine and Cedar Streets, caused a scandal when it opened due to the long shadows it cast on nearby streets, leading the city to establish the first-ever zoning laws to regulate the height of future tall buildings.
Read about the restoration details

Architecture And Design

October 16, 2017

Art meets architecture at 180 East 88th including an intricate plasterwork installation in the lobby

CityRealty previously reported on the highly anticipated–and visually unique–skyscraper rising at 180 East 88th Street. Developers DDG want the 50-story condominium tower to stand apart from the sea of glass towers rising on the Upper East Side, and renderings show that the building's design is indeed a breathtaking departure from the average both inside and out, from herringbone-patterned brickwork to each unit’s herringbone floors imported from Austria. As an example of the project's unmatched level of individuality and attention to detail, DDG is working with a series of artists, including the renowned stucco artist Jan Hooss, who is creating an intricate plasterwork installation above the fireplace that will anchor the building's lobby. Based in Stuttgart, Germany, the artist has worked with Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at Chateau Miraval. DDG CEO Joseph McMillan told CityRealty, "We wanted something unique and different for this building which is why we went with stucco art."
Watch a video of the artist describing his work for Brad Pitt and for the new building

Museum of Natural History reveals designs for new Halls of Gems and Minerals

Conceptual rendering of the south entrance to the new Allison and Roberto Mignone Halls of Gems and Minerals, from the Arthur Ross Hall of Meteorites. Visitors will be greeted by 9- and 12-foot amethyst geodes. Courtesy of Ralph Appelbaum Associates.

October 16, 2017

Museum of Natural History reveals designs for new Halls of Gems and Minerals

The giant blue whale and equally massive dinos might get all the glory at the American Museum of Natural History, but a new acquisition is bringing another exhibit into the extra-large club. This morning, the institution unveiled a 12-foot-tall, 9,000+ pound amethyst geode from Uruguay (one of the largest in the world) that will anchor its all-new Halls of Gems and Minerals. Ralph Appelbaum Associates is handling the renovation of the 11,000-square-foot space, which is being designed in anticipation of AMNH's upcoming $340 million expansion by starchitect Jeanne Gang. The Halls previously ended in a cul-de-sac but the new Halls will feature a "stunning Crystalline Pass" to connect to Studio Gang's 235,000-square-foot Richard Gilder Center for Science, Education and Innovation.
See all the renderings and watch a timelapse video of the geode's installation

Architecture And Design

October 16, 2017

LeFrak City’s $70M renovation brings a spectacular amenity space to Queens

Five years ago, LeFrak City offered its residents amenities like pools and tennis and basketball courts, but very little green space. Now, the hidden city-within-a-city in Corona, Queens is getting an upgrade. “There really wasn’t a lot of play area. There was gardening, but it wasn’t meant to be trampled on or used. It was meant to be […]

Uncategorized

October 16, 2017

This lofty, compact duplex in Forest Hills is a deal with an ask of $329K