6sqft | NYC local news, events, and apartments

UPDATE 8/13/17: Spin will not debut their bikes in NYC Monday. Gothamist writes that that the company is postponing operations following a cease and desist letter received from the Department of Transportation. Watch out Citi Bike, some new competition is rolling in on Monday. As the Post first reports, San Francisco-based bike-sharing company Spin has plans to drop off 300 bikes across NYC—150 throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn and another 150 in the Rockaways. Unlike Citi Bike, however, these new rides will be equipped with a self-locking mobile app-based technology, giving riders the option to leave their bikes in any location they please. One of the biggest challenges for Citi Bike has been figuring how to rebalance docking stations for users, particularly around rush hour when docks are either completely full or empty.
Find out more here

Transit

New report says more New Yorkers are moving to Los Angeles

Los Angeles via Wikimedia

August 11, 2017

New report says more New Yorkers are moving to Los Angeles

The East Coast versus West Coast rivalry may be slowly fading away. New Yorkers are making the cross-country leap from New York City to Los Angeles at a higher rate, in pursuit of cheaper rents, blossoming creative communities and, of course, all of that sunshine. According to LA Weekly, a new report by LinkedIn shows NYC as the top out-of-state feeder for LA transplants. For every 10,000 Angelenos on LinkedIn, about 7.3 of them just moved there from the Big Apple.
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Bjarke Ingels’ VIA offering 36 middle-income affordable apartments, from $1,448 a month

Photograph © Danica O. Kus

August 11, 2017

Bjarke Ingels’ VIA offering 36 middle-income affordable apartments, from $1,448 a month

In October of 2015, 6sqft reported that applications were being accepted for the 142 affordable apartments set aside for low-income tenants at the tantalizing tetrahedron that is starchitect Bjarke Ingels' VIA 57 West, a newly-minted rental residence at 625 West 57th Street. Word comes today that the lottery has opened for the middle-income portion of the building's affordable housing inventory. The half-block-long residential development contains 709 units, of which 20 percent have been deemed affordable. Of the 36 middle-income units available, studios have been priced between $1,448-$1,949; $1,554-$2,091 for one-bedrooms; $2,089-$2,519 for two-bedrooms; and $2,902 for three-bedrooms, each adjusted for income.
complete details here

Camping in Central Park, photo via Downtown Traveler

August 10, 2017

Camp out in Central Park for free next weekend

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

Connect with nature under a Manhattan starry night with a camping trip in Central Park next Saturday, August 19th. This usually illegal activity is totally lawful through a free event hosted by the city’s Urban Park Rangers. The family camping program happens every summer at select venues, like Central Park in Manhattan, Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, Mccarren Park in Brooklyn and Fort Totten Park in Queens.
Find out more

Events & Things To Do

The Village’s Twin Peaks: From a quirky ‘Swiss-chalet’ to a landmarks controversy

102 Bedford Street in 2015 (left) via Wiki Commons, and as of today, via GVSHP

August 10, 2017

The Village’s Twin Peaks: From a quirky ‘Swiss-chalet’ to a landmarks controversy

Few buildings capture the whimsy, flamboyance, and bohemian spirit of early 20th century Greenwich Village as does the building known as "Twin Peaks" at 102 Bedford Street. Described as a "wonderfully ludicrous mock half-timbered fantasy row-house castle" by architecture critic Paul Goldberger, the present incarnation of the building was born in 1925 as a radical remodeling of an 1830 rowhouse into a five-story artists’ studio apartment building. In the mid 20th-century, the building became even more iconic with a cream and brown paint job that mimicked its Alpine cottage inspiration. However, a more recent paint job stripped away this history, resulting in a controversial landmarks battle.
The whole story

There’s a rare Guastavino tiled ceiling hidden inside this $359K UWS studio

Image courtesy of Halstead

August 10, 2017

There’s a rare Guastavino tiled ceiling hidden inside this $359K UWS studio

A block of 78th Street on the Upper West Side, between the Museum of Natural History and Amsterdam Avenue, has more going for it than just colorful brownstones; it also has a colorful architectural secret. The block's display of Moorish brick and stone buildings shares a history with some of the city's notable public spaces. Known as "Guastavino Row," its decorative and altogether charming townhouses were designed by noted 19th-century architect Rafael Guastavino, famed for his beautiful and expertly engineered vaulted, tiled ceilings. Recently, a small but lovely first-floor studio at 120 West 78th street listed for $359,000, and it boasts a beautiful ceiling that, according to the listing, was one of Guastavino's iconic designs.
READ MORE

Image via The Met

August 10, 2017

EVENT: Enjoy live jazz in the stunning medieval gardens of The Met Cloisters

If checking out The Cloisters has long been on your to-do list, there's no better time to head north than for the museum's MetFridays. On Friday, August 11th (that's tomorrow!) and Friday, August 25th, The Met will host two hours of live 1930s jazz at sunset in their stunning medieval gardens. Performances will feature trumpeter Alex Nguyen, winner of the International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition, and his quartet as they perform the same ditties that topped the charts when the museum was first constructed between 1934 and 1939.
more details here

August 10, 2017

From oysters to falafel: The complete history of street vending in NYC

To fully experience New York City, you have to eat. And then eat some more. So inextricably linked with its food, the city’s social and cultural history requires an exploration of its endless cuisines. And while street food is not unique to New York, the city provides some of the most diverse dining options in the world, with over 10,000 people make a living by street vending. But this tradition dates all the way back to the 1600s when European settlers enjoyed eating shellfish on the streets. Food vendors took on a more formal incarnation in the early 1800s on the Lower East Side and have changed with every new immigrant group that's landed here since. From oysters and knishes to hot dogs and Halal, the city's street vendors reflect its constant evolution and also what brings New Yorkers together.
Dive in to the full history

History

Distinctive Homes

A historic LES synagogue, now an artist's studio, asks $10.95M

This $9.7M Nolita loft is a luxury confection in a former chocolate factory

From parking lot to Dumbo's largest residential development: Inside Front & York

This $2.85M co-op with a magical garden is an elegant Upper East Side escape

This extra-wide $8M Park Slope brownstone is a rare find with historic details intact

This $4M Harlem brownstone is picture-perfect and move-in ready

$15M townhouse-sized Fifth Avenue maisonette was a billionaire's pied-à-terre

Two bedrooms plus a home office for $1.7M in this FiDi duplex loft

Gilded Age grandeur never left this $14M Park Avenue co-op

$5.2M 'back to the studs' Williamsburg home has a glass-walled garage, roof deck, courtyard, and heated sidewalks

VIEW ALL

Cuomo gives Con Ed one year to repair the subway’s power system

Photo © Governor Andrew Cuomo/Flickr

August 10, 2017

Cuomo gives Con Ed one year to repair the subway’s power system

Just in the past month, power problems caused 32,000 subway delays, prompting Governor Cuomo to direct "Con Edison to take significant and immediate actions to improve the subway's power reliability and prevent future service failure," according to a press release. Less than two months after declaring a "state of emergency" for the subway system, Cuomo's given Con Ed and the MTA one year to identify and repair the problems, the most comprehensive power review ever done, leaving them on the hook to inspect 470 manholes, 1,100 boxes, and 221 power substations at street level and 1,100 energy distribution rooms, 300 signal relay rooms, 15,000 track circuits, 11,000 signals, 13,750 insulated joints, 11,000 trip stops, 220 interlockings, and 1,800 switch machines below ground. The cost? It's not yet been officially calculated, but Con Ed chairman John McAvoy says it's likely to be tens of millions of dollars.
Get all the info

City Council unanimously approves Midtown East rezoning plan

Conceptual image depicting all of the proposed sites of the East Midtown rezoning fully built out, via CityRealty

August 10, 2017

City Council unanimously approves Midtown East rezoning plan

After five years, the City Council approved a rezoning for Manhattan’s Midtown East on Wednesday, by a 42-0 vote. The proposal will rezone roughly 78 blocks, running from East 39th Street to East 57th Street and from Third Avenue to Madison Avenue, clearing the way for 6.5 million square feet of office space in the area. A new updated zoning code is expected to incentivize new, dense development, allowing Midtown to compete with other booming business districts in the borough like Hudson Yards and the Financial District. As the New York Times reported, this change which lets developers build to a higher floor area ratio could result in new supertall towers.
Find out more

Policy

August 10, 2017

Refreshingly genuine Williamsburg artists’ loft asks $6,800 a month

We're guessing the words "genuine" and "Williamsburg" are spending less and less time together these days, but if you look diligently, you can find the odd authenticity–a big, pretty space that's actually live/work friendly and isn't a shiny, overpriced condo calling itself a loft. This one-bedroom-plus-office apartment at 119 North 11th Street looks to be just that. Occupying the third floor of a former paint factory taken over by artists over 30 years ago, it's approved for mixed use, allowing live/work opportunities. Seeking a rental tenant for $6,800 per month, the space has many of the comforts of those shiny new buildings–central air, a washer/dryer, a roof deck with great views–without the shiny new.
Take a look around

Distinctive Homes

August 9, 2017

Hamptons shore house combines the intimacy of the woods with the openness of the bay

On a sloped plot of land in North Haven, a small village in the town of Southampton, sits a home covered in cedar, with woods on one side and a river on another. Designed by Leroy Street Studio, the Shore House sits at a spot where the forest opens onto the Peconic River. As Dezeen learned, the home, accessible through a path that winds through the forest, is perfect for big family parties or as a more private retreat. Its water side features large glass panels that open to a covered outdoor courtyard.
Find out more

Soho and Tribeca’s windowed sidewalks provided light to basement factory workers before electricity

Vault lights in Soho, via WooJin Chung for 6sqft

August 9, 2017

Soho and Tribeca’s windowed sidewalks provided light to basement factory workers before electricity

By Rebecca Paul

In many parts of Soho and Tribeca, the sidewalks are made from small circular glass bulbs instead of solid concrete. Known as "hollow sidewalks" or "vault lights," the unique street coverings are remnants from the neighborhood's industrial past when they provided light to the basement factories below before electricity was introduced. These skylight-like sidewalks first came about in the 1840s when these neighborhoods were transitioning from residential to commercial and when their signature cast iron buildings first started to rise.
Find out more about their history

History

August 9, 2017

A top-floor Madison Avenue studio a block from the park for $460K? Yes, it’s true.

This pre-war studio might not be huge (in fact it's only 550 square feet), but it has plenty of charm and even more location going for it. Tucked into the top floor of an elevator building at 1361 Madison Avenue, the diminutive co-op is asking $460,000 and not a penny more. Central Park is a block away, and the Upper East Side location is in the heart of the neighborhood.
Check it out

Distinctive Homes

Image via CityRealty

August 9, 2017

NYC jobs that offer free housing – here’s where to find them

By Cait Etherington

You’ve landed a great job in New York City—then the reality of the city’s housing market starts to sink in. It’s a situation that thousands of new city residents face every year. New York City’s cost of living, which continues to outpace most other cities across North America, can make a move to the city seem difficult and even impossible. In fact, even highly compensated professionals often balk at the idea of relocating due to the fact that it typically means radically adjusting one’s established standard of living. After all, most adults assume it is normal to have more than one closet and expect their kitchen to be large enough to accommodate more than one person at a time. This is why at least some local employers throw in the most coveted perk of all—free or at least steeply discounted housing.
find out where these jobs are

New renderings of East Harlem’s Sendero Verde, the country’s will-be largest passive house project

Renderings via Handel Architects

August 9, 2017

New renderings of East Harlem’s Sendero Verde, the country’s will-be largest passive house project

Despite Mayor de Blasio's success meeting his affordable housing goals, East Harlem has fallen behind. As 6sqft recently reported, out of the 21,963 new units added in 2016, just 249 were built in East Harlem, prompting the city to expedite the construction of 2,400 affordable units there over the next few years. A large chunk of this will come from Sendero Verde, a massive, mixed-use development that will bring 655 affordable rentals to the block bound by East 111th and 112th Streets and Park and Madison Avenues. Back in February, Jonathan Rose Companies and L+M Development Partners released a rendering from Handel Architects of the 751,000-square-foot project, but now CityRealty has uncovered an entire batch of drawings from the firm that detail how it will be the country's largest passive house project and weave together the residences, a school, supermarket, and four community gardens, all surrounding a multi-layered courtyard.
More looks and details ahead

Donald Trump’s childhood home in Queens is renting for $725/night on Airbnb

Photo courtesy of Laffey Fine Homes from a previous listing

August 9, 2017

Donald Trump’s childhood home in Queens is renting for $725/night on Airbnb

President Trump, who is currently in New Jersey on a 17-day vacation, announced that he will travel to Trump Tower this Sunday. While his Midtown penthouse will be getting a lot of attention this weekend, his childhood home in Queens is also making headlines. The home at 85-15 Wareham Place is up for rent on Airbnb, according to a recent listing on the company’s website (h/t NY Post). The modest Tudor style home in Jamaica Estates is listed for as much as $725 per night. The home features five bedrooms, sleeps 20 people, and includes a life-size cut out of POTUS in the living room. Even though the president only lived there until he was four years old, according to the listing, “this is a unique and special opportunity to stay in the home of a sitting president.”
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Celebrities

Know of something cool happening in New York? Let us know:

‘Delayed’ is Blue Point’s exclusive new Penn Station beer

Photo courtesy of Blue Point Brewing Company

August 9, 2017

‘Delayed’ is Blue Point’s exclusive new Penn Station beer

What to do when sitting in Penn Station for hours waiting for yet another late train? A cold beer sounds like a good idea. And that's exactly the mindset that Blue Point Brewing Company is capitalizing on with their clever albeit gimmicky new "Delayed" pilsner. The cans resemble the station's departure board with the Long Island destinations showing as, you guessed it, "delayed." Newsday tells us that the cans will be available at Penn Station's Shake Shack starting Monday, followed by elsewhere in the home of the "summer of hell."
Find out about the beer's launch party

Artist’s triplex inside an 1888 ink and brush factory asks $3.95M in Gowanus

Image via BHS

August 9, 2017

Artist’s triplex inside an 1888 ink and brush factory asks $3.95M in Gowanus

By Annie Doge

This renovation of a former ink and brush factory in the heart of Gowanus hits all the right notes, hearkening back the neighborhood's industrial roots and channeling the current artsy vibe that permeates the blocks. Located at 459 Carroll Street, the residence occupies three floors of a massive brick structure built back in 1888, stretching more than 4,600 square feet of live/work space across three stories built atop a 25-foot by 100-foot lot. The super-sized property also comes with three generously proportioned artists studios and a beautiful 900-square-foot planted terrace engulfed by views of neighboring gardens and the cityscape. If you're on the market for unpretentious luxury and lots of space to sprawl out in or wield a paintbrush, all of this can be yours for $3.95M.
see more inside

Distinctive Homes

August 8, 2017

Elizabeth Arden’s former Sutton Place townhouse hits the market for $16M

A single-family townhouse in affluent Sutton Place has hit the market for $16 million. The home, located at 4 Sutton Square, was built in 1921 for Henry Sprague, the inventor of the Sprague gas meter. Beauty entrepreneur Florence M. Lewis, better known professionally as Elizabeth Arden, and Michael Jeffries, president of Abercrombie & Fitch, have also called the exclusive, five-story pad home. Last year, the 4,000-square-foot, four bedroom home was on the market for $19.95 million.
See inside

Construction officially underway at Delta’s new $4B LaGuardia facilities, new renderings and details

Interior rendering of Delta’s eastern half, via Governor Andrew Cuomo

August 8, 2017

Construction officially underway at Delta’s new $4B LaGuardia facilities, new renderings and details

Governor Cuomo first unveiled his plans for a revamped LaGuardia Airport two years ago. Since then, the cost has ballooned from $4 to $8 billion, with $4 billion alone going towards Delta's rebuilt 37-gate facilities. As of today, construction has officially begun on this part of the project, with the Port Authority signing a new, long-term lease with Delta Air Lines, which "marks the beginning of construction on the final component of the entirely new, unified airport at LaGuardia, which will provide all LaGuardia travelers with state-of-the-art amenities and expanded public transportation, including the planned AirTrain," according to a press release from the Governor. And along with the terminal's physical groundbreaking, he shared new details and renderings.
Get it all here

Updated view of 3 Hudson Boulevard adds 300-foot spire, making it tallest in Hudson Yards

Rendering of 3 Hudson Boulevard courtesy of FX FOWLE

August 8, 2017

Updated view of 3 Hudson Boulevard adds 300-foot spire, making it tallest in Hudson Yards

The supertall skyscraper at 3 Hudson Boulevard just got a major upgrade. New renderings of the tower reveal a new crown, a 300-foot spire, which would make it the tallest in the Hudson Yards neighborhood, as well as an updated design. As YIMBY discovered, 3 Hudson Boulevard, formerly known as The Girasole, may rise to 1,350 feet tall, rivaling many supertalls like 30 Hudson Yards and 432 Park Avenue, the city’s fifth tallest building.
Details ahead

New renderings of proposed Triboro Corridor, 17-stop outer borough light rail and linear park

Rendering: Only If + One Architecture

August 8, 2017

New renderings of proposed Triboro Corridor, 17-stop outer borough light rail and linear park

Back in June, the Regional Plan Association (RPA), an urban research and advocacy organization, in conjunction with the Rockefeller Foundation, announced a design competition asking for proposals that would transform various areas of the New York metropolitan region. One of the four ideas chosen to receive $45,000 was a transportation alternative that would serve the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn. As 6sqft reported, the proposal, developed by New York-based firm Only If along with Netherlands-based firm One Architecture, focuses on using a light rail to move passengers between the outer boroughs to alleviate some of the overcrowding that has plagued the current subway system with delays. On August 4, the organizations held an event at Fort Tilden to mark the opening of a public presentation of the selected proposals. "4C: Four Corridors: Foreseeing the Region of the Future" spotlighted this plan to strengthen the Triboro Corridor, a plan to address the future of the suburbs, and more.
See the renderings and learn more

My 900sqft: Artist Ehren Shorday adorns his Bushwick loft with ‘trash’ and treasures

6sqft’s ongoing series “My sqft” checks out the homes of New Yorkers across all the boroughs. Want to see your home featured here? Get in touch!

August 8, 2017

My 900sqft: Artist Ehren Shorday adorns his Bushwick loft with ‘trash’ and treasures

When Ehren Shorday moved into this giant Bushwick loft a little more than six years ago, his main focus was making the industrial space feel like a home. Originally from antique-haven New Hope, he chose to go with a "southeastern Pennsylvania river town vibe," but as an artist who didn't have a ton of money, he achieved this aesthetic by furnishing the 900-square-foot space with "trash," or perhaps more eloquently put, "found treasures." Aside from the rug and his parents' two club chairs, which he brought with him when he moved to New York 13 years ago, everything in the apartment was found, from the church pew and diner banquet table to the porcelain bathtub that's been repurposed as a chaise lounge. Ahead, Ehren gives us the grand tour and fills us in on the story behind his prized possessions.
Take a video and photo tour and hear more from Ehren

August 8, 2017

NYPL’s historic Rose Main Reading Room is officially an interior landmark!

In May, State Senators Brad Hoylman and Liz Krueger drafted a letter to the Landmarks Preservation Commission asking them to designate the Rose Main Reading Room (one of the largest uncolumned interior spaces in the world) and the Bill Blass Public Catalog Room at the iconic Stephen A. Schwarzman Building on 5th Avenue as interior landmarks. Though the LPC has been criticized in the past for their backlog of potential landmarks, they quickly put the request on their schedule and just this morning voted unanimously in favor of the designations, which protect the spaces' murals, decorative plasterwork, metal and woodwork, light fixtures, windows, doors, balconies, built-in bookcases, and decorative elements.
Get the full scoop

Policy

U.S. Army won’t remove Confederate street names in Brooklyn

General Lee Avenue and Robert E. Lee’s former home on Fort Hamilton, via Jeremy Bender/Business Insider

August 8, 2017

U.S. Army won’t remove Confederate street names in Brooklyn

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

Despite a push from advocates and politicians, the United States Army decided to keep the names of two streets in Brooklyn that honor Confederate generals. The streets, General Lee Avenue and Stonewall Jackson Drive, can be found in Fort Hamilton, the city’s last remaining active military base. Brooklyn Congresswoman Yvette Clarke, along with U.S. Reps Jerrold Nadler, Nydia Velazquez and Hakeem Jeffries, had written to the Army in June asking them to consider changing the street names. As the Daily News reported, the Army said the names will stay because they remain an “inextricable part of our military history.”
Find out more

THE 6SQFT SHOP

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8 best places in NYC to thrift for home goods

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

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

10 best plants for apartment dwellers

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‘X-ray’ subway station maps help navigate NYC’s complex underground paths

Sketch of 59th Street-Columbus Circle via Candy Chan

August 8, 2017

‘X-ray’ subway station maps help navigate NYC’s complex underground paths

While the official map of the New York City subway clearly labels which station comes next, it’s not very good at showing the actual geographic distance between stations or what the paths and tunnels look like in order to take the right exit. Like many New Yorkers, architect Candy Chan developed a love-hate relationship with the subway. As CityLab shares, after feeling constantly lost when trying to navigate the city underground, Chan created Project NYC Subway, which includes photographs, architectural drawings, and a series of three-dimensional sketches that display what the complex stations really look like.
See the x-ray-esque drawings

Transit

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

Images (L to R): The Ritz Plaza, The Forge, 581 Ocean Parkway and The Westmont

August 8, 2017

FREE RENT: This week’s roundup of NYC rental news

By Ondel Hylton

‘One Dutch’ Rentals Launch in the Financial District with Flex Layouts from $3,886/Month [link] See Newly Unveiled Model Units at the “Elegant and Striking” Long Island City Rental Tower, The Forge [link] Chelsea’s The Grove Offers One Month Free & Discounted Deposits for Andre Kikoski-Designed Apartments [link] Evolving Block on Ocean Parkway Gets 8-Story Luxury […]

Real Estate Trends

August 7, 2017

For less than $300K, own a huge Italianate home in what may be New Jersey’s next hot spot

There's no denying that the gentrifying-at-lightning-speed town of Asbury Park, NJ is one of the state's hippest cities (it even got the Times treatment this weekend). One of the key players in the resurgence has been the Smith Group, who've opened some of Asbury's most popular bars and restaurants, as well as a condo project. The developer is now hoping to replicate this success in Burlington, NJ, a historic city on the Delaware River just 90 minutes outside NYC. And though the transformation is already underway (Smith bought four old homes and is turning a decommissioned firehouse into a trendy restaurant/bar), the time to buy in Burlington is now, as gorgeous 18th- and 19th-century homes can still be gotten for a bargain. Take this 1793 Italianate stunner; it's situated on a half-acre corner lot, occupies 3,300 square feet, and is asking just $278,950 (h/t CIRCA).
Tour the home here

Why Central Park hasn’t had a six-figure crowd since Garth Brooks’ concert 20 years ago

Via Stephiejeanne on Pixabay and Steve Jurvetson on Flickr

August 7, 2017

Why Central Park hasn’t had a six-figure crowd since Garth Brooks’ concert 20 years ago

On Aug. 7, 1997, country-music superstar Garth Brooks held a free concert in Central Park, known as “Garthstock,” as part of his 1996-1998 world tour. The show was a hit, featuring special guests Billy Joel and Don McLean, and was streamed live on HBO. The massive crowd filled the park’s North Meadow to capacity, holding a record number of 750,000 total concert-goers. However, Garth’s show became the last six-figure crowd to attend a concert in Central Park because, after that, city officials started to count crowds more accurately. Twenty years later, we know now that Garth’s concert most likely drew nowhere near that staggering number of fans, despite what authorities first reported.
Find out more

History

Leasing launches at One Hudson Yards, luxury rentals starting at $5,095/month

A rendering of One Hudson Yards, designed by renowned architecture firm Davis Brody Bond. (Image via onehudsonyards.com/Related)

August 7, 2017

Leasing launches at One Hudson Yards, luxury rentals starting at $5,095/month

The new luxury rental residences at One Hudson Yards at 530 West 30th Street, part of Manhattan's largest new mixed-use development, have begun leasing for the 30-story building's 178 apartments which range from one to three bedrooms (and one four-bedroom penthouse) according to a press release from Related Companies. The building's architecture is by Davis Brody Bond; interiors are by Andre Kikoski, who also designed the building's peerless collection of luxury amenities. Of particular note are extra-tall windows set into a modern curtain wall façade that offer breathtaking views of out over the Hudson River, the surrounding West Chelsea neighborhood and all of Downtown Manhattan–as well as Heatherwick Studios’ "Vessel" sculpture.
Find out more details

An insider’s guide for first-time homebuyers in NYC

Photo via New York Law School/Flickr

August 7, 2017

An insider’s guide for first-time homebuyers in NYC

By Alison McQueen

6sqft’s ongoing series Apartment Living 101 is aimed at helping New Yorkers navigate the challenges of creating a happy home in the big city. This week, Corcoran realtor Alison McQueen shares her personal guide for first-time homebuyers in NYC. Many first-time homebuyers in NYC are doubtful they'll find a great place within their budget, but every single client I've worked with has closed on a home, and they say buying was one of the best decisions they ever made. To make this dream a reality, you'll want a clear understanding of your finances and how much you'd like to spend; the top five things you want in a home; and a sense of your preferred neighborhoods based on potential commute, area amenities; and ideal budget. Sound overwhelming? That's where a team of professionals comes in, including a real estate agent, real estate attorney, and home inspector. The best way to enter the purchase process is as an informed consumer, as you’ll have an easier time targeting and getting what you want. To make the process a bit easier, I've put together a handy list of the key things to consider when embarking on the purchase path in New York City.
All the tricks of the trade

Follow-up report says next year’s 11 percent NYC vacancy rate is bogus

Image: Pexels

August 7, 2017

Follow-up report says next year’s 11 percent NYC vacancy rate is bogus

6sqft recently reported on a forecast by online real estate marketplace Ten-X predicting a precipitous threefold spike in New York City’s apartment vacancy rate that could even exceed 11 percent by the end of next year as thousands of new apartments hit the market, adding up to a "grim reckoning” for landlords. Now, a Crains reporter tells us that skeptics like marketing-consultant-to-developers Nancy Packes, who said the prognostication of a rental market meltdown “didn’t make any sense,” could be right after all.
Let's hear more

Real Estate Trends

De Blasio wants to tax rich New Yorkers to fund subway repairs

Image Public Domain

August 7, 2017

De Blasio wants to tax rich New Yorkers to fund subway repairs

Continuing this summer’s subway saga, Mayor de Blasio announced a plan on Sunday that would tax the wealthiest 1 percent of New Yorkers to fund the system’s much-need repairs and renovations. The proposal, which requires Albany’s approval, would also provide half-price MetroCards for low-income straphangers. As the New York Times reported, the “millionaires tax” would increase the tax rate of the city’s wealthiest residents to 4.4 percent from roughly 3.9 percent for married couples with incomes over $1 million and for individuals who make more than $500,000 annually.
Find out more

August 7, 2017

Elegant brownstone co-op in Park Slope asks $1.4M

This 1,100-square-foot co-op apartment within a completely charming historic Park Slope brownstone at 357 6th Avenue has two bedrooms and an office, plenty of light, and a laundry room to keep things sparkling. It's a three-flight ascent, but once you're inside you won't find too much to complain about. It's asking $1.395 million.
Take a room by room tour

Distinctive Homes

Eight affordable units up for grabs in trendy South Williamsburg, two-bedrooms from $1,440

Image via Google Street View

August 4, 2017

Eight affordable units up for grabs in trendy South Williamsburg, two-bedrooms from $1,440

Starting August 7, qualifying applicants can begin applying for eight newly renovated units at 383 Hewes Street, a six-story, 23-unit brick residence constructed in 1927. The building is located in South Williamsburg along a quiet residential block, which like the rest of the neighborhood, is seeing an increasing number of new developments appear. 383 was recently redeveloped via Los Sures, a community-based, non-profit focused on rehabilitating the south side of Williamsburg for low-income families and individuals. Of the available affordable units, two- and three-bedrooms will be priced between $1,440-$2,198 and $1,664-$2,538 respectively, adjusted for household income.
Find out if you qualify

Affordable Housing

August 4, 2017

This little Chelsea studio with cool custom details and a stunning wood wall is asking $589K

As soon as you move into this 560-square-foot loft-style Chelsea studio at 85 8th Avenue, you'll be convinced you've snagged the coolest apartment in the neighborhood. It was formerly a one-bedroom, it's just had a full renovation...and the space is divided by a custom-milled wooden wall that runs the length of the bedroom area. Not convinced? There's also a walk-in closet, a Juliet balcony and Empire State Building views, all for $589,000.
That's the kind of wall we like to see

Distinctive Homes

Metered NYC taxis turn 110 years old this month

Image via Wiki Commons

August 4, 2017

Metered NYC taxis turn 110 years old this month

110 years ago on August 13th, one of the cornerstones of New York City life, the first metered taxicab, rolled into the city's streets. The metered fare idea was born, fittingly, in 1907 when Harry N. Allen was smacked with a five dollar fare ($126.98 in today's dollars) for being driven a quarter of a mile in a horse-drawn hansom cab. Allen imported 65 gas-powered cars from France, painted them red and green, and started the New York Taxicab Company. The elven hues were replaced by the iconic yellow shortly thereafter so they could be seen from a distance, and a year later 700 cabs were nowhere to be found when you wanted one.
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No state is spared a roasting in this 19th-century nickname map

Image: Library of Congress

August 4, 2017

No state is spared a roasting in this 19th-century nickname map

When a livestock supply company tries to get clever, the result is likely to be something like this "odd and obscure" (h/t Slate) map of the U.S. showing common state nicknames of the day, many of which haven't changed since the map was printed as a promotional offering by H.W. Hill & Co. in 1884. Each state's nickname is illustrated by a portly porker doing whatever it is that state would probably rather not be known for doing best: New York's "knickerbocker," Ohio's "buckeye" and Michigan's "wolverine" are present and accounted for; Kentucky's "corn cracker" and Georgia's "cracker" are similarly skewered.
This way for more pig tales

History

August 4, 2017

The Urban Lens: Documenting the change in Tribeca from the early 1900s to present day

6sqft’s ongoing series The Urban Lens invites photographers to share work exploring a theme or a place within New York City. In this installment, Ivan Kosnyrev shares before-and-after photos of Tribeca. Are you a photographer who’d like to see your work featured on The Urban Lens? Get in touch with us at [email protected]. When Ivan Kosnyrev and his partner moved to Tribeca from Russia three years ago, they knew no one. To get themselves acclimated with their new home, they decided their first "friend" should be the city itself. Ivan, a philosopher by education and IT manager by profession, immersed himself in New York City guide books and blogs, getting so well versed that he eventually began giving his friends informal walking tours of the area. And when he discovered the New York Public Library's OldNYC collection, an interactive map with photos from the 1870s through the 1970s, he decided to embark on a project that he could share with even more people. After selecting a group of archival Tribeca images, he went out and took present-day snapshots of the same locations, providing a neighborhood-specific view of just how much NYC has changed (and in some cases, hasn't!) over the past 100 years.
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August 4, 2017

Celebrity chef Rachael Ray is selling her Southampton home for $5M

By Annie Doge

Food Network star and cookbook author Rachael Ray has put her Southampton home on the market for $4.9 million. According to the Wall Street Journal, the 3,650-square foot home sits on six acres and includes three bedrooms, state of the art kitchen and a pool with a pool house. Ray and her husband, John Cusimano, paid $2.6 million for the home in 2008. The couple thoroughly renovated the pad after buying it, filling it with the star’s own furniture brand. The home connects to the Southampton Golf Club, providing plenty of trees and beautiful gardens.
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After lease dispute, Secret Service vacates Trump Tower for trailer outside

Photo of Trump Tower via Krystal T’s Flickr

August 4, 2017

After lease dispute, Secret Service vacates Trump Tower for trailer outside

By Andrew Berman of Village Preservation

The Secret Service has left its central command post inside Trump Tower after an argument between the agency and the Trump Organization over the lease agreement for the space. While the Secret Service previously placed its supervisors and backup agents one floor below the president's apartment, the Washington Post reported that in early July, the agents were relegated to a trailer on the sidewalk. Although President Trump has not been to his eponymous tower since he was inaugurated in January, the Secret Service still treats Trump Tower as the president’s permanent residence.
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Celebrities

August 4, 2017

There are historic details in the bathroom of this $2.3M Park Slope brownstone duplex

By Emily Nonko

Converted from a single-family brownstone mansion, this Park Slope duplex still has much of its historic detailing on display--even in the bathroom. The home is located at 120 Prospect Park West, a stretch that faces Prospect Park and is known for impressive architecture built for wealthy Brooklynites. The modern-day asking price is $2.3 million for two levels of the building, one of which is the parlor floor, about 2,000 square feet awash in wood carvings and stained glass.
You'll want to see the bathroom

‘Heard it through the grapevine?’ The source was probably at 6th Avenue and 11th Street

6th Avenue and 11th Street, 1905. Image via Ephemeral New York,

August 3, 2017

‘Heard it through the grapevine?’ The source was probably at 6th Avenue and 11th Street

On August 6, 1966, the first known recording of "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" was made by the Miracles. Written by Motown pioneers Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, the song was re-recorded several times, most famously by Gladys Night and the Pips and Marvin Gaye, whose version landed on the top of the charts for seven weeks in early 1969. But the famous saying about receiving important news or information through a person-to-person chain of communication significantly pre-dates the Motown era. In fact, plentiful evidence and credible sources say it all goes back to a beloved tavern on the corner of 6th Avenue and 11th Street in Greenwich Village.
more on the history here

History

Apply for 64 affordable units in new Brownsville supportive housing building, from $670/month

Rendering of Stone House via Urban Architecture Initiatives

August 3, 2017

Apply for 64 affordable units in new Brownsville supportive housing building, from $670/month

Construction began in 2015 for the Stone House at 91 Junius Street, a six-story, 161-unit building on the border of Brownsville and East New York. The supportive housing initiative comes via nonprofit Win, the largest provider of shelter for homeless families in New York City, who run two shelters just to the north of this site, according to CityRealty. The Stone House will reserve 96 units for homeless families and 64 for low-income households earning 50 or 60 percent of the area media income. The latter group has now become available through the city's affordable housing lottery, with apartments ranging from $670/month studios to $1,224 three-bedrooms, all of which have access to the building's offerings such as ground-floor retail, on-site laundry, a community room, outdoor playground, and on-site social services.
See the qualifications

Affordable Housing

ARCHIPORN is an interactive map for lovers of architecture and design

Map via archipornguide.com

August 3, 2017

ARCHIPORN is an interactive map for lovers of architecture and design

While it may sound NSFW, the online guide ARCHIPORN is simply an informative guide to the world’s most beautiful architectural works, including various bookshops and institutions that specialize in architecture. First developed in 2008 by Brazilian architects Marcio Novaes Coelho Jr. and Silvio Sguizzardi, the project aims to identify and share information about iconic works from professionals around the world. The guide is chronologically organized, with different colors representing different eras. According to ArchDaily, cateogories range from before the year 1750, prior to the Machine Age, to recent works of 2010 and beyond.
Explore the map

Architecture And Design

Celebrate Coney Island’s history with free events at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park this Saturday

Deno’s Wonder Wheel courtesy of kzoop’s Flickr

August 3, 2017

Celebrate Coney Island’s history with free events at Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park this Saturday

While New Yorkers have been celebrating the historic seaside resort all summer long, this weekend the Coney Island History Project is hosting its seventh annual history day. On Saturday, August 5, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., attendees can learn about all of the classic rides and attractions of Deno’s Wonder Wheel Park, take a self-guided tour, and listen to free folksy music. Since it was built in 1920, more than 40 million people have experienced the park’s iconic Wonder Wheel.
Details ahead

Events & Things To Do

August 3, 2017

Crumbling castle in Westchester County with a storied past seeks $3.7M

Built in 1927 by David T. Abercrombie, Elda Castle, as it was known, was named after the first letter of each of his four children's names (h/t Curbed). Abercrombie was the founder of Abercrombie and Fitch, which was originally a purveyor of high-end hunting and safari gear. The vision of his wife, Lucy Abbott Cate—the project's architect—was the driving force behind the 4,337-square-foot steel-girded estate of granite and local fieldstone at 249 Croton Dam Road that once had 25 rooms, arched doorways, a tower accessed by a winding spiral staircase of cast iron and too many courtyards and patios to count. The fascinating home sits on 49.5 acres in the Westchester County town of New Castle (though it has an Ossining postal address). It's in need of total renovation, and if the internet is to be believed, whoever buys this romantically overgrown estate currently asking $3.69 million may have quite an adventure on their hands.
Find out more about this storied estate

A giant, undulating 3-D billboard will debut in Times Square this month

Image via Radius Displays

August 3, 2017

A giant, undulating 3-D billboard will debut in Times Square this month